We have quite a few new folks here, so I wanted to explain where this online resource of tools and encouragement for your faith journey got its name. It's rooted in my belief that a faith that wrestles with questions will always be stronger than one that never asks any. The title itself comes from the welcome I have given at every worship service I've presided over since I began ...
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This week we're looking at the story of the Golden Calf--or what happens when people get tired of waiting and wandering the desert. None of us like to wait. And most of us do not wait well--which explains a lot about some of the bad behavior we've seen from people during the last six months. We know a little bit about what the children of Israel were feeling. It's ...
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The pandemic, the upcoming election, fires, hurricanes, lions and tigers and bears, oh, my! All of the above (well, hopefully not the wild animals) are wreaking havoc on our lives today, particularly our spiritual and emotional lives. We are worn out and weary and certainly don't have the energy to embark on a spiritual quest or complete lifestyle overhaul. So I went on my own quest--to find the simplest things ...
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Since the world will do its best to make you feel otherwise, it's good to be reminded that who you are is pretty great.
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This week the Promises Kept series was all about Abraham's backstory--or the prequel, if you will. Here's a recap of all things Abraham. If you haven't listened to this week's episode of the new podcast, get the story here. Counting Stars Here's the "official" Abraham playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2XVV8cBSELvgEAcXnzjc7x?si=uuUbTHFiRU-Abh2NPtAOyg This week's message. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOnExiF0DZ0 I hope you feel you know a little more about Abraham and have found some encouragement in this story of ...
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Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. A day reserved for raising awareness, sharing resources and letting everyone know there are alternatives, success stories and reasons to live. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list suicide as the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States. It ranks second among those ages 10 to 34 and LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide at three times the rate of their straight, cis-gendered ...
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For many people the new year starts the week after Labor Day. Summer (in as much as there was a summer in the COVID year of 2020) is over, and it's time to get down to business. We are living through one of the most stressful times in modern history---and we are tired. Practicing regular and real self and spiritual care is crucial if we are to have the energy ...
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We're doing something new! Starting Monday, Doubting Believer will begin following the Narrative Lectionary and looking at God's Promises. Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nK2PVkpbuA Plus a new podcast! Bible Stories for Big Kids. Preview HERE. Preacher peeps, if you want resources for your own worship based on the Promises Kept theme, check them out HERE.
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Everyone needs a little encouragement--especially right now. And because we're all dealing with our own sh...um, stuff, we may not be as intentional about encouraging others as we would like to be. Here are a few quotes to encourage you to be an encourager. It matters more than you know. Want to make the world better through encouragement? Take our online class You Got This! The Intentional Encourager. Use the ...
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At the last church I served, one Sunday, when we reached the part of worship where we said the Assurance of Pardon, the liturgy led with, "Here the Gospel." I cringed. It was clearly supposed to be a call to the people to "HEAR the Gospel." I have a bit of a pet peeve about here/hear, there/their/they're and your/you're being used incorrectly. I should have caught that. But as the service ...
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At a time when (for many) work, school and home life all take place in one space, it can be hard to separate one from another. Everything morphs together, and it can feel like school or work never really ends. The feeling of "home" has been taken away. There's no magic wand to wave to fix the stress and strain we're all under right now, but an establishment of simple rituals ...
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Goodness and Kindness seem like interchangeable fruits of the spirit, but they are a bit different. As we strive to bear the fruits of goodness and kindness, here are some ways they may show up in our lives. You can download the handy PDF for future reference below. Goodness-and-KindnessDownload
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This week we're talking fruits of the spirit: kindness and goodness. Though we grow up being told to "be good," this fruit of the spirit isn't about being "good enough" or worthy. We don't have to worry about being good enough--because we can't be. Cue the 80's Amy Grant music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjQ3YYBGAqI Our goodness and worth comes not from our own doing, but from God and what God has done for us ...
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It's August, y'all. Who thought this is where we'd be...in August? I still remember when churches had to cancel in-person Easter services and I thought, "well, at least this will make for some really fantastic Pentecost services." For those of you not familiar with the church calendar, Pentecost comes seven weeks after Easter--so of course, that didn't happen. But August? Really? Here we are debating whether or not kids should (or ...
