This morning we continued the: Advent at Advent – Waiting and Wondering series. at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) Sermon My message, “Pay Attention is based on Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 3:1-6. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt The word of God came to John. And the word of God comes to us. So, in the final days of the Presidency of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. when Gregory W. Abbot was governor of Texas, when Jim Ross was the mayor of Arlington Read More …
Great New Books for December 2024 (#2177)
The best new books I’ve read in the last month are Welcome Back One author on this month's list has appeared previously on So What Faith. David Gushee appeared in 2020 when his then new book After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity by David P. Gushee (Westminster John Knox Press, 2020) was rated 5.0. He was also featured in 2014 when I shared his definition of vital Christianity. Read More …
Is Pastor the Most Fulfilling Job? (#2176)
There is more than enough bad news about clergy. ranging from stories about the stress of leading a parish through a pandemic to concerns about clergy health and wellbeing to accounts of clergy misconduct. In recent days, I've seen content on social media again and again about how many clergy are choosing to exit ministry all together. In contrast, there is good news. According to a recently published Washington Post article by Andrew Van Dam, clergy are more fulfilled in their work than Read More …
Pay Attention! (#2175)
This morning on the occasion of the start of a new church year and the first Sunday of Advent, Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA).started a new series: Advent at Advent - Waiting and Wondering. It is the first series I'll be preaching in this community of faith that is guided by the lectionary. Sermon My message, “Pay Attention is based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 & Luke 21:25-36. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt in both the Old Testament reading and in Read More …
Giving Thanks: Remembering the 10 Congregations I’ve Served (#2174)
A little over a year ago I reflected on the first 9 congregations I served and on the 10 denominations that have shaped my theology. Today, on the final day of the month of thankfulness, I pause to give thanks for the 10 congregations I've served (I started serving #10 in June 2024). In chronological order: Denominations I've served congregations affiliated with five denominations: Location These communities of faith are located in the Dallas - Arlington - Fort Worth area Read More …
2024 in Exactly 100 Words (#2173)
After sending Christmas letters back in the era when postal mail was just called mail, I shifted that annual correspondence online many years ago. In 2016 I condensed it to 100 words recognizing that most people simply skim the longer format of what often becomes a family newsletter. Every year since, I've written a 100 word year in review summary. And, I started sharing that content here on So What Faith last year. This year’s edition follows. 2024 in Review After starting a new job Read More …
Choosing Thanks: Don’t Give Thanks, Choose It (#2172)
This morning I preached a Thanksgiving themed sermon at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). Sermon My message, “Choosing Thanks” was based on Deuteronomy 8:7-18 and Luke 17:11-19. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Thanksgiving is just a few days away. To prepare, I’ve been asking people to share some of their family traditions. Most of what I’ve heard so far focuses on the location of the gathering, the guest list, or the menu. And, in it isn’t just Read More …
Top 10 Dining Moments aka Amazing Food Pics (#2171)
I like to eat. I enjoy eating out. I've brought these two things together in a manner that can be shared with the world by writing Google restaurant reviews. In recent years I've written 80 reviews that include 444 pictures. And those pictures have now been view just over 11 million times (up from just over 4 million a year ago and just over 1 million two years ago). Leading up to Thanksgiving in 2022 I shared my then Top 10 Plates (based on total views). This time last year, I shared an Read More …
You Belong: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity (#2170)
Today I wrapped up a six week sermon series inspired by Debie Thomas’ new book A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity (Broadleaf, 2024). Today, we focused on belonging. Sermon My message, “Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity” was based on John 14:1-14. Belonging You can watch the sermon below or read the manuscript. Excerpt In fact, this morning’s modern reading was an excerpt from the book’s introduction. A Faith of Many Rooms begins with Read More …
Goodbye Twitter, X, or Whatever You’ve Become (#2169)
Yesterday I deleted my account on the platform formerly known as Twitter and now renamed X. After investing thousands of hours on the platform over the last 15 years, it became clear that it was time to part ways. Memories I've reflected on my experience at several points along the 15 year journey, including: So What? Social media has changed a great deal over the last fifteen years. Importantly, the platform formerly known as Twitter has changed dramatically only over the last Read More …