The days of giving up chocolate, alcohol, or some other pleasure simply because the church says so are long gone. I’ve come to think of “Lent” not as a church-prescribed season, but rather a six-week time of self-improvement. … More Is Lent Still Relevant in the 21st Century?
Lent is a practice, not a season, and not a time to simply give up chocolate for the glory of God. … More Lent is a Practice, Not a Season
Like a pilgrim of old, my spiritual journey has become much like his – taken alone, without institutional support, and mostly in the small “hut” of my home office or while out encountering whomever I may meet on my journey. … More The Spiritual Journeys of Middle-Aged GenXers: It’s a Lonely Road
Several new books have just been published, all appropriate for adult formation groups. Here’s what I recommend for Lent 2019 – wherever you are in your spiritual journey, there’s something for everybody. … More New for Lent 2019: Resources for Adult Christian Formation
Those who practice their faith in the privacy of their own homes, out in the garden, up in the mountains, or sitting in a boat in the middle of a quiet lake are just as Christian as those who show up to sit in a pew every Sunday morning. … More Solitary, Silent Christianity – It’s a Thing
The idea of wilderness as a place of deep spirituality is not new at all. If we delve into Old and New Testament roots of spirituality in the wilderness, we see that many – if not all – of the major figures in the Bible sought quiet time in the wilderness to confront, deepen, or … More Wilderness as the Forgotten Place of Spirituality
Churches, we want to believe, are happy, fuzzy places where everyone is loved and valued. That’s what we preach and teach. That’s what most of us expect from the church as well. But sometimes, churches become very contentious places. When that happens, it’s hard to focus on the church’s basic missions of ministry and spiritual … More When Church Becomes Contentious
One of my favorite spiritual practices is to knit prayer shawls. I love to sit quietly and not think, letting my mind rest while I simply make loop after loop with my hands and two bamboo sticks. When I donate my work to my local church, I feel something like a sense of relief. The … More What’s A Prayer Shawl? (And Do You Have to Literally Pray Over Each Stitch to Make One?)
“Life is tough….Take care of yourself by spending a few minutes a day in your own little bubble of peacefulness….” … More When Life Becomes Overwhelming: a DIY Resilience Toolkit
Sycamore Cove 