Tuesdays on the blog mean that I have the pleasure of sharing some links to things that I have found interesting and thought provoking over the previous week with all of you. To help make sense of all that I have read, I have grouped these links by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope you enjoy these links!

Church and Ministry Thought & Practice
Are you preaching this week, if so, I have tons of good ideas for preaching from friends near and far as we start the new liturgical year, this Advent season. First, friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis invites you into this season of “Advent Time.” Second, Rev. Dr. David Lose writes and expands on an idea of “Advent 1B: A Present-Tense Advent.”  And for good measure, if you are looking for some helpful stewardship ideas for preaching on both the revised common and narrative lectionaries, I shared some starting thoughts yesterday too.

Six years ago, friend, professor, and advisor Rev. Dr. Matt Skinner wrote about this week’s revised common lectionary in a post just as relevant (if not more so) today, “Mark 13:24-37: Advent- One of Those Dangerous Religious Ideas.”

If you are looking for more inspiration for this week’s gospel lesson from Mark 13, my wife Allison shared this performance of Mark 13 from Rev. Dr. Phil Ruge-Jones.

Courtney Crowder reported on Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, in “Meet the Iowa Church that trained 2 singing sensations on ‘The Voice.'”

The American Academy of Religion ended its annual conference last Tuesday. Reporting on some of the themes, take-away’s, and calls to action, Cathy Lynn Grossman reports that, “Religion Scholars turn activist in the shadow of Trump.” If you have been following this blog much this year, this probably isn’t a surprise. Check out the whole article and see what you think.

Cross-Sector Collaboration
The tax debates are not the only important discussion happening in Washington, D.C. right now. There is also the on-going push to change or give up net-neutrality. As I have written before, this is a terrible idea. Jessica Rosenworcel agrees as she wrote and pleaded, “I’m on the FCC. Please stop us from killing net neutrality.” To help do something about it, Harrison Weber offers some easy steps for “How to protest the FCC’s plan to dismantle net neutrality.”

Leadership Thought & Practice
Lolly Daskal wrote and shared about, “The Right and Wrong Way to Apologize and Why it Matters.”

Speaking of apologies, Eric Torrence at Thin Difference reflected about, “The Best Apologies.”

Millennials
Preeti Varathan writes that, “Millennials are set to be the most unequal generation yet.” Check out the article to see why and how this could be.

Neighbor Love
Terrible news broke late last week as at least 235 people died as a mosque was attacked in Egypt.

Are you looking for a meaningful and neighbor love oriented gift to give this coming Christmas? If so, I have a great idea from my friend Rev. Emmy Kegler, featuring homemade manger scenes to celebrate animal donations. Check this out!

Another year, another year of Starbucks’ holiday cups being ridiculed. I think this is ridiculous, and the fact that this is a thing, says a lot about where we are. Nevertheless, Kipp Robertson has the story. As for me, I am going to go and enjoy a Peppermint Hot Chocolate in one of Starbucks’ cups.

My wife Allison Siburg shared this neighbor love and pastoral care look from Liyna Anwar and Emma Bowman who wrote about those who “Comfort Strangers, so no one dies alone.”

Richard Cohen wrote a piece that perhaps I am too timid to write, but he hits on a number of things I have noticed, wondered, and thought, over the past 10-12 months, writing that President Trump “has ushered in America’s darkest hour.” Give it a read and see what you think.

Stewardship
Today is Giving Tuesday. With this in mind, “Here are the most- and least- charitable states,” at least according to one report. Do the results surprise you at all?

Wondering what sort of stewardship ideas there might be in the readings for the First Sunday of Advent to preach on? Don’t worry, I have some thoughts to help get you started.

Friend and stewardship director Adam Copeland shared some great ideas for “Teaching Stewardship to Children,” from Minner Serovy.

Adam also shared a good post from Rev. Sarah Renfro on voice and stewardship, in “Voice and Moxie.”

In a spirit of gratitude, especially a sense and spirit of gratitude for time, Justin Kanoya reflected over at Thin Difference on “One Way to Cherish Each Second of the Day.”

As we celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States last week, George Mwinnyaa wrote about, “The Mystery and the Magic of Giving Thanks.”

Vocation
Last week, many families across the United States gathered for Thanksgiving. These gatherings included many families with adult siblings. With this in mind, my wife Allison shared this article by Robin Marantz Henig who writes that, “Adult Siblings Can Make Our Lives Healthier and Happier.”

As I work out and fall into my new pattern, I appreciated this post from 2015 by Julia Belluz who wrote and shared that, “We make exercise way too complicated. Here’s how to get it right.” What do you think?

Miscellaneous
In fun news for all of you Seahawks fans, and/or Christmas light display visitors, the “Hawk House display is back this holiday season.”

If you are someone who likes to fly, perhaps you have wondered once or twice who the Eskimo is on the back of Alaska Airlines planes. If so, check out this fun story.

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That will conclude this week’s edition of the links. I hope you have enjoyed them! If you have any ideas for future editions, or types of articles or links you would like to see, please let me know. Thank you for reading and being a part of the conversation, and blessings on your week. -TS

Image Credits: The Links; Advent by Vonda Drees and Hawk House.