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More than ten years ago, I was working with a coach who began every one of our monthly sessions with the same question: “What are you reading?” At first, I found her question annoying. Mainly because I’m not a big reader. I don’t breeze through novels, nor do I have a book on my nightstand. I tend to stick to reading that’s closely tied to my trade: books about theology, church leadership, Bible study resources, or spiritual formation. That’s my jive. If I have a book in my hand it’s usually for a utilitarian purpose. So after hearing the question a few too many times,Read More →

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Finding Wonder and God’s Presence in Holy Darkness “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” — John 1:5 NRSVUE On summer nights, one of my favorite things happens as dusk falls and the night sounds begin: the lightning bugs come out. No matter how many times I see them, their flickering light in the shadows still makes me pause and smile. I remember many summer evenings, laughing and running around, trying to catch one of these glowing wonders. Even now, whether I’m out walking or just taking out the trash, their tiny pulses of light spark something deep withinRead More →

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As August approaches, I begin gathering my notes, working on my packing list, and getting ready to head to Colorado to get off the grid to spend a week planning for the coming year. It’s far more work than it is rest and relaxation. I work from dawn to dusk daily on the kind of work I need in the stillness of that mountain air. I listen for God to speak and lead me as I seek to lead us as a church. I go up the mountain with a Bible, my laptop, two close preacher friends, and something else I treasure: your input andRead More →

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Leading courageously means facing challenges head-on with bravery and conviction, even when facing opposition or uncertainty. It involves making tough decisions, taking calculated risks, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Courageous leaders also show empathy, engage in tough conversations, and empower their teams. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was such a leader. Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, born in 1906 in Breslau, Germany. By 1920, Hitler and the Nazi Party were on the rise, spreading their poisonous message of antisemitism and genocidal persecution of Jews and the superiority of the Aryan race. Bonhoeffer strongly opposed Hitler and the Nazi regime. He believed that stupidity is worse than evil becauseRead More →

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Every year, as fireworks fill the sky and flags line the streets, we gather on the Fourth of July to celebrate the birth of our nation. We remember the courage of revolutionaries, the ideals enshrined in our founding documents, and the ongoing pursuit of liberty and justice for all. For many of us, the holiday also comes with a deep sense of gratitude: for freedom, for opportunity, for community. But for Christians, Independence Day also invites a deeper question: To whom, or to what, do we ultimately pledge our allegiance? This isn’t a new question. Scripture is full of wrestling over divided loyalties. One ofRead More →