Category Archives: Pastoring

The Silence of God

I was 15 years old when I first stood in a charismatic prayer line. For those of you who have never experienced one, let me paint a picture of that night. When the guest preacher concluded his sermon and subsequent … Continue reading

Posted in Contemplative Life, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation, The Table, Worship | Leave a comment

The Great Reimagining

“I’m walking away from the church.” As somewhat of a misfit pastor, I find people sharing this story with me more and more these days. And although the character names change each time, the story nearly always includes these plot … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Life, Contemplative Life, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation, The Table | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What IS Lent?

It’s the first week of Lent. For the first 35 years of my life, I had nothing to do with the Church Calendar. I had nothing against it, it just wasn’t a part of my upbringing in my particular Christian … Continue reading

Posted in Contemplative Life, Lent, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Setting the Table; An Invitation to Belong

When I was a child, my grandparents had a working ranch near Dodge City, Kansas. It was a couple thousand acres sprawled across sandy slopes of alfalfa and corn bordered by the Arkansas River on the north that always ran … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Life, Contemplative Life, Life, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is This What Lent Feels Like?

Today’s daily readings sunk into my belly like molten lead. The Psalmist has that kind of wild-eyed desperation as he cries, “Make haste to save me, oh God!” But God and haste don’t usually go well together. And later, “…I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Contemplative Life, Lent, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Chemistry of the Kingdom

I took a vow once to underline every verse in Matthew that started out with the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven is like…”. My self-diagnosed ADD made sure it was a temporary vow. I like going back and meditating on … Continue reading

Posted in Contemplative Life, Life, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reasons I Use the Book of Common Prayer

On a whim a several years ago I bought an inexpensive copy of the Book of Common Prayer. When the Amazon package showed up on my door I opened it, thumbed through it, found the “Dearly beloved, we have gathered … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Pastoring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bend and See

In the stale rhythm of winter one thing circulates through my mind. It’s the knowing that Spring is next. Does it come in March or April? I can never remember. Even after 34 rhythms of Spring-coming-after-Winter, it still surprises me. … Continue reading

Posted in Beekeeping, Contemplative Life, Creativity, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Leave a comment

Killing Gungor

 The blood still stains the teeth of theologian yard dogs after they  encircled and mauled their victims the last few weeks. They follow the headlines and the rumors and the scent of blood and without questioning, without hesitating, without knowing, … Continue reading

Posted in Creativity, Pastoring, Saverton Community Church, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Putting Discipline Back Into Discipleship

  “Have we been so accustomed to cheap grace that we instinctively shy away from more demanding calls to obedience?” Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline Every Christian feels the pangs of this statement. We know we need discipline, but it … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Pastoring, Spiritual Formation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment