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
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
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
…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
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
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
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the … Read More
“May my disappointments in myself and others lead me to hope for and work for change rather than lead me to distance myself.” – From “Prayer: 40 Days of Practice” — In his novelized biography of Vincent Van Gogh, Irving Stone’s dramatizes a poignant and insightful conversation between Vincent and his brother, Theo. If you … Read More
“Though I know I am impacted by my past, may it never rule me or define who I am entirely.” – From Prayer: 40 Days of Practice “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the … Read More
Every Monday through Lent, we’re looking at an aspect of the Lord’s Prayer. Today, let’s take a look at “Forgive Us…” 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 trespasses … Read More
