Monthly theme: Resilience Reading time: two minutes Han Solo never flew solo. The Lone Ranger had a faithful companion. Ministry is hard, so don’t try it alone. Elijah’s lament at his lowest point of despair was, “I’m the only one left!” (1 Kings 19:10, and again in 19:14!) The Lord’s… Read More
Monthly theme: Resilience Reading time: two minutes The Boo-Boo Bunny lives in our freezer. She’s a little pink, fuzzy critter with a plastic frozen cube inside her. When one of the grandkids takes a tumble and comes up crying, we head for the Boo-Boo Bunny. A bump, a scrape, a… Read More
Monthly theme: Resilience Reading time: two minutes Movie Trivia: Who said, “‘Tis but a scratch!”? (Hint: He said it after King Arthur lopped off one of his arms in a swordfight.) He also said, “I’ve had worse,” and shouted after losing both arms and legs, “I’M INVINCIBLE!” You got it;… Read More
Monthly theme: Identity Reading time: two minutes You’re an example for others to follow. It comes with the territory. Paul wrote those under his shepherding care on numerous occasions, “Imitate me,” or “Follow my example.” How does that grab you? It kind of sounds pretentious. It’s certainly humbling. Maybe humiliating… Read More
Monthly theme: Identity Reading time: one minute (take a break!) Three quick thoughts… First, nicely done. Lent means a lot of hard work. Thank you! Second, remember that shepherding your flock through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week and Easter is a messy business. The idealized version… Read More
Monthly theme: Identity Reading time: two minutes Ever sit down to write a sermon and think, “I’ve got nothing”? Good. Now you’re ready. I laughed at the silliness of the cartoon, a preacher at his desk under an enormous wall of books, thinking to himself, “I wish I could think… Read More
Monthly theme: Identity. Reading time: two minutes. Just who do you think you are? It’s that time of year that makes you wonder. Easter Sunday is looming just a few weeks away. There’s urgency to get this right. Tremendous opportunity. And you’re the Pastor. Seriously? Maybe it’s exhaustion. Maybe it’s… Read More
Reading time: two minutes. You’re half-way through Lent. You tried to get everything ready for extra worship services and Holy Week in advance, but you still feel like you’re playing catch-up. You deserve a mid-Lenten mini-break. Here’s why. It’s the oxygen mask speech on the airplane. You’re traveling through Lent… Read More
Monthly theme: Receptivity Reading time: two minutes. In March, trees look different in the north and the south. Minnesota fruit trees appear to be lifeless (they’re not!) and Arizona fruit trees are dropping golden nuggets of harvest everywhere. You’re like that. You have seasons of harvest and also seasons of… Read More
Monthly theme: Receptivity. Reading time: two minutes. Painting footprints on the floor is part of learning to dance, but dancing really happens when it flows from the heart. Learn the steps with your brain and your feet, then learn to glide across the floor as your dance partner takes the… Read More
Monthly theme: Receptivity. Reading time: two minutes. You understand the difference between Genesis clay and Jeremiah clay, don’t you? Genesis clay is the “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” kind. Everyone on earth is that kind of clay. Jeremiah clay is reserved as a designation… Read More
Monthly theme: Receptivity. Reading time: two minutes. Luther called all Christian theology a “receptive theology.” God speaks and God works. We receive. From baptism to our dying breath where we echo Martin’s last scrawl, “We are such beggars,” all we are and have is what we have received from God. Read More
The Way to Wellness for the Non-Ordained in Church and School Ministries