Twas the Night before Ordination, and all through the house, not a creature was sitting, not even a… Ok, that’s not true. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that this night is full of restlessness and wrestling because it is so much like the first night I knew without a doubt that I had to …
When we were young, my grandfather was the chaplain at a retirement home and so there were many Sunday lunches shared in the cafeteria and many people whose rooms or tables we stopped by as the grandchildren of the chaplain. What I didn’t know at the time is those Sunday afternoons were part of my …
When you are starting something new (and boy have I this fall!), finding someone else out there in the world who is going through a little of what you are going through can make all the difference in the world. A ran across a new blog today written by Nish Weiseth. This is enough to …
Now, I already know what you are thinking (at least I think I do). You’re thinking why would she record thoughts and memories of her first business meeting as a pastor. Aren’t those the things that give pastors and ministers headaches and sleepless nights? Aren’t those the same events that members suddenly come down with …
My preaching professor always told us that there was something about the holy desk that changed a person. He urged us that if we ever got to the point in our preaching lives where we didn’t approach this holy desk with fear and trembling, then it was time for us to give it up and …
I was just discussing this week with one of my professors that there is a big difference between the preaching I have done and the preaching I am doing now. There is something completely different about walking through the week with a scripture passage and seeing the people you are going to see on Sunday …
In second grade, I was in the King and I play. I didn’t have any speaking role or any singing role, I was simply supposed to be one of the many children that the King had. At one point, I was carried by an high school student to the King to show my respect, but …
As I share my thoughts about this crazy journey that has been my life, I am continually surprised and overwhelmed by the support and encouragement that comes from the most unlikely place. For example, this morning I had to stop to fill up my car again (yes, that would make twice in two days) and …
As I am working on my last year of seminary, I am realizing I’ve become accustomed to telling my story. And my story has hurt and disappointment in it not only at the denominational level, but also at the personal level as I expressed a call to ministry, but there has to be a point …
This Sunday will be my first Sunday as a pastor and I am absolutely thrilled, but I have to say when the congregation shared with me that there would be a baptism, I was a little concerned. I am overjoyed that my first Sunday will be marked with the baptism of a long-time member of …
