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On the Move
After 6 years at this same location, and over a decade on Blogger, it is time for a move.Which is all to say: I have a new blog - check out the first post.
I hope you will cruise over that direction, and join me in my new online home. Some of the more popular posts from this page are being migrated to that location, too. So please update any links.
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Thanks for being such a great group of friends and readers.
Where ever you follow my writing, posts, or social media, I look forward to seeing you around the internets!
Blog Announcement
Easter is all about the new.
New life.
Renewing our faith.
So Easter seems an appropriate time to start new projects.
Watch this space in the week ahead for news about my writing and this blog.
New life.
Renewing our faith.
So Easter seems an appropriate time to start new projects.
Watch this space in the week ahead for news about my writing and this blog.
Healing Spiritual Wounds - Review
Increasingly, those of us in ministry are finding ourselves spending more time with people who are either new to the church or returning to the church. Once upon a time, people were raised in the church and stayed in the church - I mean, maybe they drifted away for a few years in their 20s, but just for a moment.
There is a set of tools for cradle-to-grave church members. Here are the steps of faith formation ("confirmation then graduation then marriage, etc"). Here's how to build on your positive experience and grow deeper in faith. These tools - these steps - are what most people learn when they train for ministry.
Now a growing population has left the community we call "church," or has intentionally chosen to stay away from it. Some were raised in the church and walked away. Others saw the church at a distance and have worked to keep the church at arm’s length. And still others remain in the church with an uneasy peace.
This new population has awoken important realizations among those of us who provide pastoral care – that many people have been hurt by the church, many people have been taught faith in a way that is counter to the good news of Jesus, many people have deep spiritual wounds.
The Rev. Carol Howard Merritt's new publication from HarperOne - Healing Spiritual Wounds - is written with just such realizations in mind. It is theology, pastoral care, and a workbook for all those who carry spiritual wounds and all those whose ministry is the healing of those wounds.
Many a Christian memoirist will write with honesty about the struggles that they once overcame, long ago. Pastor Merritt's memoir is raw and honest about the wounds she carries to this day, and the work she is currently and continuing to doing to heal from them.
With humor, candor, and deep insight, Pastor Merritt opens up to the reader some of the most painful intersections of faith, Christian community, and human frailty in her life.
Each chapter deals with a different type of spiritual wound. Pastor Merritt describes the ways many of us have been hurt, points to some of the effects of that pain on our lives, and then – and this is key – offers tools to help the reader unpack that wound and begin the process of healing.
“Our souls are tender places. We hold our ideals, hopes, wishes, and dreams there. That’s why spiritual wounds can feel so devastating … There seem to be so many people who want to heal, but they can’t figure out where they placed the balm.”
Merritt’s personal stories in Healing Spiritual Wounds held up a mirror to my own stories, and her healing points her readers toward their own peace. For all of us imperfect people, living out our faith in community with other imperfect people, Carol Howard Merritt gives us tools for a healthier, more compassionate spiritual life.
As a person of faith, I am looking forward to returning to this book again and again as I work through the exercises provided in each chapter. As a pastor, Healing Spiritual Wounds provides me with an extremely helpful set of insights and tools as I care for those I am called to serve.
With Healing Spiritual Wounds, Carol Howard Merritt provided me with the spiritual direction that I didn't know I needed, and given me some of the tools I've been looking for in my ministry.
Disclosure: I am fortunate to count Carol as a friend, and was provided with a review copy of this book from HarperOne.
The Sin of Boring Church
Earlier, a conversation happening at UNCO asked the question "Why can't we get as excited about church as we do about the new Star Wars movie?"
As someone who engages with the meeting places of faith and culture, I've thought about this question before.
As someone who leads worship and preaches, leading a congregation in faith formation, I've thought about this question before.
I knew my answer.
My friend Tripp Hudgins called me out on this, and invited me to a deeper, more nuanced conversation about it.
(Read Tripp's counterpoint to this post - "In Praise of Boredom")
Now, to the point.
The church has been entrusted with one of the most exciting stories ever. A story filled with drama and intrigue, with humor and sadness, with celebration and sorrow.
Yes, the overarching story - the story of creation and redemption, of God and the world.
