Faith Reflection: From tension to transformation

Faith Reflection: From tension to transformation

by Emily Carson Jesus consistently stepped into tense situations rather than tiptoeing around them. He didn’t avoid difficult interpersonal dynamics; he embraced them and recognized that tension is often a catalyst for transformation (of people and systems). Tension can be defined as the state of being stretched. We can experience it individually, and it also […]

The spirituality of tension

The spirituality of tension

by Emily Carson The room was silent for a long time before the first council member spoke up. “No one here seems to be getting along anymore. There’s so much gossip. Something needs to change.” There were many pauses that evening as church council members took turns digging deep and sharing openly. Rather than continuing […]

The spiritual work of transition

The spiritual work of transition

by Jennifer Hackbarth Our bodies work hard to maintain homeostasis, a state when all bodily systems are functioning in balance. No matter the temperature of our environment, our internal body temperature needs to stay within a fairly narrow range; if it goes too high or too low, we can get sick and even die. We […]

Transitions open us up to newness

Transitions open us up to newness

by Jennifer Hackbarth I transitioned from a long-term congregational call to interim ministry in the winter of 2022. Over the past year and a half, I’ve served three congregations as an associate interim pastor. Going from a thirteen-year call to jumping between congregations every six months has taught me how fun transition can be and […]

That me–God’s beloved

That me–God’s beloved

by Kristen Kuempel I am going to be straight-up honest here: I am the absolute worst person to be asked to write an article on loving yourself. Instead of writing them, I should just paper my house with articles written by others in the hopes that I would absorb some of their wisdom through osmosis. […]

Grace in the wilderness

Grace in the wilderness

by SommerAnn McCullough We are living in wilderness times. This pandemic has brought fear, isolation and uncertainty into our daily routines. I have been struggling to find hope and motivation in these challenging times. It is even harder to remember to give myself grace. “At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God […]

What the Bible says about rejection

What the Bible says about rejection

by Becca Ehrlich There was a job that I wanted, and I even had a sense that God was calling me to it. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I got an interview. Colleagues and friends affirmed me, saying that my gifts and skills matched the job. I prayed about it, asking for God’s […]