If you haven’t seen “Inside Out” or “Inside Out 2,” I would highly recommend it. I recently asked my mom to go see the second one with me in theaters and it had quite a powerful take on anxiety and how our emotions work in our minds and bodies. Ril…
8
Dear Beloved Community of St. Paul Lutheran Church, As I sit down to write this message, my heart is filled with a mixture of gratitude, nostalgia, and anticipation. It’s hard to believe that my time as your resident pastor is coming to an end. This…
8
Last Saturday, we went to our local farmer’s markets. My son’s primary goal is to watch dogs. My daughter is always on the lookout for some unique thing to decorate her room. In addition to the veggies I knew I’d find this time of year – I hoped for…
2
“I wait for you, O Lord; my soul waits; in your word is my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning.” I envy monks and nuns for what seems like their mastery of prayer. I’ve been to a few monasteries for retreat…
4
A few weeks ago, I was moving around the kitchen getting a few things ready for dinner, when our 3-year-old, Micah, climbed up on his stool that enables him to reach the kitchen counter. As he stepped up, he noticed a bag of Doritos sitting open on t…
2
The fruits of our labor tend to flourish in the summertime. Students who have dedicated themselves to hours of study finally graduate to the next grade level or receive their diplomas. Teachers bid farewell to the students they’ve impacted and helped…
1
Recently, I’ve been catching up on a 2023 Netflix miniseries called, “Bodies.” I’m only halfway through it, so I don’t risk tipping any spoilers (and I’ll appreciate it if no one sends any my way). What makes it fascinating to me is the central role…
19
One of the privileges of ministry is experiencing death on a regular basis. Yes, privilege. I’m talking about being actually present for other people’s deaths; though I also could imply death to a variety of myths about immortality, immunity, invinci…
5
My best friend, Adam, and I have never lived in the same town. Through life’s chances, we’ve always been separated by at least a drive on the interstate. While we text and check in on each other every day, our favorite pastime is sending each other t…
2
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the ways we feed ourselves. I’m talking about the type of feeding that goes far beyond nutritional guides, food pyramids, and recommended 100+ ounces of water daily. Admittedly, the water thing is one I struggle with…
3
“What do I need to do to obtain eternal life?” This is my favorite question that Jesus is asked, and it can be found in the 10th chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Sometimes, we think of eternal life as a destination we reach after death, but scripture teache…
1
These days, it feels like nothing makes the news, at least not “above the fold” or before the first commercial, if it isn’t Caitlin Clark, campus sit-ins, the war in Gaza (remember Ukraine?), the Trump trial, or polls in the presidential race. Credit…