April 3, 2019Christianity, Lent

On Ash Wednesday, I shared a short meditation on my relationship with death and promised to share, over the Lenten season, a few touch-points in that history. This is the 4th installment. — On May 8, 2018, my son lost his first pet; a guinea pig named “Morris.” At first, Asa seemed to take the … Read More

@ Sea Podcast #32: Aaron Niequist (full interview)

March 26, 2019Church, Podcast

For a season, Aaron Niequist worked at a church called Willow Creek in the Chicago area; a church that functioned as a kind of flagship for mainline christian Chruch practice. He also served at Mars Hill in Grant Rapids Michigan, a church whose culture was often seen as a next step away from (if not … Read More

LENTEN REFLECTION: Carmen

March 20, 2019Christianity, Lent

On Ash Wednesday, I shared a short meditation on my relationship with death and promised to share, over the Lenten season, a few touch-points in that history. The first installment is here. Below is the second. Full disclosure: it is an installment I didn’t plan on writing:   ——  I used to have an office … Read More

LENTEN REFLECTION: Losing Pat

March 13, 2019Blog, Christianity, Lent

Stavros’ mother was bedrock in his life. Stavros was bedrock in mine. When Stavros’ mother Pat passed away, it shook a number of us (Stavros more than anyone). When I think about her passing, I remember gathering in the hospital parking lot with a small group of people my same age (mid-20’s) to sing and … Read More

Let’s Skip A Few Drinks…

February 28, 2017Advocacy, Lent

…and change a few lives. Every year for the past six years I’ve had the privilege of inviting friends, family and neighbors to join me on a journey through the season of Lent. As part of that journey, we’ve generally partnered with Blood:Water to ensure our Lenten practice made a difference in the lives of others. Let’s do … Read More

Politics and Spiritual Formation

February 26, 2017Christianity, Lent, Politics

In all honesty, I don’t care much about President Donald Trump, The GOP, the DNC,… For me, politics is a matter of spiritual formation. Certainly, it matters to some degree what you and I believe to be true in the political realm. But those beliefs and perspectives take root in our souls; and our souls … Read More

Baseball, Prayer, Lent and Practice

February 22, 2017Church, Lent, Prayer

Practice might not make perfect… but it certainly can shape a soul. A few years ago, author/journalist David Brooks wrote a short piece about the way baseball has “hacked the human brain.” Showing up early for a baseball game, he saw a 38-year-old major league player running drills at first base; the same drills 6-10 year old kids … Read More

Lenten Journey: Deliver Us From Evil

March 21, 2016Lent, Lenten Journey 2016, Prayer

This will be our final look at the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, which we have been calling “The Lord’s Prayer.” Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our … Read More