But also the stories within the story - stories of death and resurrection, of adventure and betrayal, or redemption and romance.
Most people experience our telling of this powerful story like Mr Bean:
The church has been handed this gift - these powerful, world-changing stories - and all too often we tell them as if they are as exciting as watching paint dry.
And that's a sin.
It is a disservice to and misuse of the gift that God has entrusted to us.
Not all of our proclamation is needs to be "exciting" - it's not about turning the church nonstop into the adrenaline rush of watching Rey pilot the Millennium Falcon (although there are moments like that).
But our proclamation should always be engaging.
Proclaiming the story invites us to be a part of it.
Their story then becomes my story now.
Some clarifications.
This is not about worship style - contemporary or traditional or postmodern or ancient-modern, they can all be boring, they can all be engaging.
It's not about preaching style - manuscript or not, behind a pulpit or perambulating - they can all be boring, they can all be engaging.
I agree with Tripp: boredom - that place of giving one's mind the unencumbered space to wander free - can be a beneficial part of the life of faith.
But the central act of proclamation, within the central gathering of the worshiping community, should not be boring.
We have gotten lazy with how we tell the story.
We (proclaimers) need to re-learn the power of inviting people into the drama of the story entrusted to us.
We need to let boring church die, and engaging church be reborn.
Our task, our calling, is to invite people into the most exciting and amazing story of all time and give them the tools to make it their own story.
And there is nothing boring about that.
As someone who engages with the meeting places of faith and culture, I've thought about this question before.
As someone who leads worship and preaches, leading a congregation in faith formation, I've thought about this question before.
I knew my answer.
While I am prone to hyperbole (aren't all preachers?) I really believe this to be true.Boring church is a sin. #unco16— David Hansen (@rev_david) May 17, 2016
My friend Tripp Hudgins called me out on this, and invited me to a deeper, more nuanced conversation about it.
Yeah, but the liturgical service is not the sum total of our activities. Must it be always exciting? 1/2 https://t.co/0TJHC2miQF— Tripp Hudgins (@tripphudgins) May 17, 2016
Now, let me be clear - Tripp is one of the smartest people I know. He has spent years studying worship, and I learn a lot from him. We agree on much more than we disagree on - and in our disagreement I continue to learn from his wisdom.And on the afternoon of the seventh day the LORD said, "I'm bored." #unco16— Tripp Hudgins (@tripphudgins) May 17, 2016
(Read Tripp's counterpoint to this post - "In Praise of Boredom")
Now, to the point.
The church has been entrusted with one of the most exciting stories ever. A story filled with drama and intrigue, with humor and sadness, with celebration and sorrow.
Yes, the overarching story - the story of creation and redemption, of God and the world.
But also the stories within the story - stories of death and resurrection, of adventure and betrayal, or redemption and romance.
Most people experience our telling of this powerful story like Mr Bean:
The church has been handed this gift - these powerful, world-changing stories - and all too often we tell them as if they are as exciting as watching paint dry.
And that's a sin.
It is a disservice to and misuse of the gift that God has entrusted to us.
Not all of our proclamation is needs to be "exciting" - it's not about turning the church nonstop into the adrenaline rush of watching Rey pilot the Millennium Falcon (although there are moments like that).
But our proclamation should always be engaging.
Proclaiming the story invites us to be a part of it.
Their story then becomes my story now.
Some clarifications.
This is not about worship style - contemporary or traditional or postmodern or ancient-modern, they can all be boring, they can all be engaging.
It's not about preaching style - manuscript or not, behind a pulpit or perambulating - they can all be boring, they can all be engaging.
I agree with Tripp: boredom - that place of giving one's mind the unencumbered space to wander free - can be a beneficial part of the life of faith.
But the central act of proclamation, within the central gathering of the worshiping community, should not be boring.
We have gotten lazy with how we tell the story.
We (proclaimers) need to re-learn the power of inviting people into the drama of the story entrusted to us.
We need to let boring church die, and engaging church be reborn.
Our task, our calling, is to invite people into the most exciting and amazing story of all time and give them the tools to make it their own story.
And there is nothing boring about that.
