Discourse: A Snapshot of my Personal Theology

This past month I have had the opportunity to be challenged, pushed, affirmed, and so much more.  I have experienced this mix of emotions and actions by participating in a “Discourse:  God” pilot class, taught by my wife Allison. No, in case you are wondering or worried, I don’t intend for this post to be a not so veiled promotion. However, to give you some … Continue reading Discourse: A Snapshot of my Personal Theology

This Week’s Links

It’s Tuesday, and therefore its time to share some links to things I have 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 now to you for your reading, reflecting, and thinking pleasure … Continue reading This Week’s Links

This Week’s Links

It’s Tuesday.  You know that means its time for the links.  This week’s categories with stories and articles that I found interesting are:  Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation and Miscellaneous.  I entrust these now to you and hope you enjoy them. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice Last week there was a Creation and … Continue reading This Week’s Links

The Misnomer about being Neutral

I used to think the idea of a “bound conscience” was a good thing.  It allowed for communities of faith to support a wide range of viewpoints.  My home congregation took some comfort in this idea after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly votes and decisions in 2009.  To be fair, I appreciate “bound conscience” in its sense and respect that people have different … Continue reading The Misnomer about being Neutral

Review: “Pastrix” by Nadia Bolz-Weber

I recently had the opportunity to read Pastrix:  The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber.  I was excited to finally get the chance to dig into this text.  Though I must admit I was a little hesitant.  I was hesitant probably for two reasons.  First, I was worried that I would be let down by my hope that Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber is … Continue reading Review: “Pastrix” by Nadia Bolz-Weber

This Week’s Links

It’s Tuesday.  That means here on the blog that its time to share some of what I have found interesting or worth thinking about in the past week.  This week’s 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 to you now for your reflection, thought and … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Review: The Practical Drucker

I recently had the pleasure to read The Practical Drucker:  Applying the Wisdom of the World’s Greatest Management Thinker, by William A. Cohen.  In this work, Cohen has taken some of the key nuggets of Peter Drucker’s insights and separated them into forty short vignettes or chapters.  No chapter is longer than eight pages, making this a book that is easily readable and very accessible for … Continue reading Review: The Practical Drucker

This Week’s Links

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

“For You”

The interim pastor I served on staff with until recently repeated the phrase and concept “for you” ad nauseam.  It would show up weekly in his sermons, in conversation, and in theological reflection.  But you know something, the more that I heard that over a year and a half, the more I began using that phrase too.  It just resonates, yet it is simply profound … Continue reading “For You”

Inspired by the Presiding Bishop

“In baptism we have died the only death that matters, and that should make us very dangerous people.” – Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), 1/19/14 This past Sunday and Monday, Allison and I had the privilege to see and hear from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for the first time in person.  Needless to say, I was … Continue reading Inspired by the Presiding Bishop