For no particular reason, I have decided to offer some suggestions for choosing children’s curriculum. Whether it’s Sunday School or, say, Vacation Bible School, the lessons we share with the young people of the church are important. It’s true that no curriculum, not even what I wrote for Shine (#ShamelessSelfPromotion), will perfectly impart the fullness of… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Summer Sermon Series
Well, preachers, we’ve made it through the high holy days. Our people expect certain things from us as we preach them through Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter. But summer is on the horizon, and for many, that means a chance to spread our preaching wings just a bit. We can move off Lectionary and… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: What Not to Say
After a discussion with my clergy group yesterday, I decided that many congregants could use some guidance in terms of interacting with their pastors–particularly in the post-worship receiving line. Feel free to make copies and share with those who may need it. (Note: Two of these are borrowed directly from a colleague in the group.… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Email Fantasies
Is it weird that I kind of look forward to opening up my church email each morning? These little electronic messages are filled with so much possibility! Maybe someone is offering a generous gift to the church or sharing an insight from Sunday’s sermon. Maybe there is an invitation to a fabulous event or a… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Ode to a Pastor’s To-Do List
How orderly the empty boxes wait Aligned along the margin, the sure Sign of a new day—an empty slate For marking “X”s, or checks if you prefer. Who can imagine what lingers there For a pastor to accomplish by end of day? It is a strange job we are called to do: To read and… Read More
Wits-Ends-Day: Walls to Build
There has been a lot of talk about walls lately. At the risk of making my humor column “too political,” I will say that I’m not a big fan of the proposed $5.7 billion barrier between the United States and Mexico. I mean, since Christ breaks down dividing walls of hostility (Colossians 2:14), this seems,… Read More
Wits’-Ends-Day: Christmas Edition
‘Tis 2 weeks before Christmas with so much to do There’s no way you can finish without four of you. The sermons are nestled all snug in your head And refuse to come out in words to be said. The choir is flustered and singing off key, With just one more practice before Christmas Eve.… Read More
Wit’s Ends Day: Another Gratitude List
I’m not great at keeping a daily gratitude practice—or a daily anything practice, really. But I do enjoy putting together a little Thanksgiving gratitude list once in awhile. (Like here and here.) It allows me to reflect on the blessings in my life and also to have a humor column when my brain is not… Read More
Wits-Ends-Day: Talking to Myself
You know those cartoons where a person has a little angel sitting on one shoulder trying to get them to do the right thing while a horned-but-cute devil sits on the other shoulder giving them bad advice? I know it doesn’t really work like that, but it sure feels like it some weeks when I’m… Read More
Wits-Ends-Day: Early Warning Signs
Many seminaries and denominations require some level of psychological testing and evaluation for people who want to become pastors. I’m on board with the concept—the last thing we want is a bunch of narcissists in charge of churches. But I do question the effectiveness of some of these evaluations. The two things I remember from… Read More
