Ordination trials
08/01/2008 19:06
Most of you may know, I was examined by the Covenant
Presbytery credentials committee today, as one of the
final steps toward completing ordination. I was
approved by the committee, and will be recommended by
them for ordination.
Thank you for your prayers and support through this process. The final two steps are the oral exam before the entire Presbytery (on February 5), and the ordination service (date TBA). I look forward to finishing out this process, as it allows me to serve Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church as Pastor.
Thank you for your prayers and support through this process. The final two steps are the oral exam before the entire Presbytery (on February 5), and the ordination service (date TBA). I look forward to finishing out this process, as it allows me to serve Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church as Pastor.
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Working on a book
05/01/2008 10:02
I talk a bit about my ambitions to write a book on
pastoral placement and transition. Read
More...
Wildlife Watch, 1/4/08
05/01/2008 09:33
As I walked up the sidewalk this morning, I saw a doe
just inside the woods. If you didn't know to look
over there, and if the leaves hadn't mostly dropped,
AND if you didn't know what to look for, you would
have missed her. I felt pleased that I didn't.
Then not long after I arrived two does crossed the field behind the church. Lots of deer activity today!
Then not long after I arrived two does crossed the field behind the church. Lots of deer activity today!
Haiku #7 (Christmastide Haiku)
03/01/2008 14:47
Wildlife Watch, 12/27/07
27/12/2007 16:11
As I was walking out to the mailbox, about half-way
up the sidewalk, a large doe jumped out of the
thicket behind the big oak. She stopped and I
stopped. We stood there, looking at each other, for a
few minutes-- then she jumped off into the woods
without looking back. She showed no signs of fear or
alert-- I guess the HWPC grounds truly are a
sanctuary!
I also saw a grey fox cross the field out back.
I also saw a grey fox cross the field out back.
Theological worldview quiz
27/12/2007 08:33
I took a "theological worldview" quiz and here are
the results. What is your theological worldview?
Read
More...
Wildlife Watch, 12/26/07
26/12/2007 16:37
Wildlife Watch, 12/19/07
19/12/2007 14:29
I saw a doe this morning. It was sort of cheating on
my wildlife log, because it was just inside the edge
of the woods as I was walking out. I've started being
extra-quiet as I leave, so that I don't spook any
critters that are about, and I was able to watch her
walk for a few minutes as I walked down the sidewalk.
Wildlife Watch, 12/17/07
17/12/2007 16:56
Six does this afternoon. You might think that all six
were moving together-- but you would be mistaken.
They met up for a little mid-field frolicking, then
the pair (maybe a mother/daughter pair?) that move
together went their way while the others went theirs.
I've been watching these groups of does all fall-- the larger group was a group of five; I wonder if one met an early end. All of them are fairly young and pretty small, though there is one doe that is much bigger than the rest.
Every now and then, the bucks that hanker after them show up-- but these bucks are quite young, too; you can tell by the spread of their antlers they aren't but a year or so old. One buck, though, will be huge when he matures: his antlers are very narrow, but he's already a six-point.
I've been watching these groups of does all fall-- the larger group was a group of five; I wonder if one met an early end. All of them are fairly young and pretty small, though there is one doe that is much bigger than the rest.
Every now and then, the bucks that hanker after them show up-- but these bucks are quite young, too; you can tell by the spread of their antlers they aren't but a year or so old. One buck, though, will be huge when he matures: his antlers are very narrow, but he's already a six-point.
Haiku #6 (Advent Haiku #2)
17/12/2007 14:42
Code, ambiguity, and understanding each other
14/12/2007 15:06
Yesterday, Marcie and I were planning to do some
Christmas shopping after we drove the kids to school.
Out of the blue, she said to me, "do you think that
store would have that thing?"
"What?!?"
We smiled and laughed, and eventually she gave me enough hints to decipher what she meant.
But it got me to thinking: a lot of times, one of us (in the church) will say something we think is entirely clear, and it will come across to others like Marcie's statement did for me. It's way too easy for misunderstandings to occur, and we need to be willing to give the benefit of the doubt in times like that-- and quickly work toward understanding.
"What?!?"
We smiled and laughed, and eventually she gave me enough hints to decipher what she meant.
