Any time i post an especially pro-woman bit of commentary, i get feedback saying that i clearly–clearly–have a problem with men. For the record, I love men. My husband, my brother, my father, my good friends and male colleagues in ministry, the male members of my church, the stranger at the grocery store…men are great. They are important to me, and to the world in general. So no, I don’t have a problem with men. Who I’ve got a problem... Read more
I made the mistake of saying out loud last week that I hadn’t been sick in more than two years. Ha ha, universe. You got me. As I battle a cold this week, I’m aware that I have used 1, maybe 2 sick days in the past 4 years. That means I’ve a) been healthy; b) planned my illnesses around regular days off; Or c) preached through a hacking cough, subjecting my congregation to germs, and also to–let’s say less-than-my-usual stunning aesthetic. Now that... Read more
True story: my husband and i were out having dinner at a nice restaurant. Which is hard to find in the desert suburbs. There’s an Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and TGi whatever on every corner, but anything without a namebrand can’t seem to afford the real estate. Anyway–if i recall, it was our first night out after the second baby. It was a spur of the moment thing. We called a last minute babysitter and were instantly transported to a leather booth with mood... Read more
If you want to avoid Downton spoilers, then just go visit my guest post on HerKentucky today. Meanwhile, the rest of us are going to don some sack cloth and ashes and lament the season finale. It’s very Lent-y, I promise. **Spoiler Alert … fair warning. Awhile back, I posted The Gospel of Grantham. I noted here that our fascination with Downton Abbey is really a timely response to our own dramatically changing culture. The show speaks deep spiritual truth about how we cope with our own shifting world. I... Read more
My friend Matt over at the Board of Church Extension wrote a great piece about ‘anonymous letters’ to the pastor. He says that pastors should not respond to these letters at all, and should probably not even read them. I agree that the anonymous angst letter should not be dignified with a response. A reply empowers the person who does not even give you the courtesy of their name (side note: we still know who you are)…and this sort of behavior should not be encouraged. But most... Read more
Hey. Watch this real quick. When you’re done tossing your pink frosted cookies, come back and we’ll chat: Love Story, or beginning of epic slasher flick? Ok. Thanks for coming back. Now, where do we begin: a)terrible acting, b) shameless commercialization of love, or c) icky gender roles and the notion that women are afraid of loud noises? I’m going to go with ‘all of the above’ and say D) The dangerous notion that love can fit into a little black box. Advertisers... Read more
I did a funeral this morning for a beloved saint of the church. Now I’m working on an Ash Wednesday service for later this evening. I tell you what–sometimes us Pastors have the funnest jobs EVER. Days like today, I remember that we are in the business of death. We are in the business of comforting folks as they exit the world; of blessing people into the next life; of drawing threads of narrative to speak the purpose of it all. We are in the business of sitting next to... Read more
I’m feeling a little out of breath. I’m new to Patheos this week, which means I’m moving from my old blog spot. And while other people have done all the heavy lifting for this move (thanks, Deborah and Hillary!) I still feel like I’m in the middle of a literal re-location. I’m trying to bring with me not just my archives, but also followers, subscribers, and people who ‘like’ me on Facebook… In other words, it feels like i’m coming in... Read more
I hesitate to say this out loud and jinx myself so–knock on wood, or stucco, or whatever’s handy but–i have not been sick in over a year. Not even a cold or a 24-hour stomach thing. No sinus infection, which i used to get chronically, no upper-respiratory gunk, nothing. I’m not sure what i’ve done to gain such a run of great good health, other than 1)take my kids out of daycare, 2)yoga and 3)drink lots of green tea. Whatever... Read more
Not surprisingly, my reasons for not going back to Zumba are the very reasons that many, many people visit a church and never go back again Read more
Irreverin
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