There are a lot of old jokes that are built on the common experience that churches are places of conflict. The New Testament epistles are nearly all written because churches were in conflict. Sometimes internal, sometimes external but the presence of people seems to always bring with it some conflict. And I think this isContinue reading “Conflict and Pastors”
Author Archives: APastor'sStory
Camino Diary, Day 24
As we left in a drizzle in the early morning darkness we came across the sole of a shoe right outside our albergue. “Someone’s lost their sole on the Camino.” I thought. I didn’t know it then but the walk that day would be one of the most challenging that my soul would experience onContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 24”
Camino Diary, Day 23
On a morning we could sleep in, we woke up early. The rhythm has become early to bed and early to rise. This isn’t every pilgrim’s rhythm but we have settled into and it was working well for us. So by 7:40 a.m. we were making our way out of Cacabelos and further along theContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 23”
Brian vs. the Clear Reading of Scripture, pt. 2
I still remember when a man in the church divorcing his wife and marrying another was instant disqualification from ministry. Why were we picking on people whose marriage ended because of divorce? Because we followed the Bible. “For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And anyone who marriesContinue reading “Brian vs. the Clear Reading of Scripture, pt. 2”
Brian vs. the Clear Reading of Scripture
I write for many reasons but one reason, and it’s not a little one, is so that my kids and their kids will understand how their dad got this way. They may or may not ever read this but their confusion won’t be because I didn’t try. And that’s not a bad thing. One thingContinue reading “Brian vs. the Clear Reading of Scripture”
Camino Diary, Day 22
Up before dawn, some were gone before we made it down to breakfast and others were still in their bunks. Toast and cereal were what was for breakfast and that counted as a pretty good first breakfast. We found our poles, our packs, got our shoes on (my blisters complained) and started our urban hikeContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 22”
Camino Diary, Day 21
These are posts in which I relate the story of my walk on the Camino de Santiago with my friends Bill and Derrick in September/October 2019. We left in the dark. It was becoming the new normal as sunrise was coming later and later. The day started with a good breakfast and conversation with fellowContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 21”
Camino Diary, Day 20
These are posts in which I relate the story of my walk on the Camino de Santiago with my friends Bill and Derrick in September/October 2019. Everyone was up early today. Mostly everyone. It became impossible for me to fall back asleep by 5:30 a.m. Bill couldn’t sleep either so we got up, packed ourContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 20”
Camino Diary, Day 19
These are posts in which I relate the story of my walk on the Camino de Santiago with my friends Bill and Derrick in September/October 2019. The day started early. 5:30 a.m. I wanted one last shower in a really good shower. Then we quickly packed and said good-bye to our room near the CathedralContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 19”
Camino Diary, Day 18
A day of rest. We spent the entire day exploring Leon. It was all about resting and recuperating even though we did a lot of walking around the city. And it is a beautiful city. Our thinking was that Leon was the beginning of the end. We spent time planning out the “final stage” ofContinue reading “Camino Diary, Day 18”
