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We’ve had a series of big days. Taxes, of course. Erik’s grandfather died last week, so travel and family. Canceling my plans for a conference (shout out to Calvin College for being fabulous about refunding the registration. I love you guys!). Good rumblings in the Erik-employment department. An earthquake we didn’t feel. Zora learned how [...]
Mayor Daley is one of the things I love about Chicago. In theory, I think he’s a bit of a dictator. But, some of the decisions he makes, I kind of agree with. Plus, he’s always good for an absolutely brilliant quote. Yesterday, police shot a cougar that was wandering around Roscoe Village (a residential [...]
I wish this photo-essay only dealt with issues that were long past in our country, that the flag was something we could look at without any squeamishness about what our country stands for, and what we actually do and how we actually act as a nation. Unfortunately, by the time you get to the end [...]
I heard someone use the term “perservation” today. Is that really a word? Word’s spellcheck says “no”. Not that Microsoft is the final authority on words, particularly theological ones. I think he meant “perseverance.” I’m a big fan of perseverance. Mostly because I’m not a big perseverer myself. And so the doctrine of the perseverance [...]
Let me start by saying: I think memorizing Scripture is a spiritual practice that we have lost, and one we should regain. I’m a horrible memorizer, and most passages I know are snippets from Bible passages set to music, or parts of a repeated liturgy. And, while I would love to be the kind of [...]
I’m thinking about books. Heidi’s got a good post about the book situation at her house. (Our house is similar…between a pastor an an ex-grad student…but worse because Erik and I are a little less organized and have a little less space than Tim and Heidi.) And some blogging friends, prodded by Alex, have been [...]
Easter being early this year has thrown me off a little bit. Now that it’s over and done with, I think I have early-Easter-withdrawal. Usually, the crazy business of May (confirmation, year-end youth group, Sunday School wrap-ups, fitting-it-all-in before summer break) takes over soon after Easter. So soon that I barely notice that Easter is [...]
We are done with the difficult worship: the last supper, the blackness of Good Friday, and the prep for Easter is mostly over: the lillies are lined up and ready, the Easter banners are up, and this morning, we’ll unleash a herd of kids for an easter egg hunt in the church (outside, normally, but [...]
It snowed last night. It’s still snowing. Come on already! But, I have very good reason to hope this is the last snow: This morning, we packed Zora up to go spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. (We’ll reunite at Easter dinner, after all the hub-bub at church has died down.) She walked to [...]
It’s time to do a catch-up! I’ve got a sermon that has to go up…it’s a week overdue on the blog. I’m debating if it might be time to put up sermons in mp3 format only, but I know sometimes I have congregants who ask for the text and it’s so much easier to direct [...]