There’s is something about today that seems significant, worth stopping for a minute and writing, reflecting. Maybe it’s the tweets and status updates that mark this day of 12/12/12, but for me there’s something more personally meaningful about today. I’m halfway through with my MDiv program and while Bon Jovi’s song seems particularly relevant to …
The hardest part of the journey of seminary for me has been and will continue to be unearthing beliefs and challenge myself to ask why I believe what I believe. On top of that is asking myself how I read the Bible. Do I read with answers and ideas already in mind? Do I try …
Are the discussions about social media integration in churches actually following our faith tenets? A church is like a mini company and social media plays into how you promote your church…a policy can to caution against risky online behavior. This doesn’t sound like the faith I am developing in seminary. It sounds fear-based. I understand …
Shouldn’t social media integration follow faith tenets? Read More »
This is a topic we debate quite often in our seminary classes and a topic that society is certainly interested in knowing more about, so when I read: Religiosity is on the decline in the U.S. and atheism is on the rise, according to a new worldwide poll. The poll, called “The Global Index of …
Powerful ponderings from an open pastor: Always, always, always, do not interpret scripture out of its original context. And I repeat: always, always, always do not interpret scripture out of its original context. It would be very easy for us at this juncture to read Isaiah 53:1-6 into story of Jesus– to say that the …
Shocking. Maybe these families weren’t using the food bank as a crutch. Maybe there are families in desperate need surrounding us everyday. And maybe, just maybe they really need our help.
Wow the second article in a week that reminds me to be comfortable being different, being me: He said “Stop worrying about what you’re bad at. Focus on what you’re good at and do more of that. Swim downstream. That’s how you become successful. Play to your strengths.” I’ve never forgotten that conversation. It still took …
There’s something extremely fulfilling about being exhausted after giving yourself to service for a week. Whether that service is in giving yourself to hard work digging ditches or painting or moving for someone else, the fatigue of straining your physical body and mental capacity results in an tiredness that you just can’t get any other …
There came a point as we were digging the ditch for the power line to go in that there really was no better way to get dirt out unless you got on your stomach and dug with your hands. The red clay earth covered you as you dug deeper. It wasn’t until after the day’s …
I spent most of today in a 21 inch ditch running the length of a camp where we are working on a mission trip. The purpose of the ditch is to run a power line to a chapel that hasn’t had power in 40 years. As I looked at my clay-covered hands and the crew …
