There’s really no such thing as “just another day at the office” in my line of work. Because people are complicated. And spiritual development is supernatural, by nature. But, perhaps most of all, college ministry is weird — especially when … Continue reading
So what might it look like for H2O Church at Kent State University to “Be Fruitful and Multiply” this year? This is the question that we’ve been considering for the past week. We’ve been talking about it as we’ve gathered … Continue reading
In my last post, I wrote about humanity’s uncanny ability to continue through cataclysm. For thousands and thousands of years, we’ve endured plagues, earthquakes, fires, floods, wars, and worries. And still, somehow, we keep on keeping on because it’s what … Continue reading
My children are convinced that the world is going up in smoke. We try to regularly watch the national network news in the evenings, and they’ve been talking a lot lately about historic wildfires in California… and Oregon, and Greece, … Continue reading
We sing weird songs to children. And we do it without even thinking about it. In the process, though, I wonder how much we’re carrying culture without even knowing it. Old MacDonald had a farm: E-I-E-I-O What do those letters … Continue reading
It’s been a great week in the Great Smoky Mountains. The weather has been nearly perfect, with no rain and temperatures mostly in the 70s. The size of our group has felt ideal for this experience. There are a lot … Continue reading
Yesterday was our free day for hiking and such. But it seems to me like more ministry happens when we’re not “in session” (i.e. organized group activities). Singing, teaching, and leading small group discussions are great. But sometimes, it also … Continue reading
I have the privilege of helping to staff H2O’s Smoky Mountain Retreat this week. Eighteen of us from H2O Kent have travelled together. Now we’re near the national park on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. We get to … Continue reading
It’s been a challenging year of ministry through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Last Spring, especially, we lost so many opportunities — including three Spring Break trips that would have involved 81 people from our church. We’re still not fully recovered. But … Continue reading
I counted them this morning: 35 rocks. They were nestled inside the rotted-out trunk of an old oak tree. But I temporarily took them out to count them and clear some of the dust and debris. So that’s how I … Continue reading