Passage for reflection: Psalm 62:5-6 Recent news headlines demonstrate the heaviness of the present moment. Nearly 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Domestic terrorists engaged in an insurrection in our nation's capital. Hungry people wait for hours in their vehicles at food banks for the opportunity to feed their families. For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is in God. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken (Psalm Read More …
Discipleship
10 Months (and Counting) Without In Person Worship (#1910)
Gathering with other followers of the Way of Jesus in an indoor sacred space for a time of worship each Sunday was part of my life story from birth until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As I participated in the first few weeks of online or virtual worship, I never considered that this would become a new normal much less that it would extend into the year 2021. Six Months After six months without gathering for in person worship, I shared some reflections on my experience Read More …
New Year, New Worship Experience (#1908)
It has been ten months since I last walked into the sanctuary of a church to participate in worship. Given the current spike in COVID-19 cases where I live and the slower than expected distribution of the vaccine, I am unsure when I may next participate in worship as I'd always known it before COVID-19. Today, for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, I gathered in the same physical place as others for worship. Preparation Last month, First Presbyterian Church (Fort Read More …
Top 10 Memories of 2020 (#1906)
2020 has been quite a year! When the year started I'd never heard of COVID-19 and rarely used words and phrases that are now commonplace: contact tracing, essential workers, quarantine, pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, and Zoom. As I reflect on a year that offered more time for reflection than any other, the following 10 memories stand out: Vacationing with Susan in Naples, Florida to celebrate that we’ve now been married for more than half of my life Read More …
Giving Thanks: 10 Ministry Experiences (#1900)
Thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not simply a holiday scheduled the fourth Thursday of November. In the spirit of continuing the focus on thankfulness, today I'm reflecting on and giving thanks for the ten different ministry settings I've served. These settings vary in many ways, yet are all committed to making more real God's kin-dom on earth Founding: Less than 10 years ago to more than 150Size: Less than 100 active participants to more than 2,000Denomination: 5 Mainline Protestant Read More …
Enjoying the Beauty of Nature (#1899)
I'm someone who spends most of my time indoors. For the last week I've spent quite a bit more time outside, enjoying the breathtaking views and ideal climate in Naples, Florida. I invite you to take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of nature by viewing and reflecting on the five images below. Which image do you feel most connected to? Explain the connection.Share an experience of being outside during the pandemic that was particularly meaningful or moving. Explore the sights, Read More …
First Sunday After the Election (#1897)
The past seven days have been unusually stressful for many Americans. The Presidential election produced record turnout and vote counting took longer than many expected. Now, we know that Joe Biden is President-elect. Preaching Pastors have faced unexpected challenges throughout 2020. Nearly all pastors in congregational ministry have learned to preach to a virtual audience or have worked to improve competency. On top of the ongoing (and recently worsening) pandemic, today pastors Read More …
No Longer Presbyterian (#1895)
Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian church, and in recent years continued to identify as Presbyterian despite not holding membership in a Presbyterian congregation or regularly attending worship. One week ago today Trump attended worship at the non-denominational International Church of Las Vegas. A few days after this experience, Trump changed his religious affiliation from Presbyterian to non-denominational Christian. Rather than announcing this shift in a televised event, Trump Read More …
Practice Christian Kissing (#1894)
Passage for reflection: 1 Peter 5:14 Churches are some of the friendliest and most welcoming places around. Whether navigating as newcomer or returning as a regular, people expect to receive a warm welcome. In reality, first-time experiences fall short of the ideal more often than not. When I visited one of the fastest growing congregations in the country I stood alone in the lobby for an extended period of time before and after worship watching people pass me by without receiving a single Read More …
Staying Put (#1893)
Passage for Reflection: Jonah 2:1-10 Jonah’s time in the belly of a whale – or, more likely, just a big fish – is one of the best-known stories from the minor prophets. The story is simple enough for even the youngest listener to picture yet nuanced enough to keep the serious scholar engaged. How did Jonah find himself in such a predicament? What’s it like to live for such a long time in such a strange situation? The top story of 2020 is the global pandemic of COVID-19. As this story Read More …