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In my tradition (Presbyterian Church USA), our liturgy in worship is very responsive. A lot of call and response and unison prayers. Many, many opportunities to share our germs with one another. As we think about what worship will look like when we are able to return to worshipping in person, in addition to skipping the congregational singing for now, we will also need to limit the verbal responses. ...
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We're having a heatwave in the northeast. Very thankful to live in a building with central air. Every year when the temps soar into the upper register of the thermometer, I always think about the slogan a large and prominent church in my hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas used to put up every summer: You think it's hot here? While I'm not a fan of scaring people into church with ...
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Faith is not easy. Being a Christian is not a one-and-done moment in time. It's a life-long journey, and sometimes that journey gets rocky and steep, and the bridge gets washed out, and you're not sure you can continue. That's okay. It happens to all of us. In fact, if you've never questioned your faith, you should probably start. A faith that struggles with questions is always stronger than one ...
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Wearing a mask is the official way to love your neighbor in 2020. Studies (many studies) have shown that if everyone wears a mask, the risk of transmission is ridiculously low. Some even say as little as 1.5%. In NYC, where masks have been mandatory for weeks (months!) now, we just hit the lowest death rate since March--while the rest of the non-masked country is experiencing rapid expansion of ...
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I'm in a bad mood most of the time these days. I'm tired of the pandemic. Weary of living it out in a small apartment in a new city where I hardly know anyone. I'm angry at those who are not taking COVID seriously and putting others at risk. I'm disappointed in people who answer "Black Lives Matter" with "All Lives Matter." And I'm incredibly disheartened by ...
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My friend Rev. Kate Murphy has graciously allowed me to re-post this here. Read it. It's really good. My youngest daughter has forgotten her ABCs. She’s been out of nursery school for more than twelve weeks and, turns out, little children don’t just pick up everything they need from Sesame Street. She sings loudly and confidently, but she can only get up to the letter P. Once she hits halfway, ...
Read MoreA lot of anger is floating around out there. I'm not talking about the anger that stems from the lack of access to healthcare or the injustice that black people in our society still face. I'm speaking of the anger that comes from the many people whose only sense of worth has come from the idea that they are "better than" because they are white...or straight...or male...or Christian. Now they ...
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We see you and we celebrate youWe see the good you doWe see the love you shareWe see the people you serve We hear the names people call youNames that we do not recognize or publicize, lest we legitimizeFor those names don’t define you We know you by one nameBeloved Child of GodCreated in God’s own image We don’t pretend to know your painBut when you hurt, we hurt, tooWe may not walk in ...
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Over the last week, I've been listening to my Black clergy colleagues, talking with other Doubting Believers and doing some of my own research on how we can help right now. There are is an overwhelming amount of information out there, so here is a short list of resources that I (and people who know a lot more than I do) are finding helpful right now. For people who think ...
Read MoreLord knows white people are just plum wearing me out. And if someone as white as me is tired of white people, people of color must be so weary, I can't even imagine how they're still standing. Just this week (within walking distance of my apartment) a white woman called the police on a black man who simply asked her to follow the rule and leash her dog. This ...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4V-qRR4zMg Join me starting June 1 (or whenever you want any time after that) for the free five-day Chill Out Challenge. Sign up below
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As churches begin to consider what worship post-pandemic will look like, many are looking at gathering in smaller groups (often at people's homes) before coming together as a whole. The beginning of a new group and new ways of being together is an excellent time to establish some rituals that will not only help bond the group, but also help to keep people safe. I am a huge hugger and absolutely ...
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A young woman on the news captures what's wrong with our world in one sentence. A young woman from a few thousand years ago shows us a better way. https://youtu.be/4KpdYk_hPhI
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Check out this video on a ritual for naming your grief and get further instruction in the text below. https://youtu.be/vWvx5RVAAag Items you'll need: a small box or container paperwriting instrumentsymbol of your loss Light a candle to signify the light of Christ. Invite God into the space. You might choose to sing Kum ba ya (which means Come by Here). If you're familiar with the song, you know there are a ...
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Rituals don't always have to be super serious. They can be fun...even playful. And a little play is good for all of us, especially now. Since most of us are at home and sitting down at the table together more than ever, why not add a prayer ritual to dinner? Or maybe just adjust one that you already have. Here's one that can be more meaningful than ...
