My friends over at HerKentucky are doing a special series during the month of June about–what else?–weddings! For my guest post yesterday, I shared the wedding experience from the ‘other side’ of the chancel; the pastor’s perspective. Your minister might be too nice to tell you this stuff. But we all know, I’m not that nice! Here is some stuff that we are thinking as you plan for and enjoy your perfect day. 1) We roll inward eyes a little when you say... Read more
As is so often the case… I was late to the party. The virtual wake for Will D. Campbell, that is. When he passed away earlier this week, my newsfeed filled up quickly with articles about his life and work. As a general rule, if I see something go by more than 5 times, I take a minute to read it. After all, if so many people are thinking/talking about something…there’s a good chance it needs to go into my sermon... Read more
Designers of the ‘Ark Encounter’ theme park in Hebron, Kentucky want park-goers to have an authentic experience of biblical events. They want to literally “bring to life” the boarding of the ark, the fall of Babel, and the horror of the plagues. After all, what brings people into close encounter with the Holy better than amusement park rides, corn dogs, and souvenirs reading “I survived 10 plagues and all I got was this lousy t-shirt?” Ok, the shirt design is mine... Read more
I remember when dance recital week was the busiest/most stressful week of the year. I didn’t eat much in the month leading up to the show because somewhere, along the way, I’d picked up on the memo that real dancers didn’t eat. Don’t worry, i didn’t have the discipline and/or self-loathing to maintain ‘recital diet’ for the whole year. Still–much of the fatigue I recall attached to that season was probably due to some really practical factors like low blood... Read more
It’s fixin to be June in Phoenix. Lord help us… Some of you know that I’m kind of a snob about tomatoes. I mean, I LOVE tomatoes…But by ‘tomato,’ I do not mean those things that come out of a California hot house in January. That is NOT a tomato. But I can rhapsodize about a real tomato all day long—and the perfect BLT that I make when, on the rarest of occasions, I can lay hands on an actual... Read more
Nine years ago—this weekend exactly—I was ordained to Christian ministry. I remember a few things about that day; I remember that the church ladies who raised me put together a wonderfully warm and abundant reception; I remember the many people who drove some miles to be with me for the occasion; I remember the robe being placed on my shoulders and the hands being laid upon my head, shoulders and back; I recall feeling surrounded by blessing, strength, and a very real sense... Read more
Dear God, What the hell…?? Thanks in advance for your quick reply. Sincerely, Those of us who spend our days telling everybody how good you are. If you wake up with this prayer on your heart on a day like today, you are not alone. Nor are you unfaithful, a heathen, a blasphemer, or a heretic. In fact, if you are a person who goes around with all-things-Holy on the brain, most of the time, it is... Read more
“Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam.” I once heard a television critic on NPR discuss the best series finales of all time. He named the top three as St. Elsewhere; Newhart; and Six Feet Under. Today, I hereby proclaim that The Office joins those ranks of shows that ended well. Really, really well. While those others may have ended with epic plot twists that blew viewers’ minds (the snow globe; the dream; the series of epitaphs spanning nearly 100 years of Fisher-dom) the Scranton crew went... Read more
Nine years ago–almost to the day–I sat in a small meeting room with a committee who would decide yay or nay on my upcoming ordination. It was only mildly stressful; I’d been meeting with this group quarterly for several years…I figured if they hadn’t found issue with me thus far, there was little chance of them flagging me as crazy or unfit at this point. Mostly, it was just a conversation. So when one of the pastors at the table... Read more
If you ever wonder what pastors talk about when we get together, the topics are, in no particular order: –Church people. I mean, we don’t spill pastoral confidences, but we definitely talk about our people. It’s mostly good news. Mostly… –Sermons; process, upcoming themes, recent triumphs and epic disasters. –Kids (if we have kids) and how we balance the parent and pastor acts. (The answer is: just barely, most days). –Which new tv show/band/book series has THEOLOGICAL SUBTEXT. We really nerd... Read more
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