I was doing some work on my laptop recently, and an ad for a clothing company popped up: “Hey, shopped 30% off yet? Our generosity won’t last forever. “ Seeing that ad, my work came to a screeching halt. Not because I wanted to run to catch that sale, but because
What do you picture when you think of the word “comfort?” For me, it brings up images of my family and friends, my favorite blanket, lived-in sweatpants, my spot on the couch, and my favorite foods. Here’s what all of my comfort images have in common (and my guess is
Every year as a child and teen, my extended family got together on Christmas Day. We would eat, laugh, play games, open presents, and spend time together as a family on the holiday. Plans and preparations for this event started months in advance, with each family unit contributing food, drinks,
Consumer culture regularly tells us lies about who we are. You are not: Your workplace. Your car. Your paycheck. Your job title. Your house. Your leadership role in church/an organization. Your success. Your failure. Your family members’ success. Your family members’ failure. Your clothes. Your material possessions. Your social media
When I was a kid, we would often have family game nights. Bingo was a particular favorite. When playing Bingo, one person calls out the letters and numbers as they popped out of the Bingo cage spinner, and the rest would scramble to put their chips on the respective spaces
Last month I participated in a silent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery. Yes, you read that correctly. I voluntarily signed up and went on a retreat at which no one talked for days on end. And yes, there were other people at this retreat. Twenty-five of us or so went
Note: This post is an excerpt from the book Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living. One of the major reasons that many Christians hesitate to live out radical generosity and serve others is a pervasive American heresy called the “prosperity gospel,” which proclaims that wealth and health and success
Have you ever bought something small that sounded like a good idea at the time, but ended up being useless or broken in a matter of minutes? You’re not alone. Chances are, you’ve experienced this at least once, and know the frustration that comes with buying something that ends up
Note: This is a guest post by Johanna Rehbaum, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pittsford, NY. She enjoys pine-covered mountains, perfectly ripe avocados, writing theological reflections, and jam sessions with her husband and two young children. She can often be caught mindlessly harmonizing. Joy: Our Natural State I had
I, like many who attended American high school, remember reading and learning about Henry David Thoreau. A naturalist who eschewed society, he is especially known for his famous book Walden. Thoreau lived in a simple cabin on Walden Pond for 2 years, only ate beans, and spent his time alone