I honestly don’t know how I ended up in speech. I do remember that it was as a junior in high school, and it was an elective class. I know for certain that I had absolutely no intention of joining the speech team or going to any speech tournaments; it was just an elective choice […]

Posted in high school, leadership 2 Comments »

Our meeting couldn’t come to unity tonight about the budget and our recommendation about changes in our pastoral team. I’m glad for a process that involves people, and where we seek Christ together.
I’m exhausted and I can’t sleep.
God, move in me, move in us. Take me in your hand tonight and tomorrow and forever.

Posted in NFC, leadership 4 Comments »

In worship, we are on a journey through the book of John. Today, many shared their thoughts and reflections from the first two chapters of John. My message centered on John the Baptist, which you can read here.
Over the last couple of days, we’ve made public a decision that was made in our elders meeting […]

Posted in NFC, leadership, worship & messages 2 Comments »

Ok, so imagine this: our entire pastoral team, after Tuesday’s team meeting, goes to the Golden Leaf for Thai food. In a freak accident, we are all killed because they garnished with arsenic instead of curry.
What would happen at NFC?
Would all the people suddenly rise up, and all of a sudden take complete responsibility for […]

Posted in NFC, church thoughts, finding myself, leadership 15 Comments »

I want to write a little more about my brief conversation with Andrew on Saturday night. I was telling him that it seems like I’m called to do something that most American emerging church folks have given up on; it seems like I’m called to stay within an established church and follow where Jesus is […]

Posted in church thoughts, finding myself, leadership 7 Comments »

And the sense of the meeting is that you want to hear about the insights I’m having lately into my psyche…why, I’m not so sure, but here we go.
I’ve been reminded again that our self-perceptions are often formed very early in life, and they persist, even though we change. As much progress as I think […]

Posted in finding myself, leadership No Comments »

Remember Happy Days, and how Fonzie could never say “I was w-w….I was wer…” He could never say he was wrong.
I remember a time when one of my daughters (who shall remain nameless) was a preschooler. I’d noticed she was finding it impossible to apologize, to admit she was wrong, when there were little blow […]

Posted in family, leadership, parenting 8 Comments »

(Bonus points will be given for those who can complete the post title…)
On Monday I had lunch with Mike Huber-pastor at West Hills Friends, convinced Quaker, fellow Clackamas High School Grad (he was ‘82, though, I was ‘86) and a man I respect a lot.
Mike saw me at Yearly Meeting, our church’s annual conference, […]

Posted in NFC, church thoughts, comedy attempts, finding myself, leadership 2 Comments »

Last night, our superintendent gave his keynote address at our denomination’s annual session, which we so creatively name “Yearly Meeting.” Colin Saxton is just completing his first year in that role, and it was further confirmation to me that he is the one to be in this role. He’s got a wonderful ability to paint […]

Posted in finding myself, leadership 8 Comments »

I’d like to invite you into the stages of recovery from blog silence:
1. Denial: “WHAT silence?!? People LOVE those license plate things!”2. Anger: “What right do these people have to be mad about no blogging? I just give, give, give, and all I get is a few measly comments in return.”3. Resignation: “Ok, maybe there’s […]

Posted in NFC, finding myself, leadership 3 Comments »