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Well, Tuesday’s surgery was a success by everyone’s high standards and Tim is raring to get off the breathing equipment and pain meds so he can go back to the posh life of a NICU baby. But why, you wonder, was surgery required? Was it really open heart surgery? Was ...
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So, that was not one of our better Mondays. Today is Tuesday, from the Latin for “What happened yesterday? Let’s not do that ever again.” What? That is totally true. Briefly, here’s the game plan: surgery in about half an hour (8 am Central). The chief of surgery here will ...
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Breaking my longstanding tradition of not using my kids’ real names on open social media channels here so y’all can pray: Timothy Davis Hale. Thanks. TIM UPDATE: After running some tests over the last few days, it was discovered that Tim’s artery, where it leaves the heart, is too narrow. ...
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This time last week, Christie was being wheeled into the OR & I was putting on my fashion-forward surgical gown & hat, not knowing whom I would get to meet. It’s been pretty crazy since then, but we’re thankful that our new baby boy is doing very well. He’s continuing ...
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My friend Jeremy Smith, whose blog Hacking Christianity I’ve followed for years, posted yesterday about my conference’s Proposed Minimum Standards for Entering Candidates. As I have a little bit of knowledge about this, I thought I would offer some clarifications and challenges to what he has written. If you are ...
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On the wall of my study hangs a poster-sized picture of my confirmation class. It’s a game for my church members to come in & try to find sixth-grade-Josh. Not a hard game, actually. I keep it even though I can’t remember everyone’s name—it was a big class, and not ...
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I posted several years ago on the Top 10 Ways Pastors (and others) Can Observe Holy Saturday. I think those are still great suggestions, but I’ve had a few more ideas. So here’s three more. Watch some film. My friend Susan is hosting a movie marathon this year, which I ...
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Holy Week is a bit of an exercise in futility for some of us liturgically-minded pastors. While the Sanctuary may be full on Palm Sunday and overflowing at Easter, the empty pews at our midweek services beg for some attention. I urge my congregations yearly to appreciate the joy of ...
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A prayer for today’s Community Holy Week service at which I am serving as the liturgist, based on the lectionary reading (John 13:21-32). It’s called Spy Wednesday to remember Judas conspiring to betray Jesus. Glorious God, in your Incarnate Word you name the truth of our existence, and through the ...
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Poetry just seems right in Advent. Here’s a contribution of mine… Instructions for Making Appropriate Preparations Light a candle. Carry a flower. Hear a song. Simple when the wick is long and dry, where the blooms multiply, with plenty of angels to choose from. But now the fuel is damp ...