I don’t know about you, but some days it feels like life is just a series of small battles I didn’t sign up for. The coffee spills. The email inbox never sleeps. The dog ate something she absolutely should not have. (Sorry for that image!) And yet… somehow, in the middle of all that, God…
A heartfelt Veterans Day reflection honoring the courage of those who served and those still serving written from the bedside of a 97-year-old WWII veteran and after saying goodbye to a son heading back to base.
It was one of those mornings when the world still felt half-asleep. The sky was dark. The coffee hadn’t quite kicked in yet. And the traffic heading downtown was already thick enough to make you question your life choices. I had my audio book just loud enough to keep me alert. Then ding . A message popped…
We don’t need more impressive leaders. We need more wholehearted ones. I’m reading the book Daring Greatly and it’s been an eye opening read so far. Admittedly, I’m not too far into the book but this felt like something I had to put in my own words. Too many of us lead from scarcity. We’re constantly chasing…
I stand behind pulpits and podiums,smile through scripture, break bread with the broken,but behind the suit and dress shirtmy heart is cracked glass. See, they say, “Pastor, it’s part of the job,”like grief is a line in my call papers.Like funerals come with the welcome packet.Like burying saints is just part of the benefits package.But…
While at the gathering we’ve been treated to original poems by Tanner Olson. Here’s my crack at a written to speak style poem summarizing last night’s event. Remember it’s written to speak which means you kind of need to read it aloud to get the rhythm to it. I didn’t earn this place.Didn’t climb enough…
There’s something sacred about those beloved colors of red, white, and blue. They’re more than just a color scheme for a t-shirt or those skirts around floats for a parade. They tell a story. They tell our story whether we like it or not. Every thread of that flag carries the weight of history and the…
As I think about the history of the church body that has been my home for nearly 49 years and the District where my ministry has centered, I was challenged to consider what could be in the Ohio District. Here is a quick look ahead and what is possible if our movement is lead by…
Today is Holy Saturday—the day between heartbreak and hope. The sanctuary stands quiet. The week has been long. Holy Week always carries its own weight, but this year, it feels heavier. Maybe it’s the rain tapping gently on the windows, or maybe it’s the fire that startled our rhythm and left its mark—small but unsettling….
It should be no secret. Ministry can wreck you. Spiritually. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. I work with a lot of pastors and the comments are like a chorus that’s being sung over and over by so many. Wayne Cordeiro’s Leading on Empty is not just another leadership book. It’s a wake-up call for every leader who’s ever wondered…
