One of the best weeks of the year is Vacation Bible School (VBS). What's not to love? There are songs that get stuck in your head for weeks, energetic games that somehow involve pool noodles, and enough glitter to remain in the church carpet until Jesus returns. Since his retirement, one of our snack leaders … Continue reading VBS: More Than A Kid’s Program
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If you can, take a sabbatical.
Easter Monday 2025, I woke up with several speaking gigs in my inbox for April 2026, and several things happened: 1) Since the Lily Endowment grants for clergy sabbatical due date had passed and we had just buried our son, Jake, I knew that these speaking gigs were going to be my ticket to travel … Continue reading If you can, take a sabbatical.
Somewhere Between Bikini Bottom and Bethany
My son, Jake, had a favorite cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants. Since he has been on my mind (Jake, not SpongeBob), I thought I would write about him - SpongeBob and Jesus. If you told someone that a devotion on Acts 1:6–14 would begin with SpongeBob SquarePants, they might assume you’d lost your theological footing somewhere between … Continue reading Somewhere Between Bikini Bottom and Bethany
Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Holy Spirit
I am halfway through my sabbatical, and it is all going so fast! I have enjoyed writing on the Gospel text and connecting it to some of my favorite cartoons: Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, Bluey, and now, Casper the Friendly Ghost. Enjoy! Let’s be honest—Casper the Friendly Ghost is probably not the first image that comes … Continue reading Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Holy Spirit
If Jesus and Bluey Met in an Episode
If Jesus and Bluey met in an episode.... I am increasingly convinced that if the Gospel of John were written today, it would include at least one animated episode starring a blue Australian cattle dog. Specifically, the moment in John 14 when Jesus looks at his worried disciples and says, “Do not let your hearts … Continue reading If Jesus and Bluey Met in an Episode
A Drum Circle, The Jetsons, and The Good Shepherd
Right now I’m on sabbatical, which means—plot twist—writing has stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like recess. I’m wandering into whimsical territory, writing about things I normally wouldn’t dare put on paper (or at least not without snacks). Each Sunday in the Easter season, I’m playing with the RCL gospel texts in fun, … Continue reading A Drum Circle, The Jetsons, and The Good Shepherd
Scooby Doo on the Emmaus Road
One of my favorite cartoons growing up was Scooby-Doo—a group of friends, a mystery to solve, and the strangest villains you could imagine. I often find myself comparing the stories of Jesus to an episode of Scooby-Doo. Take Gerasene Demoniac—it’s practically a perfect setup for Scooby and the gang. And the story of Jesus on the road … Continue reading Scooby Doo on the Emmaus Road
Holy Humor
I had a beautiful dream: I would blog every single day during this sabbatical. Daily reflections! Insight! Discipline! That dream lived a strong, vibrant life…for exactly one week. Turns out, blogging every day is hard—especially when you’re sick, packing bags, or zigzagging across every corner of the USA like a confused contestant on The Amazing Race. … Continue reading Holy Humor
Day 5: Date Night
Date Night is what happens when two tired parents attempt romance and accidentally trigger a crime spree. Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a couple whose most daring activity used to be falling asleep during a movie until a stolen reservation lands them in a whirlwind of gangsters, car chases, and mistaken identity. It’s marriage therapy … Continue reading Day 5: Date Night
Day 4: The Post Office
Today I broke free—from the fever, from the sore throat, and from my dramatic, blanket-wrapped existence on the couch. I re-entered society in the most glamorous way possible… by going to the—wait for it—the Post Office. Yes, I peaked early. Getting mail: This is no small thing at our house. We live in a nearly … Continue reading Day 4: The Post Office
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