On an early spring Sunday afternoon when I was eight years old, I walked the short distance from my family’s home to the home of our pastor, Ken Haag. … [Read more...] about Saved and Called
What To Do When We Don’t Know What to Do
It’s evident that faith communities and their leaders, clergy and laity, face daunting challenges, so daunting that we sometimes don’t know what to … [Read more...] about What To Do When We Don’t Know What to Do
Leading in the Face of Death
The death of someone close to us changes almost all of our plans. It becomes the focus of our attention and the center of our responsibility. It … [Read more...] about Leading in the Face of Death
We Need to Talk
“We need to talk.” Those words often signal there is a hard truth to share, a difficult decision to make, a problem to solve, or a conflict to … [Read more...] about We Need to Talk
Gentle
Recently, when quiet enough to listen, I’ve heard whispered the word gentle. The whispers have become a beckoning to explore how to be gentler in my … [Read more...] about Gentle
On Not Losing Heart
It had been one of “those” Sundays: the sermon misfired, the choir was off-key, the chair of deacons mentioned a member who complained she didn’t get … [Read more...] about On Not Losing Heart
Part Two | Hope in Lament: A Regular Practice of Worship
Anne Lamott’s difficult relationship with her mother continued even beyond her death. After she died, Anne searched for clues to understand her … [Read more...] about Part Two | Hope in Lament: A Regular Practice of Worship
Part One | Freedom Through Lament: Acknowledging Reality, Naming Pain, and Opening to Grace
We’ve been through a lot. “A lot” could be the too-much of relentless demands, unrelieved pressures, and unrealistic expectations or it could be a … [Read more...] about Part One | Freedom Through Lament: Acknowledging Reality, Naming Pain, and Opening to Grace
Leading for Church Health in this Election Season
To say the least and the obvious, we live in a time of confusion and upheaval. It’s well-known that St. Anthony the Great, one of the church’s … [Read more...] about Leading for Church Health in this Election Season