Why do you seek the living among the dead?

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Have you ever seriously pondered this question? It is an important and provocative question. It opens eyes and hearts. It can also make one feel very uncomfortable at times to have to contemplate it. (But that goes hand-in-hand with the general topic of death.) But, it is important to wrestle with it. This question, “Why do … Continue reading Why do you seek the living among the dead?

This Week’s Links

Tuesday means that it is time to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking in the past week. This week’s topic categories are:  Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation and Miscellaneous. I entrust these links to you now and hope that you enjoy them. … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Gratitude and Gifts

As the rain falls and pours outside, it’s hard not to be a little nostalgic for the Pacific Northwest. Even as it rains, and its unseasonably cold here, its hard not to be grateful for today and the opportunities it brings. Last week I was reminded what gratitude can look like in different ways. First, as I mentioned previously, it was my wife Allison’s birthday. … Continue reading Gratitude and Gifts

This Week’s Links

Tuesday means that it is time for me to share some of what I have seen and found interesting and thought provoking in the past week with all of you. This week’s categories include: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Vocation; Worship and Miscellaneous. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Baptismal Promises and the Hope and Wait for Easter

“God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word God delivers us from sin and death and raises us to new life in Jesus Christ. We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and … Continue reading Baptismal Promises and the Hope and Wait for Easter

Good Friday- Gawking at the Cross

Today is Good Friday. We have traveled through Lent, and this past week through Holy Week– from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to today.  On Good Friday, we see ourselves as participants (in all of our good, bad, and ugly) in the darkest section and moment of our faith and belief. We are confronted with humanity in a way that we only face in worship … Continue reading Good Friday- Gawking at the Cross

This Week’s Links

Tuesday means that it is time to share some of what I have found interesting and thought-provoking over the past week.  This week’s topics include:  Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship; and Miscellaneous. I entrust these to you now and hope you enjoy them. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Leading around the Potholes- Thoughts on Stewardship Leadership

Last week I shared what I believe are some potholes of stewardship. Today, I would like to offer some reflection about how leadership plays a role in navigating, responding to, and overcoming these potholes. Let me put a few assumptions out there before I begin. My understanding of a leader, is that they lead and guide with the values, mission, and vision of their congregation … Continue reading Leading around the Potholes- Thoughts on Stewardship Leadership

This Week’s Links

Tuesday means that it’s time to share with you some of what I have found interesting in the past week.  This week’s topic categories are:  Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship; and Miscellaneous. I entrust these links to you now, and hope you enjoy them and find them thought-provoking. Church and Ministry Thought & … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Potholes of Stewardship

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend a “Jump Start Your Stewardship” event put on by the Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). I attended this event last year and enjoyed it, and so attending this year’s event was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite enjoy this year’s as much. There was good material, but … Continue reading Potholes of Stewardship