Passage for reflection: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 I recently listened as a salesperson spoke eloquently and with great passion. His presentation was polished and perspicacious; his approach was problematic and pretentious. The message he was delivering was likely factually correct, but it was unhelpful. Rather than learning about my needs and tailoring a presentation to address them, he was more concerned with impressing me with his vast product knowledge and sticking to a predetermined Read More …
Discipleship
25 Years, 25 Positions – One Purpose (#1951)
Earlier this week I shared some Labor Day Reflections. In the days since writing that post, I've done some additional reflecting on my own experience of work with a focus on my work since 1996. Over the last 25 years, I've worked for 15 different employers in 25 different positions (excluding short-term work as coach or consultant,). I've often changed roles once joining an organization, achieving four titles once, three titles twice, and two titles twice. And, I've often worked for Read More …
Labor Day Reflections (#1950)
Throughout the day I've been thinking about work, including the role it has played in my life and the ways work has changed during my lifetime. On social media, I've paused to ponder memes exploring advances in workers' rights and on pictures of friends having fun outdoors. I've also taken time to read a number of articles exploring the end of unemployment benefits for 7 million American workers and the end of a $300 week federal supplement to state unemployment benefits for 3 million more Read More …
A Decade in the United Church of Christ (#1948)
While I've been associated with Mainline Protestant Christian congregations my entire life, I never experienced the United Church of Christ until 2010. As a native Texan, I'm used to hearing folks say "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could." In many respects, that sentiment resonates with my spiritual journey and late arrival in the United Church of Christ. Before the UCC Prior to encountering the United Church of Christ I was Baptized, confirmed, and discerned Read More …
Humility (#1947)
Humility. Being humble. Living with humility. I have lived, worked, and served alongside a number of helpful and inspiring examples of humility. And, I have come to know the value of humility most clearly in the person of Jesus. Your attitude must be the same of that of Christ Jesus: Christ, though, in the image of God, didn't deem equality with God something to be clung to - but instead became completely empty and took on the image of oppressed humankind: born into the human Read More …
Struck (#1944)
On Wednesday afternoon, I was driving from East Dallas to Mesquite for a meeting. The drive was going according to plan until it wasn't. Without warning, I was struck from behind by another SUV. Over the last few days I've reflected on the experience and the life changes that have followed: Health. Thankfully neither party was seriously injured. The many safety features on both vehicles performed as designed.Priorities. The other driver felt his next meeting so important that after Read More …
My First Complete In Person Worship Experience (#1942)
Until March 2020, I took for granted that nearly every Christian congregation would offer a weekly in person worship experience that would include congregational singing and musical worship leadership by a choir, orchestra, and/or a praise band. Starting in March 2021, I began to learn experientially about the many ways congregations are moving toward a "new normal" or "next normal." During the first two months Mainline Protestant congregations in the Dallas - Fort Worth area were Read More …
My “Next Normal” Communion Experience (#1937)
COVID-19 has forever changed the church. While exactly what the "next normal" of worship will look like will vary regionally and, within regions, between congregations, it will not return to how it was before the pandemic. With this in mind, I included worship changes as one of five changes I expect in the life of the church in the months and years ahead (for more on that check out Giving Up the Church I Always Knew). Returning to Indoor Worship After more than a year of worshipping Read More …
It’s Time to Live Again (#1934)
Passage for reflection: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Church is predictable. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve served nine congregations, and been part of worship services in over one hundred. In the denominations I know best, worship happens in an orderly manner and without surprises. The church year is predictable. Each new year begins with Advent, then come Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. While that listing is correct it is intentionally incomplete; it omits Read More …
My Ministry Journey: Another BIG Step (#1933)
I'm excited to share the news that I've accepted a new ministry position. On June 21, 2021, I'll become the next Executive Director of the White Rock Center of Hope. This big next step is possible because of so many other steps of varying sizes I've already taken. The following account is an attempt to provide a high level overview of my preparation for this step. My approach is primarily chronological utilizing a series of phases or acts. While give thanks for the hundreds of Read More …