Essay

Searching for a faithful response to disaster

Recently I was introduced to the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth, an organization that provides resources, networking, and education for communities of faith that are seeking to respond to large-scale tragedy, disaster, and trauma. Founded by one of my…
Essay

Three Things to Share

I knew I was definitely going to write about Oklahoma today. If there is one place that I think of when I think "childhood," it is Lawton/Ft. Sill, OK, where I attended 4th through half of 8th grade (when we…
Calvin University
Essay

Waltzing with the Trinity

The Sunday after Pentecost, this coming Sunday, is known as Trinity Sunday. I used to make fun of Trinity Sunday. Exactly what event are we celebrating? “Oh yes, that's the day we read our favorite Trinity story!” We all know…
Second Reformed Church, Pella, IA
Essay

The Spirit of Possibility

Graphic by Timothy Aivazian (http://timothyaivazian.com)Happy Pentecost Monday, friends. As I was reflecting on the layers of meaning that Pentecost carries, I found my way back to a quote I'd copied down years ago from one of German theologian Jurgen Moltmann's…
Essay

Unfinished Business

When I first began teaching, I tried to have all my semester grades turned in before commencement, so that I could enjoy a sense of closure as I sat there in my academic regalia and watched graduating students stride down…
Calvin University
Essay

Prayers for a young widow

  By all accounts, he was a really good guy--good father, good husband, good church-goer.  In some ways, on paper at least, he seems quintessentially CRC. While he didn't go to Redeemer, to Dordt, to Calvin, or to Trinity, he…
Essay

A Different Cycle

Perhaps you’ve heard? The apocalypse is coming. And no, it’s not because the General Synod workbook is out. (Although in some areas it is rousing a lot of attention.) Rather, the disaster of which I speak is not really an…
Essay

One Alumni and Her Blessing

Are you sick of posts about graduation? I hope not because I am going to add one more. Except this time it is from the perspective of an alumni. (Check out Jason Lief's post and Jeff Munroe's post for some…
Essay

A Special Day

On Saturday, Jason Lief reflected in this space on college graduation and the twin impulses to hit the road or stay where you are.  Today, at Western Theological Seminary, we watch students “hit the road” as they graduate, but it…