How do we cultivate a clear speaking and writing voice? How do we come into sounding like ourselves, speaking with honest and vulnerability on the page or in person? I want to offer four stepping stones to help you move…
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3MMM | Episode 252: Ancestors & Descendants
Today’s post falls on Epiphany, and that makes today a good day to call on our ancestors and descendants for help with our vocations. Looking back and looking forward is a good way to tune into the present moment. To…
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3MMM | Episode 251: Reconstructing Faith
Every generation must figure out how to work out their need for deconstructing and reconstructing faith. This spiritual and theological work feels at once exciting and urgent, and also risk-filled and terrifying. It isn’t merely an intellectual exercise, deconstructing faith…
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3MMM | Episode 250: Need for Silence
If I asked you today, what would you tell me about your need for silence? In this week’s episode, I ask Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow about the thread of silence that runs through his “faith montage.” Bruce’s new book Everything Good…
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Beyond “American Thanksgiving”
This year I want to think beyond βAmerican Thanksgivingβ and its usual traditions. I want to share with you my commitment to understanding, learning from, and supporting Indigenous Peoples. Many of them are seeking to care for and βreclaim stewardship…
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3MMM | Episode 249: Writing About Faith
Our guest this week is Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, and he is sharing his new book and his process of writing about faith. Bruce is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA, a speaker, and the author of five books…
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3MMM | Episode 248: How to Worship
Today we are considering the very important question of how to worship? This is our final episode from my conversation with Rev. Dr. ClΓ‘udio Carvalhaes. What a joy to share ClΓ‘udio’s enthusiasm and wisdom for practices of creativity, sustaining the…
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3MMM | Episode 247: How to Pray
In my conversation with Rev. Dr ClΓ‘udio Carvalhaes this week, we talk about how to pray. We begin with one of Claudioβs recent projects and books Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the End of the World. The project…
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3MMM | Episode 246: Sustaining Creativity
This week we welcome Rev. Dr. ClΓ‘udio Carvalhaes for a conversation about sustaining creativity. In our first conversation last week we talked with ClΓ‘udio about how he created the play βWhen Wajcha Meets Pachamama.β Watch or listen to Episode 245…
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3MMM | Episode 245: Creative Process
I’m excited to welcome my friend and colleague Rev. Dr. ClΓ‘udio Carvalhaes to talk with me and you about many things, starting this week with creative process. Claudio is a professor, minister, liturgist, artist, and author. A year ago he…
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3MMM | Episode 244: Teaching Pastoral Imagination
I want to talk with you this week about teaching pastoral imagination. As we launch a new year of theological education in the US, I am hearing again: βpastors and ministers are not fully prepared for their work.β Recent studies…
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3MMM | Episode 243: Back-to-School Wisdom 2024
We asked some wise pastors and professors for a some back-to-school wisdom for 2024, and they generously shared it. You will find their wisdom in this post for students of all ages, parents, teachers, and seminarians. We hope you will…
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3MMM | Episode 239: You are NOT alone
Callie Swanlundβs new book is part of a beautiful and growing effort by writers addressing ministers and church leaders, reminding us, you are not alone! From Weary to Wholehearted is Callieβs love letter to remind you and me of many…
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3MMM | Episode 238: Transition and Grief
Taking out the trash reminded me how transition and grief are messy and complicatedΒ I move four dusty pink vases, two glass candy dishes, and an old cigar box off the brown microwave cart. I check the drawer and cabinet.…
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3MMM | Episode 237: Writing with Support
Itβs hard to believe that an hour of writing with support each weekday is enough to really accomplish anything. And one of my Vanderbilt professors used to say, If you are going to be a successful scholar and publish enough…
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3MMM | Episode 236: Unearthing Treasure
The last seven weeks of my life have been like no other, and they have included unearthing treasure among other things. On Good Friday we began the process of taking over finances, legalities, and material stuff to support my parents…
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3MMM | Episode 235: Sustainable & Wholehearted
This week we are back with Rev. Callie Swanlund and talking about what it means to live into a sustainable and wholehearted ministry. Tomorrow May 7 is a big day for Callie and her new bookΒ From Weary to Wholehearted: A…
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3MMM | Episode 234: Weary to Wholehearted
We are celebrating a new book for clergy and lay leaders: From Weary to Wholehearted is landing soon! This “love letter” from Rev. Callie Swanlund is a remedy for these days of clergy isolation, exhaustion, and burnout. Callie is a…
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3MMM | Episode 233: Celebrating My Ordination
The end of March often arrives, and I realize that I didnβt mark the anniversary or celebrate my ordination. This year Iβm celebrating on March 19. It is the day I was ordained. And Iβm happy to share a few…
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3MMM | Episode 232: Where Were You?
Where were you on March 11, 2020, four years ago? The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was different for everyone by a few days. March 11 was the day the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic. On March 9, I…
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3MMM | Episode 231: Paying Attention
What is the purpose of Lent? Learning to pay attention. And what is the purpose of paying attention? Being present to God and each other and all of creation. And what happens when we pay attention and become more present…
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