Read MoreAs important as it is to nurture our faith, encourage one another and keep a positive attitude, we must also make space for the grief we are feeling during this time. And the grief felt in the midst of this pandemic runs a wide gamut. It goes from grieving the loss our twice-weekly exercise class community to the cancellation of a milestone event or a regular tradition to the loss ...
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What we can still learn from Peter--even though he chose to get out of the boat, and we all got tumped out of ours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z655-4vw4Lc
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People are coming up with great ways to celebrate birthdays in these shelter-in-place Covid-19 times. Zoom parties, drive-by parades, balloon bouquets and surprise lawn decorations are all being employed to celebrate those special days. But like everything else in these Covid-19 times, not getting to gather in person with the people we love is a bummer. Here's a short ritual you can do at home to celebrate you. I've attached ...
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As we remain isolated in our respective homes, all of America (or at least the majority of America) is engaged in a profound act of community right now. It's not voluntary for many, nor is it always done with grace and love, but it is an act of community nonetheless. Not only are we staying in to protect the most vulnerable among us, we are staying in to make sure our ...
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https://youtu.be/lMd-osw61Is Thanks to all who contributed their images of joy. Happy Easter, everyone!
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When we suffer a loss, it's important to recognize and honor that loss. With the current restrictions around gathering together, many are being robbed of that critical piece of the grieving process. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing ideas for rituals to remember those we have lost when we aren't able to participate in larger ceremonies and observances. I hope you'll share your ideas as well. Note: ...
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Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday with Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Things quickly take a downturn and we move to the tragedy of the cross and then on to the triumph of the empty tomb. Holy Week can get dicey. There's no way around it. The miracle of the empty tomb and the Risen Lord don’t have much meaning unless you travel through Good Friday and witness the crucifixion. ...
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The mandate to stay at home and the cancelling of public gatherings is robbing us of much-needed rituals. So each Tuesday, Doubting Believer will bring you rituals to celebrate, mourn and mark special occasions from home. Most of 2020's high school and college graduates will not have traditional graduation ceremonies this year. It is still an important transition in the life of young people, and it needs to be observed and ...
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What are you doing that brings you joy? During this time, finding ways to experience joy is not frivolous, it's imperative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knfynL91124&t=21s Send pics and videos of ways you are finding joy to anne@doubtingbeliever.com.
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About 10 days ago, we talked about Psalms of Communal Lament in our weekly Zoom Bible study. Lament (crying out to God) is expressed throughout our scriptures. It is a form of prayer that is cathartic and reassuring at the same time. I encourage you to write your own Psalm of Communal Lament, but for now, here is mine: Almighty God, Creator of all, things are getting really ...
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Tonight at the inaugural Wine Wednesday Bible Zoom Bible study, we talked about the Psalms of Communal Lament. A note on lament: I am a big fan of lament. My ordination sermon was on the topic. The thing I like most about lament is that if you're crying out to God--in anger, grief, frustration--it means that even in the depths of despair, you still believe that God is listening. That ...
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In times of great stress, it's important to take radically good care of yourself. When that stress also includes financial uncertainty, it's important to be able to do it without spending money. Here are some free ways to take care of yourself during this most difficult season. Breathe Never underestimate the power of pausing and breathing. Even if you just have a minute, it can make a huge difference. My favorite ...
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For people of faith communities, our first instinct in a time of crisis is to gather together. But what if the crisis makes gathering counter-indicated or even dangerous? Here are five ways to gather with your faith (or friend) community that won't put you or others at risk. Set a Prayer Time Set a specific time every day for prayer. Commit to praying at that time so that you know you ...
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Ok, good pastors don't play favorites, but there are members who make their jobs easier. If you want to be that kind of church member, check out these 10 things. Tell them when you're sick, in the hospital or if someone has died. Pastors are not psychic, nor do they sense a disturbance in the force when a member has left this mortal coil. If you want their presence and/or ...
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Lent begins Wednesday, February 26. Traditionally Lent is a time to enter into deeper reflection or discipline to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of Easter. Some people give something up. Other's take on a particular practice. If you're not quite sure what to do for Lent yet, here are some options. Are you already listening to Parents Take Five podcast with Jen Evans? If you're a parent, ...
