* this is the 4th post of highlights from our sacred friendship summer camp, practical ideas for becoming better friends. you can look back on the past few days to see the other posts; they are centered on the crazy stuff in our heads, safety & boundaries, and conflict. * * * * one […]
Read Morefriendship: conflict is good (even though most of us hate it)
* this is part 3 from the refuge’s sacred friendship summer camp. the questions in bold are ones we somehow talked about together at our gathering or in the homework. * * * * * some of us are really good at navigating conflict in relationships, but many of us hate conflict. look at a […]
Read Morefriendship: safety & boundaries aren't dumb psychology words
* this is the next post from friendship summer camp. it’s interesting that even as i share these here i can hear a voice that says “where’s the scripture in here? are we really going to talk about psychology stuff? come on, let’s talk about theology and church instead!” (hmm, mind-reading?). but i will hold […]
Read Morefriendship: mind-reading, assumptions & saying-our-crazy-stuff-out-loud
* thanks for bearing with me while i archived a bunch of guest posts last week. i’m still waiting to hear back about my laptop and whether they could retrieve my data so here’s to hope. this week i’m going to be sharing 5 simple posts from the refuge’s sacred friendship summer camp that we […]
Read Moremissional pastoring head rattles
* i love my friend phil shepherd, aka, the whiskey preacher. he and his wife stephanie know the cost and beauty of nutty-in-the-trenches-with-people church planting. whenever we are together it feels like a gift; i always leave feeling a little less crazy, a little less alone. a few months ago he asked me to […]
Read Morewhy the word "missional" bugs me.
i know the word “missional” is popular in a lot of christian circles these days. it has gained traction as churches are attempting to become more outwardly focused. now, there are all kinds of groups, networks, ministry initiatives, new book lines, and other programs dedicated to challenging the church to become more “missional.” even though […]
Read Moreif you want to hear me ramble about church for an hour…
last month i had a one hour conversation with chris yaw from churchnext, which is dedicated to resources & support to nurture healthy churches in all kinds of different ways. it seemed like some of the video was a little slow at the beginning but then it started to kick in, but you can always […]
Read Morenoticing what is, not what isn't.
// i usually pace things out a little more here but i’m going out of town tomorrow for a week. if i don’t get things up when they come, the moment sort of passes so sharing these while they’re fresh. one more tomorrow & then back for summer and planning to try a few new […]
Read Morecruise ships, sail boats & holey dinghies
one of my friends calls the typical contemporary typical church-system “the big ship.” they’re strong & powerful & plow through the ocean with confidence. they are dazzling and entertaining. many of us have been on that ship in some way, shape or form, hanging out on the deck enjoying the ride called “church-as-we-knew-it”. but over […]
Read Morelove's the thread & it's stronger than we think
i love the book of colossians; i’ve shared here before that when my kids were little we had the NIV kids club cassette tapes (yes, we’re old) and i can pretty much sing all of chapter 3. each of these verses is a separate song: “13 – therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly […]
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