What did you do to celebrate Easter this weekend? I went to Oklahoma. When I found out I wasn’t preaching this Easter (which of course made me sad but is just a par for the course in a free-range pastor life), I knew I needed to do help our family plan something special. I wanted …
Oklahoma
Leaning into the New Year
This week like many of you, I’m thinking much about the possibilities of 2016. What joy might be around the corner? What hope might I need to find? What love is yet to be? But when I think back over 2015, I have to admit though, it has been a TOTAL surprise! But the best …
Opening Your Eyes to Love the Earth
It’s very easy to judge the surroundings of a place by the people, politics or your perceptions of the people or politics. It’s easy to say “this place is ugly” or “this place is so inviting” based on the welcome you receive. And it’s easy to fly through life with such a speed that you …
Breathless with Gratitude
A friend recently asked me how I felt about leaving Oklahoma soon. This is what I said: “I am breathless with gratitude.” I think it surprised her that I didn’t give a simple: “I’m happy” or “I’m sad” about it answer. I think she even would have been satisfied with a “Change is hard” statement from …
Showy Faith?
Back for my birthday in February, I got a new toy: a Fitbit. It’s a activity tracker that I wear on my body at all possible times. Kevin already had one for a couple of weeks. A true competitor at heart, I happily accepted the gift and the challenge of walking my way to a more …
Why I Wore a Hoodie on Sunday
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” On Monday, these words appeared in the feeds of so many of my friends all across social media. We tweet …
Paul, Reformation Day and Loving our Muslim Neighbors
This week, our the Epistle lesson from the lectionary took us to I Thessalonians 2: 1-8 It’s a passage that we don’t often hear preached in church or a book we often study in Bible classes– but it’s a passage that has a lot to say to us about the nature of ministry and what …
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Preaching on a New Plaza
I wasn’t sure I’d ever do it again. I wasn’t sure if it was ever possible in Oklahoma. I wasn’t sure how all the duel state life would come together. Too many people laughed at me when I asked them if they would hire me. Too much crazy travel has become the norm in our …
Wisdom from Children to the People of Oklahoma
Some school children in Edmond, Oklahoma wrote these notes to be put in a disaster relief box given out by Feed The Children this week. Words to live by:
