Jan 31, 2014 | Being a Minister, Encouraging Words
I enjoy preaching. Most of my preaching experience happens as a guest preacher in a colleague’s congregation. The joy is in preparing and offering my gift of words about the Scripture. The struggle is I don’t always know the congregation personally. Awhile back I...
Dec 23, 2013 | Being a Minister, DEAR ADDIE
Dear Addie, When I was a college student, I said yes to God’s call to ministry. I imagined being part of something holy, something bigger than myself. I wanted to give myself to the work of making the world a better place. Now, after several years in ministry, I feel...
Nov 6, 2013 | Being a Minister
I grew up on a dairy farm. In addition to cows, we had horses, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats. When you spend your formative years on a working farm, you should expect some animal husbandry to slip into your conversation now and again. So I shouldn’t have been so...
Aug 9, 2013 | Being a Minister, Being the Church, Community
In 1991, at the conclusion of an evening of worship during one of the early meetings of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a woman was in tears sitting alone on the back pew of the sanctuary. I knew her and sat down on the pew in front of her just to offer a presence. As...
Jul 13, 2013 | Being a Minister, Challenges in Calling
The doors opening onto dark, empty rooms told me, “We will not all persevere here.” Returning from winter break after my first semester of seminary, I was greeted by empty rooms on the hall where I lived. As my neighbors returned, we gathered in the hallway asking,...
Jun 4, 2013 | Being a Minister, Challenges in Calling
When I was in elementary school, I slept under a patchwork quilt sewn by my maternal grandmother. One day I was telling my mom how pretty the quilt was, and she said, “Oh honey, that’s a scrap quilt. All the pieces of fabric came from outgrown clothes or old curtains....
