The eyes of the world were fixed on Iowa tonight and the 2012 caucuses. And I sat on the floor in my living room, a bowl of fresh baked cheesy spaghetti in hand, and watched on television. If I were to be asked for excuses for not going, I probably would have started by saying…
Ministry in Heels
life as a young adult pastor
overwhelmed by thanks
This past Sunday, as we were finishing up children’s time and saying, “Amen,” my pianist started playing a song. We typically sing after children’s time, so that there is something to carry the young ones back to their seats. Since there was nothing in the bulletin, I figured she was just improvising… which is totally…
size 8
I think one of the hardest things for a pastor of a United Methodist Church to do is to lose weight. There is food everywhere. And not just food… good food. Baked goods after church. “Snacks” which amount to a three course meal during bible studies. Church suppers. Youth group (and the leftovers which get…
now for a little fluff…
Yesterday’s post was hard!!! It includes a lot of stuff that I have been wanting to say/express for a while, or at the very least a beginning… I wrote that post and then I drank a cup of coffee and headed outside. It was 70 degrees by 9:00am – which is awesome for October 4th. …
What tires you?
I recently had my annual interview with my conference superintendent. We talked about what was going on in the church, the joys and the struggles of ministry in a small town like Marengo, and I had a chance to talk about what I feel is a calling to revitalize small to medium sized churches like…
a day in the life…
7:00am – alarm goes off 8:10am – start thinking about getting out of bed 8:30am – phone conversation with Trustee chairperson about the new shingles for the parsonage roof 8:50am – arrive at church, small talk with folks gathering for the Tuesday morning small group. 9:05am – phone call with Memorial chair about some checks…
something to identify as
I heard a song on the radio this evening by Patrick Stump featuring Lupe Fiasco called, “This City.” It’s a new single, it has an okay beat and the lyrics are kind of lame. As one listener texted in, it sounds like a song that should be on high school musical. Teen pop, whatever. But…
best customer service ever…
For the Iowa Annual Conference this year, our conference artist created a gallery in our meeting space. It housed a collection of works from various people and each piece connected with our theme of Radical Hospitality with Justice. The room itself was a conversation space. Chairs arranged for discussion, room to move, room to reflect, post-its on…