Living Together
The central element of the Christian life is baptism - the waters that unite us to the death and resurrection of Jesus. I offer you this little devotion, as a way of rooting your day in the gift God has given in baptism.What we have is two problems
- An Identity problem
- An Identification problem
My Identity
We have many things asking to be a part of our identity. Profession, family, politics, friendships, ideologies. Some of these are good things, some or not. But our problems start when those identities become more important than our baptismal identity. Before I am anything else, I am God's beloved child. That supersedes everything else. Child of God.
My Identification of Others
Our many identities affect how we view others, and how we define them and interact with them. Are they the opponent, the other side, wrong, sinful, hateful, etc, etc. Disagreement is a part of life, and a part of the life of faith. But when we look at others, we are called to primarily to see their baptismal identity. They may be many things, but in our eyes they are first God's beloved child. And that should shape every word we say to and about them.
You are God's beloved child.
They are God's beloved child.
Now then, children of God, how shall we live together?
Joy Jar
For the last month at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church, we have been talking about joy - what joy means, where it comes from, and how we experience.
Last Sunday, we talked there are times when it is hard to find joy - times when life is hard, or maybe we just have a bad day.
As a part of Growing In Faith Together (our intergenerational education hour) we made "Joy Jars" for just such days. This is a great project for any age group - our group ranged from 6 months old to 80+ years old.
Supplies:
Last Sunday, we talked there are times when it is hard to find joy - times when life is hard, or maybe we just have a bad day.
As a part of Growing In Faith Together (our intergenerational education hour) we made "Joy Jars" for just such days. This is a great project for any age group - our group ranged from 6 months old to 80+ years old.
Supplies:
- A jar (we used plastic storage containers from a discount store, but anything will work that has an opening large enough to reach into)
- Squares of paper in 3 different colors
- Supplies for writing and decorating
And that's it!
On the three colored pieces of paper, we wrote things that give us joy
- On one color piece of paper, write memories that make you happy when you think about them.
- On a second color of paper, write Bible verses or stories that make you happy or give you strength.
- On a third color of paper, write activities that give you joy.
If you are doing this activity as a group, do one color at a time and discuss them around your table. What memories give you joy? What stories in the Bible give you strength? What activities give you joy?
When you are done, take you joy jar home and put where you can find it quickly (perhaps a family devotional space, if you have one).
When you have a hard day, when you are upset, worried, sad, or angry, reach into your joy jar.
If you pull out a memory, spend some time savoring that memory.
If you pull out a Bible verse or story, look it up. Read it out loud. Pray the story. Make a sketch or a piece of art based on it. Share it online with friends.
If you pull out an activity, go and do it.
Be joy in the world.
Hear more about our ministry at Spirit of Joy! - connect with us on facebook and sign up for my weekly email devotional.
Want to learn more about Intergenerational (Cross+Gen) ministries? Check out this great retreat and learning event in Colorado this October.
Pentecost Call to Worship
As we prepare for Pentecost this year, I couldn't find a piece of the liturgy that fit well with what we are doing at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church, so I wrote this call to worship. With the thought that perhaps it will be useful to others, I am sharing it here.
Welcome in the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen!
On that first Pentecost, God Spirit transformed the lives of the disciples and changed the world. As we gather, we pray for that same Spirit to be poured out on us.
Come, Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is a fire, consuming our selfishness, our hatred, and our indifference – filling our lives with new life and the light of God.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Like the beacon of a lighthouse, may the fruit of the Spirit shine in our lives.
Come, Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit never leaves us where we are – we are sent by the Spirit out into the world to be the salt of the earth, to show God’s love to all people, to bring God’s Spirit of joy to the world.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Gracious God, pour your Spirit into our hearts, that we would worship today with all our hearts, that our lives would be transformed by your power, and that we would carry your joy from this place into all the world.
To you we give our honor and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen!
Welcome in the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen!
On that first Pentecost, God Spirit transformed the lives of the disciples and changed the world. As we gather, we pray for that same Spirit to be poured out on us.
Come, Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is a fire, consuming our selfishness, our hatred, and our indifference – filling our lives with new life and the light of God.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Like the beacon of a lighthouse, may the fruit of the Spirit shine in our lives.
Come, Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit never leaves us where we are – we are sent by the Spirit out into the world to be the salt of the earth, to show God’s love to all people, to bring God’s Spirit of joy to the world.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Gracious God, pour your Spirit into our hearts, that we would worship today with all our hearts, that our lives would be transformed by your power, and that we would carry your joy from this place into all the world.
