"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” People have begun to descend on Jerusalem for the festival of Passover. There is typically one grand entry into Jerusalem, however this year something is different. There are... Continue Reading →
If I Had Grown Up Here…Reflections from Bosnia on New Zealand
"If I had grown up here, I would be of the Muslim faith." Hearing of the Mosque bombings in New Zealand, I went back to my notes to make sure it was written as I had remembered. If I had grown up here, I would be of the Muslim faith." It was. Twelve years later,... Continue Reading →
4 Things You Need to Do to Prepare Your Church to Welcome New People
By Tuesday, pastors and lay leaders have put last Sunday in the rear-view mirror and are thinking and planning for next Sunday. The thing about Sunday is that it always comes and there are no re-runs. Many are looking at visiting a church, perhaps your church, this Sunday. Welcoming these guests isn't as simple as opening... Continue Reading →
3 Reasons Why More People Are Doing Lent
Several years ago I was talking with someone who attended the local mega-church. He was excited to tell me that his pastor had started a new tradition leading up to Easter called Lent. I asked if he meant that the church had started to observe Lent this year. "Oh no, he invented it for this year. Isn' t it... Continue Reading →
A Smudge
What are those on your forehead? What are you giving up? Two questions you rarely hear asked except for one day out of the year- Ash Wednesday. People often ask what I miss most about serving a congregation- there are many things- but one thing that always surprises them is when I say "Ash Wednesday." I... Continue Reading →
The Promise Remains- Thoughts on the United Methodist Church General Conference
I've watched the United Methodist General Conference with great interest. My parents are United Methodists. I received one of the best theological educations one can get through a United Methodist Seminary (I know just enough Wesley to get in trouble). Some of the best practices in preaching, church leadership, justice, and pastoral care that I... Continue Reading →
3 Issues Worthy of a National Emergency
The term “national emergency” has recently taken its place in our vocabulary. The President declared a national emergency in response to what he considers to be a crisis at the US border with Mexico. Of course, there is way more to this declaration, but that’s another discussion for another day. While I don’t disagree that... Continue Reading →
The Privilege of Merely Being Cold
I woke up this morning in my warm, heated house. The first thing I did was turn over and look at my iPhone, which told me the temperature was -7 degrees with a wind chill of around -20. I took a hot shower, picked from an abundance of clothes in order to get dressed, and... Continue Reading →
4 Ways Your Church Can Empower New Leaders
No matter the size of the congregation or the size of the staff, the ministries of a church are primarily carried out through those who make up the church community. Many congregations experience a leadership vacuum, with long-time leaders burned out and newer members not being offered a seat at the table. We make it hard to... Continue Reading →
