Learning about life from a sandwich

For lunch today I ate a sandwich consisting of fresh bread, lettuce, chunks of red peppers, brie and goat cheese, hunks of raw red onion, and sliced tomatoes. I did a quick check for meat. There was no meat.


For lunch today I ate a sandwich consisting of fresh bread, lettuce, chunks of red peppers, brie and goat cheese, hunks of raw red onion, and sliced tomatoes. I did a quick check for meat. There was no meat.

This week, I went to a pastor’s gathering @ EBC with our interim lead pastor. We heard from Phil Wagler. He’s the lead pastor of a number of churches in Huron county. Their model of leadership and their ideas about ministry resonated with me. One of the things that stood out to me was something…

I’m still here. In the absence of blogging I’ve been consumed with reading and writing for courses that have deadlines and required word counts. I am officially back in full-time academic studies for the first time since 2006. The adjustment has been smooth but abrupt. I’m enjoying getting settled in. On a sad note, just…

Blogger, I’ve missed you. It’s been way too long. As you can probably tell, I don’t have as much time to write these days. It comes with saying good-bye to another pastor. Since coming to HMC I’ve waved farewell to five ministry staff in less than four years (Milly, Claran, Olu, Rick, and Peter). The…

I wonder what would happen if I treated my family like a congregation? 1. We’d align our couch and chairs in rows whenever we watched T.V. 2. If my kids wanted to talk to me, they’d have to make an appointment. 3. I’d make special ‘visits’ to my wife. She’d make tea and we would…
“Get closer.” It came as God’s invitation to a distant pastor. Me. I’m exiting the most difficult ministry season of my life. It has been a year of wrestling with heaviness, fear, loneliness, and sin. But something is different now, after God’s invitation. I’m leaning in; I’m picking up the phone and calling people….

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. Yesterday, I perused a stack of resumes for a office position we’re hoping to fill in the coming 2 weeks. Today, I spent the whole day–locked in a room full of white boards, coffee, and ministry staff–drafting next year’s intentional plan. It was productive and helpful. It…