Today as I sat down to write about John Allen Chau and the distance between opposing viewpoints, I realized that the moment to comment on this subject passed back in early December. Many articles and posts were written just after the news hit that Chau had been killed as he tried to land on North … Continue reading John Allen Chau and the Assumptions We Carry
Tag: Vulnerability
Covington Catholic School and the Need for an Ethic of Love
When I was young, I read to my little brother. We had an extensive collection of children’s books, but as children often do, we read our favorites over and over. One of them was a collection of Dr. Seuss stories. I was always puzzled by the story of The Zax. The north-going Zax walks straight … Continue reading Covington Catholic School and the Need for an Ethic of Love
Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church
Life happens. Sometimes it happens with routines. School schedules, regular work days, afterschool activities and such. Sometimes it happens too fast, when all the normal routines are crowded with business trips, conferences, additional meetings and activities. Other times it happens with focus on a single important event – a dear friend in crisis, a family … Continue reading Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church
Formed in Community Over Brunch
How do you gather with your friends? Last night I attended a monthly dinner as part of a group that is considering living together in Intentional Community. We’ve been gathering weekly for prayer and have added a meal on the first week as part of our formation. During the table discussion, we were reflecting on … Continue reading Formed in Community Over Brunch
Mutuality Takes Work
Yesterday in a meeting I was asked who is my favorite mission theologian. I quickly answered: Glory Dharmaraj. Glory and her husband Jacob worked for many years in United Methodist mission agencies, Glory for United Methodist Women and Jacob for the General Board of Global Ministries. They wrote about complex mission concepts in such a … Continue reading Mutuality Takes Work
Mission Selfies
Eleven years ago I had the opportunity to lead a mission trip to Belhar, near Cape Town. Our team worked with a Methodist Church, helping them with the part of the construction on their new building. We took a lot of pictures. Everyone had a camera, most with digital memory sticks that we downloaded onto … Continue reading Mission Selfies
The Possibilities of a Round Table Conversation
The List of Names Perhaps you, like me, have been overwhelmed with the news lately. Another mass shooting. Another list of names of lives cut short, images of grieving friends and family on the tv. I've listened to too many pastoral prayers, heard too many bells rung, watched too many candles lit in churches after … Continue reading The Possibilities of a Round Table Conversation
Mission as Learning Together
Learning together on the journey Last week I read a column by Omid Safi on On Being – a thoughtful radio program which also has a blog, columns and podcasts focused on civil conversations, the complexity of human life, and wisdom and moral imagination. I am always challenged and uplifted by what I read or … Continue reading Mission as Learning Together
Moving Beyond Voluntourism
Rev. Matt Lacey, director of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for the Southeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church wrote a blog post this week digging into the term “voluntourism”. Voluntourism mashes together the words “volunteer” and “tourism” and describes what some critics of short-term mission see as the main problem with the practice of … Continue reading Moving Beyond Voluntourism
The Dreaded Christmas Letter
The annual newsy Christmas letter has a bad reputation these days. I must confess that I enjoy reading letters from friends and family, hearing about their celebrations and transitions, especially people who aren't active on social media or frequent e-mailers. Christmas letters are one way we share about ourselves with others. If we don't gloss … Continue reading The Dreaded Christmas Letter
Sister of Hope Ministries 