Those poor pews. Early on in a pastor friend of mine’s new call, she heard from a parishoner (a worshiper and congregational member) that the pews in the sanctuary were being unduly scratched and irreparably harmed. The person pointed to people wearing jeans and dress slacks with bejeweled butts as the problem. Apparently this was a major issue that was harming the church. The person … Continue reading The Problem with Bejeweled Butts
Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and 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; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope that … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and 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; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Last night I did something that I have done on a Tuesday evening in January every year since fourth grade. I watched the State of the Union address. Back in fourth grade, my teacher Mrs. Harmon encouraged me to watch C-SPAN. Maybe she sensed that I cared about government and politics? Or maybe she had the foresight to see that I liked being engaged in … Continue reading Being a Citizen
Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and 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; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Happy New Year and Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and 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; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor … Continue reading This Week’s Links
My wife Allison and I both preached at Messiah Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington this past weekend, preaching on the gospel text from Luke 2:41-52. What follows is the majority of the text that I preached Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Grace, peace, and Christmas blessings and surprises to you! I will let you in on a little secret, as someone who has been a … Continue reading The Boy Jesus in the Temple & Christmas Surprises
Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and 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; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. … Continue reading This Week’s Links
During Advent this year, I am reflecting daily using this Advent Photo Devotional. The word designated for today, December 16th is #Bring. The church I serve also has a preschool attached to it, and weekly hosts a short chapel service for the preschool’s different classes. This week’s focus is on the people who visit Jesus after his birth- the kings, wise men, Magi, whatever term … Continue reading Bring- Day 18 of Advent
During Advent this year, I am reflecting daily using this Advent Photo Devotional. The word designated for yesterday, December 14th was #Gates, and the word for today, December 15th is #Open. Have you ever reached a gate or doorway, and stopped to wonder and think if you really wanted to pass through it? Did you open the gate, or think about turning around? Two famous … Continue reading Gates & Open- Days 16 & 17 of Advent