Read MoreThis is a saying I picked up from my grandfather. When he used it, he was generally referring to a hymn he experienced on one of those rare occasions when my saintly grandmother could drag him to church. We all know nice songs that are hard to sing, and I think the idea fits the Lenten scripture passages from the Narrative Lectionary this year quite well. They are familiar passages, ...
Read MoreI just came from a confirmation camp at Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center. Part of the focus for this group of confirmands was on interfaith dialogue and how we live our Christian life in harmony with people of other faiths. We were blessed with the presence of Daisy Khan, the director of Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality, who shared her own faith journey with us and answered a ...
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Obviously, Doubting Believer is not a food blog or recipe site, but it is about living a life in Christ and becoming the people God calls us to be. A life in Christ is a life of service and care for others. We all know that one of the best ways to show that we care when someone has just had a baby, is dealing with an illness or has ...
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What do we want to bind ourselves to here on earth--judgment, exclusion and disconnection? Or do we want to bind ourselves to love, inclusion and relationship? I have scoured the scriptures and can't find anything that insists that we are bad Christians if we don't police the actions and attitudes of others. But I find a lot that insists that love, forgiveness and welcome is essential to a life in ...
Read MoreThere are a number of "wise" sayings of my maternal grandfather that have been passed down in the family lore. One he was particularly fond of (especially in reference to hymns on those occasions when my saintly grandmother could get him to church) was, "It's a nice song, but hard to sing." We all know songs like this. The Star Spangled Banner comes to mind. Let it Go from ...
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Doubting Believer is an experiment in what an online, progressive, inclusive Christian community can look like and be. We have an e-mail list, a FB page, FB groups and online classes. But one thing we haven't had is a common mission. I've been thinking and praying on and generally searching for what that might be. The world's problems are many and great. In what mission might this small group ...
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Taking our faith to work. How do we do it in ways other than walking up to people and asking them if they know Jesus? Actually, I would really recommend against that. To take our faith to work...or school...or into our community, we just have to shift some attitudes and ideas on what it means to minister. The first idea we need to change—or to simply let go of—is the ...
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Need some guidelines for the year ahead? Here's an A to Z list of things to remember as we dive into a new decade! First, a classic ABC song to get you in the right frame of mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFpIxHLEyh4 And now... Absolve yourself (and others) from guilt and shame. Believe in people (and let them know it). Call out racism and hate. Create beauty. Care for the least of these. Doubt--because ...
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I have gotten a bad rap. I’m not even in Luke’s version of the nativity story and yet, in Christmas pageant after Christmas pageant for the last 2000 years, I’m made out to be the bad guy. I mean, I’m no Herod, but still…I don’t come off looking good. Somehow, I became the guy who turned poor Joseph and great-with-child Mary away from the inn so that her baby had to ...
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Even if he were the most devoted and dedicated angel in all of heaven, Gabriel must have been taken by surprise The Almighty, Immortal, Omnipotent God of all Creation Was going to become one of those frail, fallible, fearful humans. Before Gabriel could decide if he had heard correctly, God springs another surprise. Gabriel must go to the backwater town of Nazareth And tell a poor, peasant teenager that she is to ...
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Find traditional Christmas music grating, irrelevant or just plain silly? I've never been a fan of separating music in to sacred and secular categories--particularly at Christmas. What better time to be reminded that the holy and the human are inextricably intertwined? I think all (most?) music can be sacred if it touches your heart, reveals to you a universal truth, expands your understanding of God and God's people or just ...
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Do you ever have dreams that seem so real, you’re not sure if they happened or not? When I was in my twenties, I used to have a re-occurring dream. Actually, it was a series of dreams with a re-occurring theme. If I had been out somewhere that night—a party, the movies, a restaurant, a friend's home—when I came home and went to bed, I would dream that I was ...
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We Protestants don’t put as much emphasis on Mary as do our Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters. We don’t say the Hail Mary. We don’t pray to Mary as an intercessor. In most Reformed Protestant churches, Mary gets trotted out at Christmastime and is packed away with the rest of the nativity scene until Advent rolls around again. I think we need Mary front and center more often. Mary is ...
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It's the second Sunday of Advent. The time is drawing nigh. Houses are being decorated. Christmas cards are being addressed. Menus are being planned. Cantatas and children's pageants are being rehearsed. Budgets are starting to strain, and nerves are beginning to frazzle. We swore last year that we wouldn’t do it again. We would not spend our weekends and evenings elbowing through crowds or driving around in the rain searching ...
