Posts Tagged ‘Ministry’

Feeding Hungry Souls Under the Fremont Bridge

Soft, off-key voices drift into the dark of downtown Portland. Small against the daunting sanctuary of the Fremont Bridge overhead, the students sing. A worn and heavily stickered guitar accompanies the voices. The music shudders as the player pauses, squinting through rain-speckled glasses. Mary...

November 22nd, 2012 | Featured | Read More

Secular vs. Ministry Degrees

Freshly armed with a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry from a respected Bible college, I was confident I would land the youth pastor job. During my observed sermon, my joke-filled lesson—sprinkled with Sufjan Stevens references proving I understood teenage hipster subculture—surely convinced...

November 5th, 2012 | Essays, Featured | Read More

Little Talks

A week earlier I had emailed Adam, our church college group leader, expressing my desire to become closer with the group. I explained that the only way I thought this was possible was for me to be completely honest- I told him I was gay and asked his advice on sharing with the others; I told him what...

June 29th, 2012 | Essays | Read More

The Easter Gifts, The Blood, And The Perfect Will Of God

I work in a very cool dress shop just one day a week. It’s probably the only fashion outlet in town where I can get away with being forty-ish, a little on the curvy side whilst sporting some fairly large tattoos and a full head of dreadlocks. I get to dress up like Stevie Nicks and listen to...

April 7th, 2012 | Blog, Essays, Featured | Read More

Lowering the Bar for Ministry

My wife and I recently celebrated our anniversary with a special trip to a Lebanese eatery. We had ordered our meals and were busy filling up on hummus and bread when a less than unfamiliar scene unfolded at the table behind us. Something was wrong with the diner’s tea. And food. And everything....

May 4th, 2011 | Featured, Social Justice | Read More

I Love My Mommy

The fourteen year old me would be horrified and shocked about what I am about to publicly write, but here goes: I love my Mommy. While this is not a new emotion for me, as I’ve been blessed to have a very good relationship with both her and my Dad, lately I feel like I need to address just what...

February 28th, 2011 | Essays, Featured, Social Justice | Read More

Rainbows & Jesus: My Day at Gay Pride

There are certain words that I cannot stand. When I hear these words, something in my brain snaps, and I have to stifle a large, ugly utterance of disgust. It’s nothing against the words themselves, but the way that they have been misused by people who throw them out with little care or thought....

November 30th, 2010 | Featured, Social Justice | Read More