Category: Thoughts On Life
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On Burying Friends
Since January 2020, I have now officiated twenty-three funerals of congregants. When I officiated my first in January 2021, I remember being worried because…
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Women Pastors Changed My Life
“Could you even imagine working for a woman pastor?” This question was once directed at me by a male Senior Pastor as he relayed his stance on women serving in ministry positions. I will never forget the look of pure amazement that must have been on my face as I…
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Acknowledgments from My Doctoral Journey
As I prepare to [virtually] cross the stage as my Doctor of Ministry degree is conferred next week, I wanted to publicly thank all of those who aided me in getting to this point. The following post is actually the acknowledgments page of my final work, but most of you…
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Christians, Give Yourself Permission to Mourn This Easter
Easter Sunday is generally a day of light for Christian churches. We sing songs of joy, exclaim that “he is risen” and celebrate the risen Jesus that brings us all together. Often, Easter Sunday is one of the highest attended Sundays. Many churches find their pews/chairs full of congregants ––…
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I Don’t Know What I’m Doing | Pastoral Reflections on COVID-19
Just over three months ago I became head Pastor of a church, my first pastorate. The first few months went very well as I got to know the people in our congregation, became adjusted to crafting weekly sermons, and began to adjust to the rhythms of the congregation. Things were…
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Journaling Through Life: Writing Things Down and the Power of Words
“As you move through this new stage of your life, I encourage you to buy a journal and write things down.” These were some of the first words I heard when I entered my graduate school education ten years ago. It was in a Q&A session with current students and…
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Find Your Community: A Call to Ministers to Not Walk Alone
Ministry can be a lonely place. For those who carry the title ‘minister,’ this reality is not a surprise. When you spend your day-to-day work pouring much of what you have into other people, there is often little left over for your own existence. I have served as minister for…
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Engaging the “Other” Young Adults in Our Congregations
What if, in our journey to reach college-aged young adults, we’re missing the “other” young adults that are already in our midst– and who are ready to lead? Over the last 8 years, I have worked with college-aged young adults both in the church and on campus. Over that…
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The Pilgrimage from Graduate Sunday: 7 Ideas for Congregations to Stay Connected
Yesterday, in many churches across the nation, high school seniors donned their cap and gown and “crossed the stage” of our sanctuaries. The service framed by their achievement, the sermon charged their future, and the gifts celebrated that they’d made it to the end of one great journey, and to…
