MomminginMinistry

 It's not a secret that I'm living in one of those difficult seasons. The kind of season that at some points in my life might have broken me. And some days it feels like it is breaking me. But as I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I have to ask myself, "What is  working?" I am not an expert. I'm not even sure I'm good at this at all. And what works for me, might not work for you, but perhaps I should leave a little bread crumb trail here, whether for you, or for the future me. Because the one thing I know is this will not be the last  difficult season for either of us. So, here's my list of five: 1. Jesus. I didn't just say this because I'm a pastor and I'm supposed to. It's because in times like this I realize how desperate I am for Him. Like air, and hydration, and nutrients. An understanding of whole Bible as one big story with many parts and genres is EXTREMELY important. But when I'm feeling how I am right now there are...

  There's some truly bad apples out there. Like full-on, sold the soul, locked the heart's door and thrown away the key types. And they don't care. They've chosen this. Often they try to take over other people's countries, or become serial abusers.  And I guess there's some really good guys out there too. Those daily living into their sanctified selves, with fruits of the spirit enough to share. I think Mother Teresa might have been one. Also maybe the retired Wesleyan pastor who has been providing pulpit-fill at our church right now.   But most of us, honestly ALL of us (Mother Teresa and my pastor friend included), are really pretty complicated.  I'm more convinced than ever that we are all born equally as capable of good or evil. I do not believe, as some have taught, that God created just certain people pre-ordained for goodness, and others for the purpose of damnation. I believe all are loved, wanted, and redeemable.  Yet we throw around the terms ...

  In this glorious break from classes and routine, I’m listening to one of my favorite books, Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Again. I keep making my family listen with me, and if they’re too distracted during the good parts I back it up and try again. It was recommended to me by one of the pastors of a home church network through the Church of the Nazarene known as The Table and it has become one of my favorite books. It’s the kind that sticks with you, long after you finish. The suggestion first came during the most polarizing election seasons of my lifetime. The extremes were tearing God’s beautiful Church, and therefore my heart, into pieces. But Shane’s words offered an unearthly third option, which was neither this nor that. In one of many memorable quotes, Shane says, “ My goal is to speak the truth in love. There are a lot of people speaking the truth with no love, and there are a lot of people talking about love without much truth. ” I wish the same. Usual...

My dad came back home on Tuesday. He's different than he was before he went into the hospital three weeks ago. But he's...stable physically. And I think that's making all of us who love him feel a little more stable emotionally as well.  It feels like we've moved into a different chapter, and it is one that makes me thankful that we live close by. This chapter might be short. And it might be long. A few weeks ago it seemed it would be short. At this moment it's hard to tell. But he's in his favorite place, with his favorite person right now. I'm learning a lot about the body/mind connection. The way our mind effects our body and our body effects our mind. We are whole beings, with body, mind, and spirit, and the needs of all three never go away, and in fact might increase as we reach this chapter. It grieves me, as not just a daughter but as a pastor, the way I have not always fully recognized that. I, we, need to do better. Our love for God is shown by the ...