I recently stumbled upon this speech given by the sister of the groom at a wedding: Her speech is heartwarming in the shorthand way it conveys the mystical (but SO relatable) manner our lives progress from haphazard meanderings (a random date with “the volleyball girl”), to the unveiling of destiny (“Sarah’s the one”). In the … More Things Become Clear in the Rearview Mirror
Lost in the shuffle of a summer dominated by racial tension, raging wildfires, a global pandemic, and the attending political turmoil was a personal milestone – the first Sunday of July marked five years since I became the pastor of our little church. Steady, dependable, upright, faithful longevity in gospel ministry is absolutely foundational to … More 5 Lessons from My First 5 Years of Pastoral Ministry
Folks in rural towns like mine are in an odd, awkward spot regarding the current discussions of race and justice in America. Where many cities are in the throes of massive upheaval and change, we’re looking on from afar – unsure of our role in this moment, and uncertain of how the changes taking place … More Christianity, Race, and Justice in Rural America
Let’s Be Still by The Head and the Heart “The world’s just spinning a little too fast, If things don’t slow down soon, we might not last. So just for a moment, let’s be still. They’re tearing down, so we can rebuild. And all of this time is just circles in my mind. So just … More A Playlist to Process a Pandemic
Outdated opinions on month-old news The Story: United States Kills Qasem Soleimani, Iran Responds Note: Dates of events listed are at the location of the event, a day “ahead” of the U.S. As you were still getting into the groove of your New Year’s resolutions and wondering what 2020 might have in store, the year … More Anti-Viral: WWIII with Iran
If I may, I’d like to ask a direct and uncomfortable question right out of the gate. What scandalizes you? The term snowflake has transformed in meaning over the past few years. It used to refer to freezing precipitation, or as a metaphor for the unique attributes of each person. But now snowflake is a … More Christians and Offensive Art
There’s quite a smorgasbord of ways to refer to folks in my line of work: Priests Holy Rollers Men of the Cloth Bible thumpers Elders Preachers One particularly dear sister at my church calls me “Pastor Sweetie” Whatever you might call us, I’m sure you’re aware that people of my occupation aren’t perfect. We are … More When Pastors Say Stupid Stuff
What am I supposed to do? As you read that question, I suppose an assortment of scenarios and memories come to mind when you’ve asked it in the past: When you’ve already asked someone to repeat a statement you couldn’t hear the first time, but you still couldn’t hear when he tried again. When you’re … More Limitations
There’s nothing better than gathering some friends and family together and going out to eat. A town’s culture pulses through every interaction at a restaurant. The experience of time with friends, good food, and the unique quirks of a particular establishment make for a great time enjoying many of God’s gifts to us in one … More My Favorites: Restaurants
Small Town Gospel 