“It isn’t so much that people leave religion, I think as it is that, like Olympic runners on a mission, they come to a moment in life when they go beyond the system to the very source of the light. It is the plight of the mystic to enter the… Continue reading
He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19) I read this verse recently, and it reminded me of a conversation we had during staff meeting regarding the upcoming Gospel text for Sunday. This Sunday’s Gospel text is the story of… Continue reading
Every now and then, I have a conversation with someone about the importance of engaging in a faith community of some kind. Sometimes the sense is that folks want to get ‘other things sorted out first’ before focusing on things like spiritual development or faith community. I hear things like,… Continue reading
The people of the Judean hill country know enough to realize that this means that God will be summoning him to something special in which, due to their proximity to him, they will almost certainly be caught up” (Gooder, p. 90). This week’s Advent focus was on John the Baptist,… Continue reading
The season of Advent is always a meaningful season of reflection and pondering for me. This year, join me in this journey of pondering, preparing and anticipating the new way God is breaking into creation. God’s call does not necessarily ask us to move our physical surroundings (although sometimes it… Continue reading
I’m sitting at the Conference on Ministry, the annual gathering of rostered leaders in this synod. Each fall we spend 2 days with other pastors and leaders, getting reconnected with colleagues and reflecting on this crazy work we are all doing. This is the 6th COM from what I can… Continue reading
In one of the Bible studies this weekend, we were pondering the passage from John 6 where the disciples are in a boat, the storm rises, and Jesus is nowhere to be found. We were encouraged to get into groups according to how we process life artistically–through writing, art, fabric… Continue reading
Once a year I gather with my Sisters in the Deaconess Community of the ELCA for fellowship and for important conversations about the Community and our ministry in the church. These are some of my favorite days in the year. Gathering with women who are doing similar ministry as me,… Continue reading
I was in the States for 8th grade, and near the end of the year was getting ready to go on a summer mission trip to Mexico with a friend’s youth group. One day as we were getting ready for P.E. and reflecting on the orientation meeting we’d been to… Continue reading
Sermon illustrations come from the funniest places. Recently, my little brother was texting me pictures of these amazing meals he was preparing: So I sent him a picture of my fridge with the text, “Clearly I need a paycheck and to go shopping.” I had recently returned back from a Youth Mission trip,… Continue reading