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As I see friends who haven’t seen me in a while they are effusive in their praise of physical fitness. Over the last year, my body has transformed. What they can’t see is the transformation that has taken place in my heart, mind, and soul. Those changes are of course nearly impossible to simply see. […]
12.10.2023 21:43The Journey – Nuts and BoltsWhat if we valued perseverance over being perfect? Sophia was walking through the forest with her friend Avil. As they were walking and talking she stubbed her toe on a root that had broken through the path. She stumbled and exclaimed her shock and surprise. She regained her footing and they continued walking. A little […]
12.10.2023 21:42The Journey – Perseverance Over PerfectionWhat do we do when the goal is unseen? It was Thanksgiving and we were heading to my brother Jay’s home outside Baltimore, Maryland. We were excited to spend time with his family and celebrate together. As we drove the weather grew worse and worse. The snow and sleet were becoming overwhelming. Cars were pulling […]
12.10.2023 21:41The Journey – The UnseenWe aren’t made to walk the path alone. I began my journey toward physical fitness with a commitment to walk fifteen minutes per day. My thinking was that I could do anything for fifteen minutes. I was right. Rarely did I walk for less than twenty minutes. Almost always, I walked at least thirty. I […]
12.10.2023 21:38The Journey – The CrewAnswering one question can start the journey. I recently shared a before and after picture one year apart on my social feeds. It sparked congratulations and a lot of kind words. Over the last eighteen months I have lost over 100 lbs. My entire body has changed. I see old pictures and it doesn’t even […]
12.10.2023 21:35The Journey – Start With “Why?”A couple of years ago I read a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. He tells the story of a friend who went on a weight loss journey. To begin this journey his friend started a habit of going to the gym. At this point you might be thinking, “Well, of course he did.” […]
12.10.2023 20:47The Journey – Who Am I?“Karma is a bitch.” Did that get your attention? 😏 I am sure it did. Pastors are not supposed to use that kind of bad language. This little sentence is something that we hear often in our world isn’t it? It points to this sense that “what we put out into the universe will return […]
23.6.2023 14:37Grace or Karma?Do you ever read something or hear something that you just know is true? I bumped into a quote today from the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, “Life must be lived forward, but it can only be understood backward.(Rohr, Richard. Wondrous Encounters : Scripture for Lent (p. 32). Franciscan Media. Kindle Edition.)“ I have been meditating on it all […]
1.3.2023 18:54Life Must Be Lived ForwardI’ve been thinking about the New Year, a bit. In so many ways we often start the New Year thinking about shortcomings. It’s the “I‘m nots…” So, we make resolutions to try and “fix” whatever it is we are “not.” I read a book last year about habit forming, Atomic Habits, and one of the […]
1.1.2023 13:11It’s A New Year!Patience is hard work. It demands an expectancy and an effort that brings about change and transformation.
1.12.2022 20:53PatienceIn reply to <a href="https://pastornextdoor.wordpress.com/2022/12/01/communion-it-aint-wafers-and-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-42">Scott Brodie</a>. Scott, thanks for the kind words! You too invite communion with those around you. What you're speaking of in your question is referred to as "transubstantiation." It's a Roman Catholic doctrine that teaches the wafer and wine by divine miracle become the real flesh and blood of Christ. I think the Roman Catholic position is flawed here. I hold to an understanding of the Lord's Supper that as we celebrate there is a spiritual or mystical (if one might prefer) presence of Christ. The bread and juice stay bread and juice. There's nothing magical about them, they're just bread and juice (or wine).
1.12.2022 17:58Comment on Communion, It Ain’t Wafers and Wine by Daniel RoseDan, First, I have always felt a connection to you, if that’s communion, okay. You are so open, kind and humanist I think you invite communion with you. I find communion in connection with others as well. From friends to family, Tony job as a sub at Saline High School, if you are open to those moments that connect you to another, you feel it and need it and get hungry for it. Lastly, I don’t get the whole physical communion thing. When it’s said that “this is my blood” and “this is my flesh”, how do you take seriously that it truly is that?
1.12.2022 17:36Comment on Communion, It Ain’t Wafers and Wine by Scott BrodieIn reply to <a href="https://pastornextdoor.wordpress.com/2022/11/15/to-forgive/comment-page-1/#comment-40">Laura</a>. Oh my yes! It is so very hard. The mechanics of it are not simple either. I feel like it’s part of the life long process of becoming more like Jesus.
16.11.2022 12:14Comment on To Forgive by Daniel Rose2022 has been my year of learning about and practicing forgiveness. I find it interesting that forgiveness is such an important part of Christianity, we know we’re supposed to do it but we don’t talk about how. Like, the very act and how difficult it can be. I’m glad you are writing about it cause I think for many it’s nit second nature as I guess I’ve always thought it should be. Thanks!
16.11.2022 04:19Comment on To Forgive by LauraIn reply to <a href="https://pastornextdoor.wordpress.com/2022/11/02/the-divine-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-38">Scott Brodie</a>. That’s a great question! Probably way too much to respond to in a comment. We need to meet up for a coffee, coke, or ice tea and discuss!
8.11.2022 16:34Comment on The Divine Mystery by Daniel RoseDan, I'm interested in why you were a Calvinist? My Dad would have been described as one in his belief system, but he also believed in pre-destination. I wish I could ask him how that comports with his death by suicide...
8.11.2022 14:21Comment on The Divine Mystery by Scott BrodieIn reply to <a href="https://pastornextdoor.wordpress.com/2022/11/02/the-divine-mystery/comment-page-1/#comment-36">Ian DesJardins</a>. Yes! I love that, “it gives me permission to give ambiguous opinions.” It’s so nice to be able to simply be honest. The freedom from certainty is crucial, I think, to truly coming to grips with grace.
7.11.2022 14:26Comment on The Divine Mystery by Daniel RoseMoving from “I know how this works” to “yeah, this is not as cut and dry as I thought it was” is both difficult and freeing. I’m pretty quiet with my opinions, unless someone asks, but I think deconstruction gave me permission to give ambiguous opinions. It made my fellow Christian friends uncomfortable, but at least I could be honest! Your story resonates with me a bit.
7.11.2022 14:12Comment on The Divine Mystery by Ian DesJardinsIn reply to <a href="https://pastornextdoor.wordpress.com/2022/09/27/a-questioning-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-24">Vince</a>. Yeah man! It’s something that I keep thinking about. All the time.
26.10.2022 15:34Comment on A Questioning Faith by Daniel RoseSitting on this for a bit - “The sense of certainty that I had in my younger days is long gone. Yet, I believe more deeply than I ever have before.” I feel this so much and want to dissect it to figure out why. Does that make sense?? Anyway, add my to the FB group please.
26.10.2022 15:32Comment on A Questioning Faith by Vince