Sermon synopsis: Jesus’ (Awkward) Family Values

One of my favorite web sites (and I’m not sure what this says about me) is Awkward Family Photos.  I haven’t taken the time to learn how they’ve collected all these, but I can’t stop looking at the varieties of families and trying to figure out...

Lessons learned from garbage patrol

Our Midsommarfest Garbage Pick-up team was ready to go last Sunday as part of our Service for Service day. We had the garbage bags, the latex gloves, and the desire to tackle Clark Street and rid it of stray plastic cups and wrappers. As we headed east on Winnemac and...

Holding on to a name

I’m currently at the annual gathering of United Methodists in northern Illinois (aka Annual Conference), which is always a mixed bag.  It’s part seeing good colleagues and friends, part hearing about inspirational ministries in our area, part hearing...

Excerpts from “How to be Perfect”

I heard this on the “Writer’s Almanac” a couple days ago and thought I’d share it. I love lists like this. It’s by Ron Padgett: Get some sleep. Eat an orange every morning.Be friendly. It will help make you happy.Hope for everything....