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In the midst of the darkness, we hang on to the light. The prophet Isaiah said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me;he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,to bind up the broken hearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and release to the prisoners;To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,and the day of our God.” Hope is convinced that God will keep ...
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Make your holiday a happy one. Based on my experience and extensive research, here are the top 10 questions to avoid this Thanksgiving Day. So, what do you think about the impeachment hearings? When are you two getting married?When are you having kids/another kid/trying for a boy/girl? (basically stay away from all talk of people's sex lives and reproductive choices)Do you have a job yet? Or the related: When are you ...
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When I took my first call in ministry, I was not prepared for people to think of me as a respected member of the clergy right away. I figured I would have to earn my stripes and build some credibility, and therefore have some time to grow into it, but...no. Some folks just jumped right in to tell me about intimate relationship issues, family members involved in illegal activity, illnesses ...
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In response to those Christian voices who decry and denounce the celebration of Halloween, my friend Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell (minister and unapologetic celebrant) penned this ode a few years ago. She graciously allows me to re-post it, because it makes me happy every Halloween. I think it should be read aloud in the town square (if we still had such things) every year. In defense and praise of Halloween! Rally the ...
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All Saints and All Souls day are coming up November 1 and November 2, respectively. Historically, in the Catholic tradition, All Saints Day has been a celebration of the communion of saints, those people who were believed to have made it to heaven. All Souls was a day to pray for all souls--particularly those who may be lingering in purgatory. Today, many Protestant liturgical traditions use the days interchangeably. ...
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What distinguishes Christianity from other religious practices is our belief in grace. The belief that the Grace of God is ours not because of what we do or say or because of who we are but because of who God is. Rabbi Hyam Maccoby says that in most traditions, faith is not about belief but about practice. It’s not about accepting certain irrefutable propositions, but about doing things that change ...
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While the legal community may anxiously await the first Monday in October, those of us who follow the liturgical calendar look forward to the first Sunday in October--World Communion Sunday. If you come from a worshipping community that observes communion (aka the eucharist or the Lord's Supper) every Sunday, this may seem like an unnecessary observance. But many communities only take communion once a month, and some traditions may only ...
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In the Judeo-Christian story of creation, humans were gifted with earth and all it has to offer. We were also charged with taking care of it. We have failed at this on a massive scale. How weird is it that many Christians are the leading deniers of climate science, and a bunch of non-believers are leading the charge to save God's good creation from the damage we have done ...
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Who is our neighbor? Jesus makes it pretty clear that everyone is our neighbor. Somewhere in the history of the church of Jesus Christ (and I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly when and where it happened) The church lost track of that notion. The church became the people who... told women what they could and couldn’t do in the church—and with lives, told people who they could and couldn’t love, condemned people who didn’t ...
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Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.” God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them,[b] male and female God created them. God blessed them and said ...
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Lots of changes going on in my world. Our family moved across the country, we dropped our daughter off for her freshman year at college and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. But, hey, where better to do that last thing than in NYC? I'm writing this from a completely over-stuffed apartment in the city. Even after getting rid ...
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I'm a little (a lot) overwhelmed these days. And I'm not the only one. Colleagues in ministry are juggling demanding calls with caring for ailing parents or children with special needs. Many of my friends are (like me) preparing to send a child off to college for the first time and illness, accidents or unforeseen circumstances are hindering the preparation process. I'm in the middle of moving half-way across ...
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I'm having one of those what-the-hell-God days. I like to believe that I'm pretty good at trusting God. At knowing that even in the darkest times, God is in the midst of it...somewhere. Even when I can't see it or feel it, I can trust that God is there. But then there are days that leave you asking God, "What the hell is up with this?" A bright 30-something light ...
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I witnessed an almost-car wreck today. Across the street a car was preparing to turn right. To the left was the top of a hill, and you could only see cars coming as they crested the hill. However, there was enough distance between the crest and where the car was getting on the road that, as long as you didn't see a car, you had plenty of time (I know ...