But it got me to thinking: a lot of times, one of us (in the church) will say something we think is entirely clear, and it will come across to others like Marcie's statement did for me. It's way too easy for misunderstandings to occur, and we need to be willing to give the benefit of the doubt in times like that-- and quickly work toward understanding.
Wildlife Watch, 12/12/07
12/12/2007 19:59
Kate Snodgrass
12/12/2007 09:23
Marcie has mentioned Kate Snodgrass to many of you;
Kate is someone we know from a St. Louis church where
we were members. She has been battling cancer for
some time now, and she has chronicled her struggles
(and the lessons God has taught her through them) on
a blog.
If you're interested, you may read Kate's blog at this link.
If you're interested, you may read Kate's blog at this link.
Wildlife Watch, 12/10/07
10/12/2007 09:19
One of the "perks" of my job as Pastor of Hickory
Withe Presbyterian Church is the view I have from my
office window. I often get to watch wildlife eating,
playing, or just moving around in the field behind
the church property. I rarely tire of taking this in,
and I keep a pair of binoculars by my desk to
facilitate.
I want to keep a log of what I see, mostly for me-- though some of you might find it interesting too. So I'll keep my log on this blog. Here's the list for today:
16 wild turkeys, including 3 really big toms, 4 jakes, and 9 hens!
I want to keep a log of what I see, mostly for me-- though some of you might find it interesting too. So I'll keep my log on this blog. Here's the list for today:
16 wild turkeys, including 3 really big toms, 4 jakes, and 9 hens!
Food for the hungry
06/12/2007 22:59
My friend Megan posted a challenging post on her blog
a few days ago. It turns out that Megan read
an interesting article in the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch about the struggles that
many food banks and food pantries face around
this time of year: they simply run out of food,
and are forced to limit their services or close
doors altogether.
The article points to the unexpected downside of our technological advances: the accuracy of inventory systems in grocery stores means that stores seldom over-purchase, and food packagers don't over-produce, in the quantities that they used to. The net result is that food banks and food pantries don't have the supply of food from the grocery stores and food packagers that they used to. As a result, they run out of inventory themselves.
Megan asks a hard question: what is their personal family responsibility for this problem? I love this question, as it reveals Megan's faith as real and practicable. I also love it because it forces me to consider this for myself, and my family.
In her post, Megan invites interaction about this subject, and I wanted to bring that discussion here, as well. I've also invited my friend Russell Smith to join the conversation. I'd like to work together toward some real answers to this problem-- something that we (as a community) can put into practice on a regular basis.
What do you think? We have a food pantry right here, through Fayette Cares-- my guess is that they are facing the same struggle. How can we answer? What should our personal responsibility in this problem be?
The article points to the unexpected downside of our technological advances: the accuracy of inventory systems in grocery stores means that stores seldom over-purchase, and food packagers don't over-produce, in the quantities that they used to. The net result is that food banks and food pantries don't have the supply of food from the grocery stores and food packagers that they used to. As a result, they run out of inventory themselves.
Megan asks a hard question: what is their personal family responsibility for this problem? I love this question, as it reveals Megan's faith as real and practicable. I also love it because it forces me to consider this for myself, and my family.
In her post, Megan invites interaction about this subject, and I wanted to bring that discussion here, as well. I've also invited my friend Russell Smith to join the conversation. I'd like to work together toward some real answers to this problem-- something that we (as a community) can put into practice on a regular basis.
What do you think? We have a food pantry right here, through Fayette Cares-- my guess is that they are facing the same struggle. How can we answer? What should our personal responsibility in this problem be?
Faith and Anxiety (and other emotional struggles)
05/12/2007 11:10
Faith and anxiety are not absolutes. That is, if you experience one, you do not eliminate the other. Faith can keep company with many sets of ordinary feelings that can be handled and lived with but never removed. Those who insist on a "pure faith" unstained by human emotionality make the denial of reality a condition of faith. But the encouragement of the Scripture is to "take heart," not take cover. We take heart because we believe that human life in its totality becomes enormously fruitful in the hands of God through the power of God's gracious promises.
Peter L. Steinke, How Your Church Family Works