I feel like I have been on the receiving end of a lot of gratitude recently: an email here, a text message there, a quick word in passing along with a warm embrace on multiple occasions. This week has also given me the opportunity to be on the sending side of gratitude. It’s Teacher Appreciation…
Tag: joy
Joy – Really?
It’s the third candle of the Advent Wreath. It’s a little special because it is pink, representing Gaudete Sunday, which means “Rejoice!” It’s an important reminder, especially when we can so quickly recite a long litany of all the things going wrong, reasons not to be happy.
Island of Joy
Comparing ourselves to others is not a new phenomenon, but it seems especially rampant as we navigate life during a pandemic. Some people are baking, others are cleaning, some are reading all the books, some are watching lots of TV. I hope that whatever it is that brings you JOY right now does not get spoiled by comparing it to what is working for others.
Seeking Adaptive Joy
The reality is that a lot of us are “seeking adaptive joy” right now.
Making Space
As Sarah and her family get ready for the new, read about how she relates her readiness to this Lenten season.
Secret Santa
Today, I saw God on the internet. I saw God on a site called Imgur, which is full of memes and comics, pictures of pets, life stories and general internet strangeness. The internet community of Imgur has a long standing tradition of hosting a Secret Santa. Members submit their names and are assigned someone to…
Bringing in the Sheaves
When I was 23 years old, I began to serve as a church minister in a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My parish was very poor and small with only about 50 members. We had no building so worship was held in a shed with members and their children sitting on the…
A Forgotten Hobby
This Lenten season I gave up screen entertainment. Meaning that I’m not watching any TV or movies, no YouTube or Facebook, no games on my phone or tablet (only Sunday through Thursday, I’m not that intense). Instead I am spending my free time focusing on more productive habits like reading, and having more intentional time…
Decembers to Remember
It’s December and December is a big month of remembering at our house. December isn’t just a big month because of Advent and Christmas, December is also a big month because of other things that happen in our lives too. December is the month of remembering big, life-changing events in our family. I love December…
Slime? Why?
What is my kids’ fascination with slime? This year both of my daughters asked Santa for slime for Christmas. They asked for other things too, but slime was at the top of the list. When I think about slime, it’s hard to see past the obvious…it’s going to make a huge mess…it’s going to get…
It Was Solved by Walking
I went for a walk yesterday. I will admit the main purpose was to get in more steps. Several of the church staff members are on a team, competing with people from across the United States, for the most number of steps over the period of time set for the challenge. While we are all…
My Playlist
My playlist is quite diverse. It consists of songs from: 80’s hair bands (Bon Jovi, Poison, etc.), Pentatonix, Taylor Swift, Country (new and old), movie sound tracks, Bruno Mars, Old Country Hymns, Alanis Morissette, Worship Instrumental, Chicago, Michael Jackson, Eagles, Maroon 5, Instrumental Praise, Twenty One Pilots, Gospel Classics, Adele, Journey and more! I’m not…
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