Leaders are present with their people. It sounds simply enough, but it’s difficult to put into practice.
The Good Old Days, for Whom?
Nostalgia is powerful in its ability to instantly transport us to happier places when life is tough, but it is also powerful in its selectiveness.
Into the Wild: An Advent Reflection
We tend to think about wilderness as a place, but a shack is a visible reminder that wilderness is a force, always pushing back against order and security.
Advent and Christmas Collection
Whether you’re relatively new to Advent or know it like an old friend, I hope you find meaningful insights in this archive of Advent-related articles.
Messy Mangers
Waiting for a baby strengthens the hope, peace, joy, and love, crafting the manger that holds the baby. This is what Advent offers the church.
The Darker Side of Christmas
For the first time in my life I am having to balance the grief that comes with loss and the joy of the Christmas season.
Keeping Santa Claus in Christmas
Before we completely throw him under the bus, let’s consider what Santa Claus brings to the Christmas table.
Lazarus, Come Out!
As I sit imaginatively with this story, I find myself identifying with Lazarus. I find myself in a season of life with God that feels grave.
Marshmallows, Advent, and Waiting for the Best
Advent is the season of waiting, so they say. Waiting for the Messiah king to come. Waiting for God to show up.
In the Red
Because I’m such a conversation nerd, I’ve always been fascinated by Jesus’s actual words. Lately when I read his words, I’m awed by his laser focus.
Using Christmas to Grow a Small Church
May I suggest that we reevaluate our opinion of the season and use it for the cause of Christ?
Merry Christmas All Year Long
Yes, I absolutely am that person. I love Christmas so much that I celebrate it all year long. Here is how I make that work for me.
Massimo Bottura and the “Success” of the Less-Traveled Path
Aspects of Massimo’s journey are helpful to those looking for “success” in today’s world of declining churches.
A Tale of Two Colors
Once upon a time, in a fairy-tale forest, there was a community of owls. These owls had strict codes that dictated their lives.
The Alluring Lie of Performance
Productivity and achievement can certainly be good things. But gauging my own validity as a human being by how efficient and effective I am is perilous.
Thanksgiving Roundup
In lieu of fresh material today, I have gathered several posts that reflect on Thanksgiving, gratitude, table fellowship, and food.
You Have to Be Better
There’s an ugliness I face every time I write a sermon: competition. I compete with myself, and I compete with the guys.
If Sweatshirts Could Talk
I have this old sweatshirt that I’ve had since eighth grade. And I wonder, if this sweatshirt could talk, what would it tell me about my life and myself?
Leadership As Listening
When we think of great leaders, we tend to think of people who were great speakers. But to be great leaders, we need to start by listening to those who are under our care.
Women Know Things: An Untapped Epistemic Advantage
An epistemic advantage is “a critical, perspectival edge created by experiencing oppression personally or empathically.”