To you we give our honor and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen!
Church Bells: A Parable
Listen, and I will tell you a parable. The modern church is like a church bell.
Once upon a time, the large church bell in the steeple played an important role in the community. They drew the community together, and provided vital service for everyone in the neighborhood.
On Saturday night the bell rang at sunset, to let everyone know that there would be worship in the morning.
Important news in the community? The church bell rang to alert everyone.
A death in the community? Listen for the church bell - you would even find out how old the person was.
Sunday morning - the bell rang a few hours before worship, reminding everyone to start gathering together.
Everyone in the neighborhood heard and depended on the church bell as a part of life together.
And then things changed.
The world became noisier. Cars and planes, cell phones and televisions and radios. Better insulated homes. The church bell couldn't be heard as well.
And once the church bell couldn't be heard as well, it started to ring less often.
Many churches still have bells. Most often they are rung right as worship begins, so that those inside the church already know that worship is beginning.
Once upon a time, the church bell was an important source of news and information for everyone in the neighborhood.
Now the bell only rings for those who are inside the church when worship begins.
Once upon a time, the large church bell in the steeple played an important role in the community. They drew the community together, and provided vital service for everyone in the neighborhood.
On Saturday night the bell rang at sunset, to let everyone know that there would be worship in the morning.
Important news in the community? The church bell rang to alert everyone.
A death in the community? Listen for the church bell - you would even find out how old the person was.
Sunday morning - the bell rang a few hours before worship, reminding everyone to start gathering together.
Everyone in the neighborhood heard and depended on the church bell as a part of life together.
And then things changed.
 |
| Silent church bells on display. |
And once the church bell couldn't be heard as well, it started to ring less often.
Many churches still have bells. Most often they are rung right as worship begins, so that those inside the church already know that worship is beginning.
Once upon a time, the church bell was an important source of news and information for everyone in the neighborhood.
Now the bell only rings for those who are inside the church when worship begins.
A New Hope - Easter 3A
My farewell sermon as the Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill, preached on May 4th, 2014.
The stained glass window to the in the picture to the right provided a visual aid, and the convergence of Star Wars Day with my last Sunday may have also influenced the sermon.
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Funeral Sermon: The Tongue of a Teacher
A funeral sermon preached at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill for Pat Schroeder. Text for the day were Isaiah 50:4, 7-9a; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, 53-57; and John 11:21-27.
As we head into Holy Week, it a fitting time to look at how even as we go the grave we make our song: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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As we head into Holy Week, it a fitting time to look at how even as we go the grave we make our song: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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Announcing My New Call
Earlier this week, I sent a letter to the members of St. John Lutheran Church, announcing my new call as the Pastor of Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church. Portions of that letter follow:
Dear family of St. John,
It is with a mix of joy and sadness that I write to share the news that I have accepted a call to serve as the Pastor Redeveloper of Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church in The Woodlands.
Megan and I have been praying about this decision and the future of St. John. This call is an exciting opportunity for our family and the right choice for our life together. As we look at the paths ahead of us as a family, it is the right time and opportunity for us to relocate. As a congregation in redevelopment, Spirit of Joy! is a great fit for my particular gifts and strengths in ministry. My last Sunday as the Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church will be May 4th, 2014.
In 2006, you took a chance on an untested Pastor straight out of seminary. In the eight years that followed we shared our lives with one another, and Prairie Hill became my home. We shared in joy – celebrating baptisms and confirmations, marriages and new jobs. We shared in sorrows – celebrating the lives of the saints at funerals, talking through the difficulties of life.
We have accomplished much over the last eight years. Together we have grown the ministry of St. John and seen glimpses of the Kingdom here. You have taught me much about the Gospel, the love of God, and what it means to be a community of faith. I could not have asked for a better first call experience than what I had at St. John. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
While I am not your pastor any longer, I am certainly your friend. I will continue to pray for you individually and as a congregation – and I hope that you will pray for me and my family and the ministry at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church.
With my deepest gratitude and love,
David Hansen
Dear family of St. John,
It is with a mix of joy and sadness that I write to share the news that I have accepted a call to serve as the Pastor Redeveloper of Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church in The Woodlands.
