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
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
Ponder the difference: A ‘to-do’ list is full of the un-achieved goals. The stuff not yet tended to. The myriad of piles still unsorted. A ‘To-do’ list is meant to be motivating…to show you how much further you still have, and how close you are to the finish line. A… Continue reading
I recently began reading the book “When Helping Hurts,” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. I’ve heard about this book in the context of reflecting on attitudes and methods used in “Christian Outreach” that are…less than helpful. I’m reading it to increase my capacity to engage a conversation about the… Continue reading
I would claim that I’m not one for the more ‘spiritual’ spiritual practices–like yoga, contemplative prayer, holy stretching, etc. I can remember snickering and scoffing at such practices in college and as a younger adult. Inevitably, when I found myself in a context where we were invited to sit straight… Continue reading
I have found that often when I am preparing a sermon, I end up convicted by the very thoughts I am forming into a sermon. I was not expecting to preach on Christmas Eve, but at the last minute I was given the notes of a sermon the pastor was… Continue reading
“This passion empties one of self. One does not “self-empty” by focusing upon oneself. One is emptied of self to the degree one is overcome by the needs, pain, hopes and desires of others. When concern for others takes one utterly beyond self-interest, beyond obsession with achievements and self-obsessing guilt… Continue reading
I’ve discovered a new park from which to watch the sun rise. I stop at the Starbucks across the street and get a refill of the Veranda Blend coffee, and then head over to the parking lot of the park. I like this park because there are actually picnic tables… Continue reading
Today’s word was “salvation.” In the sense, I think, of who is it that needs salvation? We talked a lot about the role of Sunday morning worship in either serving the believers, or equipping them to go out to the rest of the week. I just found that the way… Continue reading
Today’s word was ‘sacrifice,’ and our conversation over breakfast circulated again around Phil. 2. My reflection is that acts of sacrifice are important…adopting kids, selling everything to move overseas, living on one income to spend more time volunteering, etc. yes…perhaps we should do that more often as Christians. But what… Continue reading