My friend Everitt
A few days before I heard about Carmen’s passing, I heard from my dear Susan that her father, Everitt Shepherd, had gone home to be with Jesus. So many people I know are heading to the party that will never end. It makes me a little homesick for a place I have never been yet!…
My Friend Carmen
We landed in Chicago a few hours ago and when I turned on my phone I was greeted with the news that Carmen Elaine Trust went home to be with Jesus and Bob as she joined the great cloud of witnesses. I will miss the funeral as we are on the beginning of a family…
The Hardest Part – Lament
During this lent season there is a small discussion group made up of 12 or so women who meet at lunch once a week to discuss the book study called The Hardest Part by Kate Bowler. I was asked to lead the discussion on Lament. It is conversation still in process. My kids will tell…
Is God Bugging You?
Picture This! Back in the day someone came up with a modern version to help explain the character of God. It included things like God is like Tide – he gets out the stains others leave behind. God is like Coke – He’s the real thing! God is like Hallmark Cards – He only sends…
Generational Bias is not my Favorite
I can remember when I was new in ministry and I found myself in the margins because of my age and gender. I had so much to learn that I just accepted the poor behaviors of those in church who discounted my ideas and my insights because of my age. But that was then. perhaps…
Past the Waves
At staff chapel this week, I was taken with the story and accompanying insights from one of my colleagues about how she loves the beach and getting in the water. She shared how refreshing it is to move past the shore break into the deeper water. She also talked about how the noise of the…
Passing the Baton
I’ve been doing youth ministry (in some various form) since I was about 19. Since I’m almost 65 this means I’ve been ministering to teens for 45 years. Although my days of active student ministry are over, I have been blessed to have been able to support those who are in the driver’s seat here…
Corn Salad and Potlucks
I was asked to share about a salad that I made one time for a Staff women’s lunch years ago. Little did I know it would be such a hit! It was an old potluck recipe that I was given by a close friend and as I rifled through my recipe box I could have…
Church Families #20
My parents are not from California and so when we migrated west we were far away from people who shared our DNA. We did maintain relationships with our southern roots and our family on the east coast as we made regular treks to visit them (the added bonus was learning about the country by traveling…
Stay or Go
Today I was having lunch with a friend who was asking me about when is the right time to leave a church. I don’t know, but I have a few thoughts. Here is what I think about when to go – for what it’s worth – I am not one to jump ship too soon…