Megan and I have been praying about this decision and the future of St. John. This call is an exciting opportunity for our family and the right choice for our life together. As we look at the paths ahead of us as a family, it is the right time and opportunity for us to relocate. As a congregation in redevelopment, Spirit of Joy! is a great fit for my particular gifts and strengths in ministry. My last Sunday as the Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church will be May 4th, 2014.
In 2006, you took a chance on an untested Pastor straight out of seminary. In the eight years that followed we shared our lives with one another, and Prairie Hill became my home. We shared in joy – celebrating baptisms and confirmations, marriages and new jobs. We shared in sorrows – celebrating the lives of the saints at funerals, talking through the difficulties of life.
We have accomplished much over the last eight years. Together we have grown the ministry of St. John and seen glimpses of the Kingdom here. You have taught me much about the Gospel, the love of God, and what it means to be a community of faith. I could not have asked for a better first call experience than what I had at St. John. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
While I am not your pastor any longer, I am certainly your friend. I will continue to pray for you individually and as a congregation – and I hope that you will pray for me and my family and the ministry at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church.
With my deepest gratitude and love,
David Hansen
Relationships, Not Rules - Epiphany 6A
Sermon preached at St John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill on February 16, 2014; Epiphany 6A. Text: Matthew 5:21-37.
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One Word: Many Messengers
In the beginning was the Word ...
If you are involved in ministry, you are a communicator. Preaching sermons. Sharing news and events. Spreading the Good News. It's all communications.
I am excited to share a wonderful opportunity with you, communicator!
One Word: Many Messengers (21st Century Communications) is a week long comprehensive training program in church communications, offered as a part of the Disciple Project.
I will be joined in this course by co-instructor Pastor Joe Smith, as well as others who will be providing us with their expertise in workshops. Over the course of the week we will talk about communications strategy, print media, social media, email, and worship technology.
We will have 17 contact hours over the course of the week - it is rare to find this sort of immersive learning opportunity!
The Disciple Project is an intergenerational learning and leadership event that takes place June 23-27, 2014, on the campus of Texas Lutheran University. The registration fee of (only!) $395 includes room and board on campus for the week. More information and registration.
Bishop Chat 1/23/14
The second Bishop Chat took place on January 23, 2014. Talking with Bishop Mike Rinehart and others about the theme of Sabbath.
The Heresy of Quantity
My friend Tripp doesn't read my blog. No really. He told me so.
I resonate with Tripp's reflection. I do a lot of reading. A lot. But I miss out on way more than I read. It often takes someone sending their article directly to me (as Tripp did) to make sure that I don't miss things.
In fact, something Tripp wrote a while back caught my eye. He wrote about paying attention to the quality of the information we consume each day. It was the kick in the pants that I needed.
There is a lot of information thrown at us each day. Television. Radio. Social media news feeds. Magazines. Newspapers. Information. Enough information to make your head explode.
MORE MORE MORE
That's our mantra. Supersize my information! In the world of social media this usually means growing our number of conversation partners - more facebook friends, more people to follow on twitter. Quantity, quantity, quantity.
Following Tripp's kick in the pants, I realized I couldn't keep up with my twitter feed - and even more than that - I didn't want to. There was so much junk.
I was overwhelmed by the information sent my way every day. I was reading stuff that didn't feed me, and I was missing out on stuff that would feed me. I didn't read Tripp's blog (among others). Tripp didn't read mine. More is not the answer.
Better is the answer. I am becoming more intentional about filtering the information I consume - in all the ways that I consume it. More is not better. Better is better.
And the same is true in the content we produce. "Put up an article every day." That's what the gurus tell you. You NEED to publish something. More is better.
But it's not. People are not reading - I am not reading - because we are overwhelmed by quantity.
Content producers - myself and all of us who blog included: overwhelm us with quality, or else you will get lost in the white noise of quantity.
I want quality information. Quality relationships in social media. Quality, thought provoking articles in my feedreader. I am stepping out of the cult of quantity, the deification of more information.
