-
·
Loving Joy
Imagine going to a new doctor and receiving this included in the instructions: “make sure you take time for yourself every day – personal time – to relax/do your favorite activity – even if only for a short period.” One of my favorite writers described this experience of being prescribed “joy”. Of having to rediscover…
-
·
Why That Thing You Tell Your Pastor On Sunday Morning Might Not Get Done
1. My body got up hours before my brain. 2. For pastors, leading worship is exhausting. 3. And sometimes, so is coffee hour. 4. Maybe I’m running late because a small child crawled into bed and I had to pretend to be sleeping so that they’d get back to sleep before I get up. 5.…
-
·
How Not To Solve a Problem
I find that the easiest part of a problem is testing to see if it’s a real problem. The hard part comes in knowing what to do about it. But I know two truths about problem solving: It doesn’t help to pretend that there is no problem. Or to confuse discussion for decision. If you…
-
·
The Second Most Important Reason to Stop Shaming Children
We have got to cut it out. From the Dad who shot his daughter’s laptop to the Mom who made her son stand on a street corner with a sandwich board sign. May as well be a scarlet letter. These methods don’t work. [bctt tweet=”‘I didn’t know what else to do!’” nofollow=”yes”] And we know…
-
·
My 3 Words for 2016
Happy 2016! I’m trying something new. I’m kind of jazzed about it. I’ll pick 3 words for the year. Like a mantra. A vision. A course of action. A way of changing my life and maybe help me change the world. Do you want to give it a try? [bctt tweet=”What are your 3 words?” nofollow=”yes”]…
-
·
Essential Reading 2015
This has been a year of discovery for me. Discovery about myself, my vocation, my family, my character. It has also been a year of great challenge, strain, and growth. Some of what I’ve discovered: This was my first full year at St. Stephen’s. The rest of my family went to school, including my spouse. My…
-
·
Why We Need a New Year’s Resolution…in November?
It’s that time of year when people wax nostalgic about the year that has passed, give thanks for all of the acts of generosity they have been called to, and name the changes they want to make in the new year. You aren’t doing that? It’s just me? [bctt tweet=”‘I really can’t expect a person…
-
·
Rejecting the Widow’s Mite
As a priest I tend to hate the late fall. Mostly because it is our so-called stewardship season: the time in which we once again beg people to give money to the church. We try to pretend that it is about giving in the most generous sense, that we are concerned with Time, Talent, and…