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Are you in to rebellion? Resistance? Protest? Then the Sabbath is for you. Think Sabbath is about doing nothing? Wrong! The Sabbath rest is an act of justice. In taking a day off, for that day, you are not living under the rules of a world that say you must be productive in order to be worthwhile. You are not accountable to any master but the true Master. When you take Sabbath, ...
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I've encountered some confusion recently when I've talked about people who have been hurt and abused by the church. Some people think that I'm referring to (and only to) victims of childhood sexual abuse by the church. That's an understandable assumption, as news of such abuse (tragically) continues to be unfolding, and it's something all of us can get behind in our disgust and outrage. But when I talk about ...
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I love a good dive bar, and the best dive bar in Little Rock, Arkansas is the White Water Tavern. It's a good place to stop in any time, but it is at its best when there is live music. Last night Tulsa-based songwriter John Moreland played to a packed house. Moreland is a ridiculously gifted wordsmith with a very loyal fanbase. But I may have missed out on some of ...
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Legend has it that it was this Irish Monk who really discovered America, and that it was his journals on his travels that inspired Christopher Columbus to go out and seek the "new world." Whether or not that's true, Brendan did a great deal of journeying and evangelizing and is the patron saint of mariners and travelers--so you might keep the prayer below in your hip pocket as you head out for ...
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It's a weird juxtaposition to see all the Pride Month rainbow flags flying at the same time much of the world around me is being consumed by flood water. For those of you who didn't go to Sunday school: before the rainbow was the symbol of LGBTQ pride, it was the sign at the end of the story of Noah's Ark that God would never flood the world again. (Okay, ...
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There is no such thing as too much encouragement. There is this misunderstanding that too much encouragement can create entitled, superior, narcissistic people, but that’s simply not true. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. Behaving like an entitled, self-centered jerk is the mark of someone who feels pretty lousy about themselves. They act like they're better than others, but it's because they don't really think that they are. Encouraging people ...
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In beauty guru circles, there is a saying about eyebrows: they're sisters, not twins. Meaning, that your eyebrows are not going to look exactly alike and to try to make them so is futile. Perhaps we should start using that analogy when talking about faith and mental health. Sure, they are related in that one can positively (or negatively) affect the other, but they are not the same thing. Mental health ...
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Abortion is a difficult topic to talk about, because, contrary to what a lot of people would have you believe, it's an extremely complex issue. Yes, it involves a life, and as Christians (as humans), we believe strongly in the sanctity and value of life. Life is, indeed, a holy and precious thing. But a pregnancy always involves more than one life. There are two to consider. In my ...
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Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.James 1:22 (KJV) Generally the King James is not my go-to translation, but I like the way this verse trips off the tongue in the King's English. We can read and study and discuss and Tweet and even create lovely Instagram graphics of scripture, but we're missing something if we stay only hearers (and even sharers), and fail to be do-ers. One ...
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You hear that a lot. Let Jesus be your guide. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.Psalm 25:4-5 But what kind of guide does a first century nomadic Palestinian Jew make for 21st Century people? Jesus never had a spouse, or kids or even a real job. Jesus never knew any kind of ...
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Happy Easter Monday in this season of Eastertide. Easter is not just one day but a season of celebration that lasts from Easter morning when we celebrate the resurrection until the Day of Pentecost when we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit. So for 50 days, we will celebrate Easter, new life and renewed hope. Here is one of my favorite Easter songs (that people don't think ...
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Just about every year around this time, I write or tell some version of this story in the hopes that one day life will, indeed, be like the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon was the first race I ever stood on the sidelines to watch. My husband and our stroller-riding daughter and I could walk down from the campus of Andover Newton Theological School where I was in seminary. ...
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If you are over of the age of say, six, then you most likely know what it’s like to have life pull the rug out from under you. Things are going along just great and then out of nowhere disappointment, disaster or disease strikes (sometimes all three at once). These are times when it can seem like hope has abandoned us. Times when we make choices we never thought we ...
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May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. Romans 15:5 [Common English Bible] One of the things I fail miserably at every day is the effort to be more Christ-like. Where Jesus was kind and patient and gentle, I tend to be cranky, impatient and snarky. Perhaps this is why I’m drawn to encouragement as a spiritual discipline. I ...
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Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23 (CEB) I have grown up and grown old with Madonna, and I have always been fascinated by her ability to reinvent herself in world that, as a whole, is incredibly resistant to change. I recently ran across a quote from an interview she did with Vanity Fair many moons ago, and Madonna said, “This ...