2014. The year when BETTER beats out MORE in my life.
 |
| Not Tripp Hudgins |
I resonate with Tripp's reflection. I do a lot of reading. A lot. But I miss out on way more than I read. It often takes someone sending their article directly to me (as Tripp did) to make sure that I don't miss things.
In fact, something Tripp wrote a while back caught my eye. He wrote about paying attention to the quality of the information we consume each day. It was the kick in the pants that I needed.
There is a lot of information thrown at us each day. Television. Radio. Social media news feeds. Magazines. Newspapers. Information. Enough information to make your head explode.
MORE MORE MORE
That's our mantra. Supersize my information! In the world of social media this usually means growing our number of conversation partners - more facebook friends, more people to follow on twitter. Quantity, quantity, quantity.
Following Tripp's kick in the pants, I realized I couldn't keep up with my twitter feed - and even more than that - I didn't want to. There was so much junk.
I was overwhelmed by the information sent my way every day. I was reading stuff that didn't feed me, and I was missing out on stuff that would feed me. I didn't read Tripp's blog (among others). Tripp didn't read mine. More is not the answer.
Better is the answer. I am becoming more intentional about filtering the information I consume - in all the ways that I consume it. More is not better. Better is better.
And the same is true in the content we produce. "Put up an article every day." That's what the gurus tell you. You NEED to publish something. More is better.
But it's not. People are not reading - I am not reading - because we are overwhelmed by quantity.
Content producers - myself and all of us who blog included: overwhelm us with quality, or else you will get lost in the white noise of quantity.
I want quality information. Quality relationships in social media. Quality, thought provoking articles in my feedreader. I am stepping out of the cult of quantity, the deification of more information.
2014. The year when BETTER beats out MORE in my life.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Reading
At Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship, as the lights are turned out and candles are lit, we encounter the Word of God. A few years ago I put together this reading in two parts that merges together Genesis 1 and John 1.
Reader 2: In the beginning when God began to create the heavens and the earth,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep while a spirit from God swept over the face of the waters.
He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
And God saw that the light was good.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. And God blessed them.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.
From the fullness of the Word made flesh we have all received grace upon grace.
Note: This reading is based on the NRSV translation of the text. Adapt as needed for other translations.
Less Stuff, More Fun!
One of my favorite songs (it's even on my Advent playlist!).
I love examples like this of parents being creative with their children. As we look at this time of the year, there is pressure to believe that happiness comes from stuff. That if we can just buy our kids the right toys, buy our spouse the most expensive gift - then they will know that we love them. Then we will be happy.
But it's a lie. A vicious, soul-sucking lie.
Spend time together. Be creative with your family. Do the things that make you laugh and smile. That's where happiness is. That's how we will make treasured memories together.
Less stuff, more fun!
I love examples like this of parents being creative with their children. As we look at this time of the year, there is pressure to believe that happiness comes from stuff. That if we can just buy our kids the right toys, buy our spouse the most expensive gift - then they will know that we love them. Then we will be happy.
But it's a lie. A vicious, soul-sucking lie.
Spend time together. Be creative with your family. Do the things that make you laugh and smile. That's where happiness is. That's how we will make treasured memories together.
Less stuff, more fun!
#BishopChat
The inaugural #BishopChat took place today. The idea for the chat came out of a conversation between Bishop Mike Rinehart and me. We thought that this could be a great way to give anyone who wanted to take part the opportunity to have a conversation with the Bishop.
We covered a wide range of topics, letting the chat participants guide our conversation. The result was even better than we could have hoped for. In this very first chat we talked with not one, but three bishops (2 ELCA, and one Episcopal). We had a class at one of our ELCA seminaries join the conversation, too.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this chat - especially Bishop Mike and Andrea Martinez (our synod Director of Communications, who was providing lots of behind the scenes support). We are working on making this a reoccurring event, and are scheduling the next one for January. Stay tuned!
We covered a wide range of topics, letting the chat participants guide our conversation. The result was even better than we could have hoped for. In this very first chat we talked with not one, but three bishops (2 ELCA, and one Episcopal). We had a class at one of our ELCA seminaries join the conversation, too.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this chat - especially Bishop Mike and Andrea Martinez (our synod Director of Communications, who was providing lots of behind the scenes support). We are working on making this a reoccurring event, and are scheduling the next one for January. Stay tuned!
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