I’ve always been a fan of the underdog. Radically so. Even to the point of sometimes switching allegiances because “my team” was playing against the underdog team. Whether it’s because they’re the underdogs, or simply a best-loved team, or some other reason, the Cubs seemed to become America’s sweetheart team in last fall's World Series. Before the World Series of 2016, I hadn’t … [Read more...]
Becoming Great by Becoming Small
April 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” Who said that? If you’re a Harry Potter fan like many of my children, you probably recognize this quote from a conversation between Sirius Black and Hermione Granger in The Goblet of Fire. Sirius was not the first to originate this idea, as many before him said similar things. … [Read more...]
Reflecting on Home
March 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Beautiful music always makes me cry. But, I held back the tears pretty well throughout our entire Jubilate choir rehearsal until I saw his name. Eric Kallis. Immediately tears filled my eyes as I remembered kneeling at the altar of the First United Methodist Church in Moscow, Idaho, along with the rest of my third grade confirmation class. Pastor Kallis was the man who … [Read more...]
I am (Pastor) Kristen
January 21, 2012 By 2 Comments
On Sunday afternoon I will ring a bell, be let in through the security gate, sign in, put on the required name tag and be escorted to the gym for my allotted hour. The generic name tag simply says "Clergy" but as the residents at the felony DUI incarceration and treatment center file in, I introduce myself simply as "Kristen". Leading the worship service at the facility once a month … [Read more...]
Integrating the Two Me’s
October 31, 2011 By 1 Comment
I'm embarrassed to admit this, but as a newlywed I got caught up in the story lines of the soap opera "One Life to Live" for one or two summers. I recall very little of the saga (there was actually very little worth remembering!), except for Viki Lord who struggled with multiple personality disorder. I'm not exactly sure why I remember that struggle so vividly, except maybe it was my … [Read more...]
