Refined by Fire I had to build a fire today. I repaired some fire bricks with mortar in an outdoor fire area. The mortar package stated that the mortar had to be cured with the gradual heating of a fire. I had to start with kindling and newspaper, and the Read more…
I just returned home from a 5-day, 40-mile backpack trip in the wilderness. Ever since, I have been pondering the concept of nourishment. While backpacking, all nourishment had to be packed and carried. And, we could only go so far until we had to have access to a water source. Nourishment is that which Read more…
As you know, we at Preparing for Amazement focus on the health of people and congregations. To aid you in thinking through such health, I want to take a moment and consider what it means for congregations to ask the following question focused on spiritual health: How do we practice Sabbath together? Read more…
Messages for the Younger Marcus In line with a blog post written by one of our coaches, Jessica Carlson, I thought it would be good to share the messages I would give to the younger me after more than 25 years in ministry. Find a Pastor Pastors need pastors too. Read more…
Sometimes I learn some of the strongest spiritual lessons when I’m outside. There’s something about being in God‘s beautiful creation that helps me to stop thinking about my own issues and open my eyes to the bigger picture. I was pulling in weeds in my garden a short time ago. Read more…
We received a knock on our front door a couple weeks ago. Ms. Rebecca’s daughter had come to deliver a giant box of peanuts. Ms. Rebecca had passed away, and our kids had been asked to carry on Ms. Rebecca’s legacy of feeding the squirrels every morning. Although Ms. Rebecca was known in Read more…
Church and ministry staff, especially pastors, need a lot of support from other people. The work is hard, emotional, and isolating. One source of support is just not enough, and there are joys and challenges for each kind of support. Congregational Support Every pastor and church staff member needs some Read more…
The world is really messy right now. The church in the US is in its most challenging season in history. Working with pastors, ministry leaders and churches I see a lot of conflict and crisis, especially lately. It is really easy to get discouraged, defeated and even hopeless. That said, Read more…
Preparing for Amazement focuses on the health of people and congregations. To aid you in thinking through such health, I want to take a moment and consider what it means for congregations to ask the following question focused on spiritual health: Do we have a plan for the care of Read more…
My oldest daughter once brought home from junior high school an art piece she had sculped from clay. She presented it to me with no explanation other than, “Hey mom, look what I made at school.” “Oh,” I replied trying not to reveal in my tone the true sense of disgust Read more…