plotting and planning

I spent part of my afternoon off today doing laundry, and the other part plotting out the remainder of my flower garden.  I’m putting in mostly perennials, so that they are easier to work with in the long run… Here is what I have so far.

New life on a snowy day

I am a little behind, but I got all of my seeds started today. They are sitting on a table in the guest room… Important because we can close the door and the cats won’t eat the seedlings!

Feasting, not fasting…

Mark’s gospel is known for its haste. Jesus is here and then there and everything is so urgent and busy. We spent four weeks in Epiphany just in chapter one because everything happens in such a short span of time. Life is all crammed in and there is no time for details. That could also … Continue reading »

My sister is waiting for me in China…

I love me a good singing and dancing show, so I was excited to hear the minds behind “Chicago” were turning their attention to television and a new network series about the theater and Broadway. So far it has been a fairly good show… two episodes in.  One of the “B” storylines is about how … Continue reading »

Treasures in the closet

…putting on that skirt, I think I stood taller. I thought about the woman she was and the woman she would have wanted me to be… Continue reading »

Excuse me, Pastor…

I make mistakes… Often. The latest incarnation of mistakes came this past Sunday. I have a lot of big ideas, but I am not always good at figuring out the details… how things will ebb and flow.  And so, I set in motion a plan to help my congregation discern their spiritual gifts during worship. … Continue reading »

Breaking down walls through humility

In the midwest, and especially in rural, german, blue-collar Iowa, pride is a big thing. We refuse to talk about our problems. We are quick to help others, but hesitate to accept help from others. We serve those who are less fortunate, and are not willing to speak of our own brokenness. And that is a problem. Continue reading »

Call to Action Study – Part 1

I know that the declining numbers are not the problem in themselves, but merely symptoms of larger “spiritual and systemic issues.” But I wish that this study guide and in fact, the Call to Action in general, would talk more about those larger spirtual and systemic issues and less about the numbers. Continue reading »

fact checking in an age of T.M.I.

Too Much Information. I’m not entirely sure that is what was envisioned by the framers of amendment one when they gave freedom to the press. I’m not sure that was what was envisioned by the inventors of the internet, or cable tv, or email. But we are inundated constantly with information. And depending on which … Continue reading »