I’ve been reflecting lately on how, when we’re trying to make positive changes in our lives, things usually get worse before they get better. After sleeping poorly for many years, I finally went to a specialist and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I’m now a few weeks into using a CPAP machine at night, and …
Twelve Years Ago
My oldest daughter, Kate, turns twelve today! It's cliche, but I can't believe it's been that many years since a floppy haired 28 year old and his wife of two years (we had planned on waiting a couple more years to have kids, but things happen) headed to the hospital while an ice storm was …
Longest Night
I have a great life in many ways. I have a wonderful partner, meaningful work, and three intelligent, (mostly) well behaved children. Like most people I put my best foot forward when I talk to folks. In this era of social media, it’s very easy to curate your image, and I certainly am guilty of …
#StandUpDads
The men of Fathering Together feel that it’s time we speak up even more clearly than we have before. Recent episodes of men bullying women in high profile settings, such as Rep. Ted Yoho calling Rep. Alexandrea Ocasio-Cortez a filthy name on the steps of the US Capitol, have made us realize we need to …
You Can’t Claim to be in the Middle if You’re on the Sideline
This past Sunday, Father's Day, I had the privilege of sharing in worship with the good folks of Bethel UMC in Mt. Washington, KY, through Facebook Live.
Healing Is More Than Curing
This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Bethel UMC in Mt. Washington, KY. Due to health and safety concerns, there were only four of us in the sanctuary, all of us having specific roles in broadcasting the service on the church's Facebook page. I've preached with a camera in the room before, …
What’s My Brand?
“What’s your brand?” It’s a question I didn’t know how to respond to then, and am still pondering now.
Owning My White Privilege
I want to tell you a story about the moment I was most painfully aware of my white privilege. In the weeks since the murders of Ahmud Arbery, Breonna Taylor here in Louisville, and George Floyd, I’ve noticed white, privileged people like myself taking more seriously our role in the structural injustices in our society. …
Story Receiving
I’ve always been fascinated with story-telling. Whether it was loving Star Wars as a kid (textbook example of Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” concept), or sitting around a campfire with a few friends and a few more beers, I’ve somehow understood that this art form was important long before I knew it had a name. Story-telling was …
New Year’s Eve: Out with the Control
On New Year’s Eve I decided I would brew a batch of beer. In honor of the long Christian brewing tradition, I decided to make a Trappist-style ale, and that the few hours during the process would be times of silence, prayer, and reflection for me. Great plan, right? Yeah, that’s not exactly how it …
Matthew 11.19 