Each week on Tuesdays I share some of what I have seen, read, and found thought provoking over the past week.  To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope that you enjoy these links!

Church and Ministry Thought & Practice

For those of you preparing for worship or writing a sermon for this weekend I have a number of links to consider. If you are following the revised common lectionary, check out Bishop Michael Rinehart’s thoughts on “Pentecost 7C,” as well as friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis’ post on “The Security of Seventy.” Also spend some time listening to the “Sermon Brainwave” for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, with friends and professors Rev. Dr.’s Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner.

If you are following the narrative lectionary, check out this “Commentary on Job 1:1-22,” from friend and professor Rev. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker.

In the June edition of Living Lutheran, James Nieman reflected about the role of the church in society, writing, “Centrifugal: Being a public church,” and inviting others to join the conversation.

Friend and executive director of The Mennonite, Hannah Heinzekehr explained about the move to have “A 30-day comment sabbatical at TheMennonite.org.”

Bishop Kevin Kanouse penned this “Farewell Letter,” to the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area, as he retires this summer.

In the aftermath of the tragedy and terror directed at the LGBT community in Orlando, many congregations opened their doors. One such example was shared in this story about Reformation Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina holding a vigil. In response to Orlando, perhaps one of the best posts I read as far as church and preaching went, was this “Open Letter to Preachers.”

Pastor and blogger Clint Schnekloth reflected about, “Pastoral ministry as comprehensive community consultation and catalyzing change.”

Friend and stewardship director Adam Copeland wrote about being, “Called For and Called From.”

Jill Duffield reports about the Presbyterian Church USA adopting the Belhar Confession at the 222nd General Assembly. Check out this link for the full text of the “Confession of Belhar.”

Over the weekend Pope Francis explained that, “Gays and other marginalized people deserve an apology.” In a related report, The Millennial Journal reports that the, “Pope Says Church Should Ask Forgiveness from Gay People, the Poor, the Exploited.”

Friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis shared some important thoughts about, “The Truth about Sexism in the Church: and how to keep it from breaking you down.”

Karoline also shared a recent commentary entitled, “Naked No More,” based on Luke 8:26-39 and Psalm 22, and “Every Moment Counts.”

Earlier this month it was announced that Lutheran World Federation General Secretary Martin Junge has been reelected to a second term.

Friend and professor Dr. Mary Hess shared some thoughts about, “Re-membering Christian imagination,” and “Re-membering Christianity.”

Leadership Thought & Practice

Dan Rockwell shared, “5 Ways to Stop Fixing and Start Developing.”

Dr. Jeremy Hunter, one of the professors from the Drucker School of Management, wrote about attention, “The Essential Resource We’re All Wasting.”

Thin Difference shared a guest post by Sara Dougherty unpacking, “5 Lessons I Couldn’t Learn in a Classroom.” The “5 Real-World Lessons from a Recent Graduate” are: networking; no one holds your hand in the real world; let others critique and mold who you want to be as a professional; be persistent; and the little things make a big difference.

Ted Bauer wrote that, “Simply Listing Your Core Values Misses the Point.”

Anne Loehr shared a podcast she was recently interviewed on in, “Smart People Podcast Hosts Anne Loehr: Service and Success.”

Friend, blogger, and communications strategist Carrie Gubsch, shared this look by Lewis Howes at “The Important Skill You Might Be Overlooking in Your Branding.”

Lead With Giants shared a guest post by Danica Worthy outlining, “7 Ways to Develop Gravitas and Leadership Presence.”

Heidi Oran at Thin Difference wrote and shared that, “Change Happens: 5 Reminders to Help You Embrace It.” The reminders Heidi shares to help coping with change when it happens are: life isn’t a straight line; perseverance is your friend; you can change your brain; small things count too; and no time period defines you.

Also at Thin Difference, Jon Mertz wrote about, “The Power of Example,” and “Career Chapters: The Next One.”

