Almost all of us have experienced a life changing event in our lives. It could be something full of joy…or it could be something tragic. But all of us at some point, have, or will experience something that suddenly, unexpectedly, causes everything to change. I’ve read interviews with people who worked at the World Trade Center on … More Holy Disruption
Have you ever experienced a really good meal? I mean really good? A meal that stands out…a meal that you remember. We all know that a great meal…is not simply about the food……though having good food certainly helps. No, a great meal is much more than that. A great meal is good food…and, it is good people. I have a group … More One Meal at a Time
Grace and Peace to you from God our creator, and from Jesus, the one who is the way. Amen. Lori and I have been rewatching the TV series from the early 2000’s called “The West Wing.” It is the story of a fictional presidential administration, and all of the staff who work within the west wing of … More This is the Way
My wife, Lori has a large family. She has 6 brothers and sisters, plus, kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, in-laws, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces…you get the idea. There’s a lot of ‘em! So, when her family gathers for Christmas, or other holidays… well, it can be a little nutty. What they consider a medium sized family gathering is probably 25-30 people. And … More Come and See
Of course, the shepherds were terrified. Of course, they were! They had to be terrified…because that night, they were just minding their own business…doing what shepherds do, when out of nowhere, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shown around them. They were terrified at the shock of it all, but … More Love Knows Your Name
Here at church, almost every afternoon, we see student drivers practicing their driving skills under the watchful eye of their instructors in the church parking lot. They will practice winding through the rows, parallel parking and angle parking. It makes sense to me; It’s a big lot with plenty of room. I did the same thing when we … More The Middle Place
If you were at worship this morning, you heard the announcement that Deacon Kris made about today being the tenth anniversary of my call as senior pastor at Trinity. (Thanks for the surprise, all!) I remember that day, ten years ago, very well. I remember being curious, and a bit nervous, as I walked into … More Ten Years at Trinity (and counting!)
Last week was quite the adventure! I got to spend the week at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. It was an event with 16,500 young people and adult leaders, including around 30 from Trinity. The Gathering was an incredible event where our young people and their leaders experienced worship, service, accompaniment, new relationships, resources for … More There is Always More
Pastor Amy Starr Redwine, a pastor in Richmond, Virginia, tells a story about a class she took while a student at the seminary. The class was called: Confession and Forgiveness from a Pastoral Perspective. Pastor Redwine wrote that the class was incredibly popular, and the 45 slots filled up as soon as registration opened. On the first … More Drawn into Community
I recently read about an art museum that was having trouble keeping its guests from touching, and damaging, its priceless works of art. The paintings and sculptures that were on display were all becoming dirty and damaged. The museum put out signs that said, “Do not touch!” They strategically placed security guards throughout the displays…they had cameras … More The Problem of the Heart
Test Driving Theology 