I just returned home after being away most of January. I took a lovely vacation with my daughter and my mother-in-law. We traveled to Hawaii, a beautiful place that I truly love. It was the only state of the United…
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3MMM | Episode 226: Notice, Appreciate, Wonder
Happy New Year’s Eve! This is not a post that will scream about the last minute, or rush you to give, buy, do, support, or show up somewhere. Instead it is a post that looks back a little and forward…
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3MMM | Episode 225: Christmas ~ Christ Light
~ Christmas ~ Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you “I will hold the Christ Light for you in the nighttime of your fear. I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you…
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3MMM | Episode 224: Advent Four ~ Healing Light
~ Advent Four ~ moon and stars pour their healing light on you “Moon and stars pour their healing light on you ” is our prayer for the fourth week of Advent 2023. If the world ever needed healing, it…
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3MMM | Episode 223: Advent Three ~ Quiet Earth
~ Advent Three ~ deep peace of the quiet earth to you “Deep peace of the quiet earth to you” is our prayer for the third week of Advent 2023. Here in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, we felt a stark…
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3MMM | Episode 222: Advent Two ~ Flowing Air
~ Advent Two ~ deep peace of the flowing air to you Welcome to the second week of Advent 2023. We are continuing to bring to you a new prayer practice, rooted in ancient ways. Music and art come together…
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3MMM | Episode 221: Advent One ~ Deep Peace
~ Advent One ~ deep peace of the running wave to you Welcome to Advent 2023. This year we are bringing you a new prayer practice, rooted in ancient ways. Music and art for your reflection and nourishment. Praying with our…
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3MMM | Episode 220: Vocational Reflection Questions
This week I had the joy of interviewing four senior scholars by asking them vocational reflection questions. The occasion was the gathering in San Antonio, Texas of the American Academy of Religion. The AAR program unit “Psychology, Culture, and Religion”…
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All Saints’ Day Event (11/01/2023)
We will gather for an ALL SAINTS’ DAY Event November 1 for 45 minutes 1p ET // 12p CT // 11a MT // 10a PT A Zoom link will be sent to your email when you sign up below. Mark…
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3MMM | Episode 218: Appreciating Ministry Volunteers
During this clergy appreciation month, I want to take time for appreciating ministry volunteers. Let’s also give thanks for the volunteer clergy who serve without pay. And offer gratitude for the variety of Christian vocations to which God calls people.…
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3MMM | Episode 217: Vocational Grief
Gratitude is rightly our focus during clergy appreciation month, yet as part of our acknowledgement of clergy today, let’s also attend to the reality of vocational grief. While it can be hard to name and process, and typically remains out…
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3MMM | Episode 216: Clergy Appreciation Month
It’s clergy appreciation month and we have some ideas for you to express gratitude to the ministers, pastors, chaplains, and ministry professors in your life. Maybe you In this week’s episode, you will find: 5 questions to ask 4 studies…
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3MMM | Episode 215: Facing Brick Walls
Facing Brick Walls “Nobody ever liked Eileen anyway.” Ouch. “Eileen, I’m really hoping that you will be our next pastor.” Oooof. These words, and many variations on them, polarized the congregation when I left it over 20 years ago. What…
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3MMM | Episode 214: Making Connections
This weekend I spent time renewing and making new connections with Baptist friends. As an extrovert I found this mostly energizing. I know it’s not everyone’s idea of fun. And maybe you would rather make connections with one person over…
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3MMM | Episode 213: Everyday Ministry Puzzles
For women in ministry and lgbtiqa+ ministers*, everyday ministry puzzles are an unavoidable part of living into one’s calling and work. When I listen to the ministers I study, seminary students, friends, and colleagues in ministry, I hear stories about…
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3MMM | Episode 212: Called to Ministry
Blessed are you who are called by God to serve the church… Then along comes someone saying surely you misheard. Or that you don’t know what you are doing. They practically shout, wrong number! They are the ones who are…
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3MMM | Episode 211: Back to School Wisdom
What back to school wisdom would you offer someone who is beginning seminary? This season is back-to-the-routine and back-to-school time for many of us. So this week we invited pastors, professors and recent seminary graduates to share some words of…
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3MMM | Episode 210: Elizabeth-Anne’s SBC Story
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome Elizabeth-Anne’s SBC Story about calling and ministry. Elizabeth-Anne Lovell is part of the 3MMM Team, teaches Jesus in the Gospel and Film at Belmont University, and is a brand new mom. It’s Not You,…
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3MMM | Episode 209: Rural Ministry Gifts and Challenges
This week I am focusing on rural ministry gifts and challenges related to time, place, and power. The reason for this focus is that I will meet with a group of pastors and congregational leaders later this week. In anticipation…
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3MMM | Episode 208: More Favorite Things
Hello Friends, I have a few more favorite things to share! I’m on vacation this week and so my post this morning is brief. Here are three recent images I hope you will enjoy. We’ve been running a fun series…
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3MMM | Episode 207: Lost Things
a poem for lost things (behind the desk edition) prescription eyeglasses photo book of grandchildren heart stickers rolodex original watercolor painting (unframed, 4 x 6) paper clips bugs (dead and alive) receipts cosmetics, lots of cosmetics (two entire boxes) bic…
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