Millennials

Lolly Daskal highlights what she believes is “The Secret on How to Motivate Millennials.” Within this post, Lolly highlights: innovation; autonomy; opportunity to sharpen their skills; leveraging technology; collaboration; flexibility; instant gratification; and meaning.

In response to Brexit, Ivana Kottasova writes about a large reaction from British Millennials, in writing, “British Millennials: You’ve stolen our future.”

Neighbor Love

Friend, pastor, and blogger Emmy Kegler wrote and shared this profound piece about, “A sound of sheer silence: a commentary on Elijah, Legion, and Pulse.” Emmy also shared a pastoral response she wrote, “The Shooting at Pulse: Pastor Emmy’s Response (from the Church Newsletter).” She also shared her sermon from last weekend, “On hiding out for forty days, legitimate fear, and the church’s chance to tell a new story: a sermon on Elijah, Jesus, and Legion,” as well as “Valor, service, wisdom: a sermon for blessing prayer shawls & quilts.”

As legend Garrison Keillor retires, Cara Buckley wrote about, “The Garrison Keillor You Never Knew.”

Friend, blogger, and artist Vonda Drees shared a number of beautiful posts over the past couple of weeks. These posts have included: “enchanting stories“; “reality of mystery“; “Grace bats last“; “God’s song“; “beloved“; “beloved and broken beauty“; “a whirl of Spirit“; “solitude silence stillness“; “night whisper“; and “70 x 7.”

Friend and professor Dr. Marit Trelstad shared some updates from her family’s travels and sabbatical in, “Luther- International Man of Intrigue,” and “Bonhoeffer.”

With gun violence so rampant, I greatly appreciate this video about “Me & Mass Shootings.” With gun violence in mind, Pacific Lutheran University President, Dr. Thomas Krise wrote, “133 and Counting: The tragic shooting in Orlando and the need for new gun control measures.”

After Orlando, Elizabeth Drescher wrote about, “How to Be an #LGBTQAlly After #Orlando.”

In another story out of the Orlando tragedy, Jenny Rapson wrote about one victim’s grandmother, in writing, “Her Grandson Was Killed in Orlando. What these passengers did on her flight to his funeral? Tears!” Read this story, it might give you some hope in humanity today.

In response to Orlando, two of my dear friends at LEAD also shared some important thoughts. Friend and director Peggy Hahn wrote, “Orlando and a Call for Action,” and friend Lynn Willis wrote about, “Orlando and our blindspot.”

Friend, pastor, and blogger Frank Johnson shared his most recent sermon based on Job 42:10-17, “Job, the conclusion: The God who sees through our bull.”

Friend, pastor, and blogger Mandy Brobst-Renaud pondered, “What’s in a Name?”

Stewardship

Friend and stewardship director Adam Copeland shared this look at why it’s “Time to Start Planning,” by Kathy Showalter Fiscus, as well as this stewardship reflection taking up the question, “Why Give? Because Jesus Gave Us Work to Do,” by Rev. Dr. Katie Hays.

Vocation

Friend and blogger Julia Nelson shared her weekly dose of “Tuesday Tea Time,” as well as a second dose of it for today.

Over at Thin Difference, Scott Savage asked an important question about life and daily life, asking, “Are You Living for the Weekend?”

Friend and professor Dr. Lynn Hunnicutt continued detailing about her bike trip across the country. Get caught up in her journey by checking out her daily posts, including the ones for: “Day 16“; “Day 18“; and “Day 19.”

Friend and blogger Emily Shane reflected about how, “Attitude is Everything: open-mindfulness and a positive attitude are so important.”

Miscellaneous

Friend Tim Chalberg shared some thoughts on the Mariners and baseball in taking up the question, “Ichiro, All-Time Hits King* (?)”

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That concludes this edition of the links. I hope you have enjoyed them. As always, if you have particular questions or topics for me to think about on the blog, please share them. Also, if there are things you would like to see included in the links, please let me know that too. Thank you for reading and being a part of the conversation! Blessings on your week. -TS

Image Credits:  The Links; Dr. Jeremy Hunter; and “a whirl of Spirit.”