On turning 40
At the end of this month, I will turn 40 years old. It feels like such a cliché to be troubled by..
More Stories from this Author
The pastor’s soul: What endures?
I recently finished reading M. Craig Barnes’ book “Diary of a Pastor’s Soul: The Holy Moments in a Life of Ministry.” Utilizing..
Earthkeeping and Character: Exploring a Christian Ecological Virtue Ethic
Steven Bouma-Prediger Baker Academic, 208 pages How does Christian faith inform one’s care of the earth? Too often, Christians have been justifiably..
Director of PC(USA) Washington Office has three ideas for churches to bring change
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (PNS) — The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins was talking with a former educator who was concerned about what was happening on..
To reopen or not? Some pastoral considerations
As more states loosen their stay-at-home orders, churches must decide whether or not to reopen. My congregation’s session selected a phased approach..
Resilient Faith: How the Early Christian “Third Way” Changed the World
Gerald L. Sittser Brazos Press, 240 pages What does Christian history have to teach us about the faith we practice today? Plenty,..
Settling in for the long run
Our congregation’s director of senior adult ministries made a scriptural connection several weeks ago that stuck with me and has intensified..
Singing hymns to my son
I was asked recently to identify a favorite hymn. The task was harder than I expected. I love music and I especially..
Wrestling with total depravity
For years, I’ve been the pastor assigned to teach about Presbyterian theology and polity to people interested in joining the congregation. I’ve..
Solvitur ambulando
At the 2019 NEXT Church conference, Pastor Heidi Husted Armstrong introduced her audience to the Latin phrase solvitar ambulando, which means, “it..
Envisioning a different reality: Reflections on the CoInspire conference
Montreat, North Carolina. A beautiful place. A complicated history. “Presbyterian Disneyland” as my husband called it. All these things were present at..
Pastoral care in the 21st century
“Pastoral carers open up space to allow people to consider the overlap between their everyday life and what they believe and experience about..
Embracing the boring in the spiritual life
On a recent silent retreat at a Sisters of Charity convent, I walked the beautiful labyrinth etched on the lawn. I appreciate..
Nuancing empathy
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15) I keep encountering empathy in things I read and hear..
Making the ashes stick
Where do we get the refrain, “You are from dust and to dust you shall return”? Can such a dour message be full of grace? — Rachel Young
Preaching and politics
“There is no such thing as being non-political. Everything we say or do either affirms or critiques the status quo. Even to..
What Pilates has taught me about the Bible
For the past five years, I’ve been participating in a Pilates class taught by a church member. We do all exercises on..
Resolution to awe and wonder
“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43) I heard in..
Surrendering to the wait
This Advent, I’m centering myself in Isaiah 30:15: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall..
Grateful for privilege?!
I recently watched a short, six-minute film by Louis Schwartzberg called “Gratitude” (you can find it on YouTube). This is a visual..
Grateful when grieving?!
A wave of death has hit our congregation recently. We said goodbye to several long time church members over the course of..
How do we practice Sabbath-keeping?
Why do we need Sabbath? I was given a review copy of “Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World” by..
Faith and the vice of luxury
I recently finished an academic work by David Cloutier called, “The Vice of Luxury: Economic Excess in a Consumer Age.” The title..
Practicing the presence of God
In preparation for a women’s retreat, I am reading Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice of the Presence of God.” Brother Lawrence was a..
The impermanence of all things
I write this post while at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for the second installment of a conference called “Shelter from the storm.” ..