Trust
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movement
I sometimes feel a sense of guilt at re/moving myself from familiar spirituality, from my roots, from certain religious practices, from pieces of my history and context, from unquestioning Christianity. I “should” on myself—I should be involved, I should serve, I should attend, I should do this and that spiritual discipline whether I feel like… Continue reading
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when it’s over
It’s easy to experience God in the beautiful. I went truck camping this past weekend and found a peaceful, quiet spot by running water. I’d been waiting for a night or two to drive new dirt roads. To find something new, somewhere quiet. I drove miles into the wild, kicking up clouds of dust, thick… Continue reading
beauty, Christianity, Faith, God, hardship, hope, Jesus, love, pain, reflections, spirituality, suffering, Trust -
nomadism
Nothing is concrete. I’m not one to build a home on a fundamentalist, literalist, or “rock solid” foundation; I am nomadic in what and where I plant myself. Not the “sinking sand” the Bible speaks of, just finding a place in the dirt to set up a tent, then moving on to the next location… Continue reading
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choices
A year ago I made the difficult decision to change jobs. I had worked for my church for a year and a half as a next generation pastor—mostly with youth and young adults, among other things. I felt almost guilty for leaving. I had an enviable ministry job in a beautiful ski town. I left… Continue reading
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belonging
“…The event contained in the affirmation of God is more important than the belief in God…Belonging first, followed by behavior, followed last and least, by belief.” – Peter Rollins We belong before we believe. The experience of belonging leads to behavior and belief if we’ve experienced the real thing. We may arrive at the right… Continue reading
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room
You invite me to your table but “I’m not hungry I’m not thirsty” I tell you. I have had everything here before. I am no longer hungry or thirsty for what I have long had my fill of. “But there is still room for you” I hear and I know it is true. But is… Continue reading
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Week 50: more
I’ve heard it, I’ve prayed it: “More Lord, more God, we ask for more…” If we come to God wanting “more” and receive nothing–no inspiration, feeling, experience, emotion, change, result, or answer–it’s still worthwhile. God is still worth it. We do not “need” anything from God (hear me out here). We already have what we… Continue reading
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Week 49: detachment (part 2)
Healthy detachment is freeing. Of course, some level of attachment is required for true love and relationship and community. But not the kind of attachment that says, “I need this…I cannot live without this…I must have this…without this I will not be okay…” A healthy combination of detachment and attachment means: “This thing/person is good…I… Continue reading
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Week 42: leaping
Do you ever have days you feel stuck, barely able to move your feet, anxious then anxious about being anxious about what you have to do, need to do, should do—so overwhelmed you can’t begin anything at all. As much as this applies to ordinary, everyday, mundane life, I think it may especially apply to… Continue reading
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Week 25: thirst (part 2)
Not long ago, I read a short biography of Mother Teresa in 7 Men and 7 Women (by Eric Metaxas). There’s a part that resonated with me. By 1950 [Mother Teresa] had devised a constitution for the Missionaries of Charity–the name God had given her when she first heard her “call within a call.” In… Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 