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Different pastors follow different cycles of scriptures to use in their sermons. Some do thematic or series preaching. Others preach whatever is on their hearts that week. In most Catholic and mainline Protestant churches, preachers follow a lectionary--a set schedule of scriptures that take you through most of the Bible over the course of several years. The traditional Revised Common Lectionary goes in a three-year cycle, but there is a ...
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We gathered to remember one of our closest family friends this weekend. The pastor at their home church was gracious (and grateful) enough to allow our family to participate in the service. I preached, and my dad shared memories, including some written by my mom. One of the stories my dad told of our friend Arlene was a of a time when he was taking his aunt to the doctor and ...
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This past weekend I attended the wedding of one of my husband's college friends who has never been married before. We're all pushing 50, so it was super exciting to be a part of this wonderful celebration. Not only did we get to celebrate the wedding, we got to spend time with old friends. We laughed a lot. The wedding was out on the West Coast, so it pretty much ...
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We intentionally step onto this Lenten path hoping to grow in our love of God, love of each other, and love for our own precious, flawed selves. Recognizing that life is fleeting should only cause us to love more fiercely, more deeply and without reservation. Gracious God, it is hard to think that we will die someday. We dream, make plans, and talk about what we’ll do in the near future. We don’t ...
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Today is known by many names: Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, depending on your community of origin. In Great Britain and in other commonwealth countries, this day is Pancake Day. It goes back to the days when Christians used to give up items like milk and eggs and butter for Lent, pancakes were a great way to use up all those ingredients before the disciplines of Lent began. So ...
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Over Christmas, my husband and I got both sets of parents (and ourselves) the new Facebook Portal so that we could video chat with them. My father-in-law has had some health issues, and it's been a real blessing to not only talk but to see him and my mother-in-law on a video chat format that's easy for everyone to use. But the portal comes with something I said I'd ...
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The Academy Awards are on tonight, which means fashion statements, pun-ny presenters and acceptance speeches. Some speeches are professional and polished, some are funny, some are painfully awkward and some go completely off the rails, but everyone who wins gives one. They thank their team of agents, managers, etc. They thank their co-workers, their mentors, their families and (at least some of them) God. Perhaps we should start expecting acceptance speeches ...
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In these days of emails, emojis and texts, a handwritten note is a rare commodity. An old-fashioned message that requires a stamp for delivery is really something special in the 21stcentury. A handwritten letter communicates to the recipient that you were willing to actually pause your life long enough to write down your thoughts, place them in an envelope, search out an actual address, purchase a stamp and get the letter to ...
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Chris Pratt (of Parks and Rec, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic Word, etc) has become known for being vocal about his Christian faith. Most recently he talked about his faith practices on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Subsequently, actress Ellen Page pointed out on Twitter that Pratt failed to mention that his church is "infamously anti-LGBTQ." Pratt has denied this and says that his church (Zoe Church) welcomes everyone with open ...
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I find that it's a good idea to check myself from time to time to make sure that my theology is staying faithful to scripture and not just to what I want to believe...or what is convenient to believe...or what is self-serving to believe. So before I go making assertions or sharing opinions on certain subjects, I ask myself these six questions. 1. Is it based on something that is actually ...
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As a pastor, I've had the privilege of walking with many people in their last few days on earth. I'm also one of those rare creatures who comes from a family where we talk about death. My father was a counselor for many years and grief therapy was one of his specialties. My mother is from a very large family, and there have been many funerals to attend. So I'm ...
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Want to level up in your Christian faith, but the idea of a prayer journal or daily Bible study seems daunting? Not big into small groups? Why not try being kind? Not nice, but kind. Being kind is often confused with being nice. They are not the same thing at all. Niceness is pretty vanilla. Kindness goes beyond smiling and being polite and trying not to ruffle any feathers. Nice is inquiring ...
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One day recently, I had back-to-back brief conversations with two people who both used the word "just" in describing themselves. It made me pay more attention to how often people use the word, and I started keeping up with it. Over the last four or five days, I've heard: I'm just a student. I'm just a mom. I'm just a programmer. I'm just a go-fer. I'm just a beginner (guitar). I'm just a dabbler (art). No one ...
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