I don’t know what your history classes were like in high school or college, but I assure you that this is a fascinating tale, which is all the more remarkable since you already know how it comes out. (Nonfiction)
Carrying On in Troublesome Times
How do we carry on when we do not know whether or not today is simply a preface to a harder tomorrow?
Courage, Prayer, and Hope
The pandemic is ushering us into liminal space – one that differs from the immediate past but is not yet whatever the future may eventually be.
Plays by Hnath, McCarthy, Schreck, and McDonagh
It is undoubtedly true that plays were meant to be seen on the stage. And yet some of these scripts are so brilliant that they yield great pleasure and insight even by their reading. (Fiction)
When it Comes to Stress Management, What’s Even Better Than Cake?
Regardless of what is going on right now, may you find comfort, strength, and hope in the one whose yoke is easy.
Minister as Counterweight
Despite what many organizational leadership books suggest, leadership – especially ministry – is much more than just being a non-anxious presence.
“Midnight in Chernobyl” by Adam Higginbotham
It is a brilliant piece of detailed investigative reporting and the best account of the Chernobyl disaster that we have. (Nonfiction)
Are You More Loving?
When we love like Jesus loved, then we show all humankind that we are disciples of Jesus.
Three Questions We’d Better Be Asking
It has really been helpful for me to think through these questions and remind myself where my allegiance lies, what is really true, and who is in charge of this world.
“After the Quake” by Haruki Murakami
The straightforward impetus for the stories is the Kobe earthquake of 1995. Four thousand were killed, and more than a quarter million were left homeless. It lasted all of 20 seconds. (Fiction)
For Elders Who Are Facilitating Gender Inclusion, Elders’ Meetings Can Be a Difficult Place to Be
When I asked my fellow female ministers what they want their elders to know, here are a few of the responses they shared.
“American Crucifixion” by Alex Beam
At the very least, we should educate ourselves on the history so we can understand where Mormonism came from. (Nonfiction)
A Special Project for the Church
They wanted to go beyond simply writing a monthly support check to local and foreign missions or benevolent efforts. They wanted to put their Christianity to work.
“Motherless Brooklyn” by Jonathan Lethem
It is a call for us, individually and as a society, to try a little harder to understand and appreciate those in our midst whose minds work a little differently from our own. (Fiction)
Is Church Essential?
Regardless of whether you can gather soon with members of your local flock, the nagging question remains: “What is essential about being the church?”
The Theological School of My Living Room
My articulate and intellectual preparedness is challenged the moment my kids ask a pointed question like, “Do cats like to swim?”
Renewed for Ministry
One of the characters in the Bible who has impacted my life most profoundly is Elijah, because there is so much we can learn from his life and legacy.
“Columbine” by Dave Cullen
While the events are deeply moving and almost unbearable, Cullen has not set out to toy with our hearts but to tell us what really happened. (Nonfiction)
Barna State of the Church 2020 and the Next Generation
The fact is the church sits in the middle of a world needing restoration, and our next generation sits in the middle of the church.
The Power of Reaching One
In our day, it’s very easy to stand behind a computer and think that’s ministry. Of course that’s part of it, but when that’s all we do, I think there’s a problem.