The liturgical season of Lent began two weeks ago, on Ash Wednesday. I went to church, received ashes on my forehead to remind me that my life has limits, and began a focused effort to grapple with what holds me back. I have struggled with different things over the years. One year I gave up […]
Lent Reflection: Recognizing Fear Read More »
I have been making some new friends. I first met Matt Barber and Brittany Machado at the Eagle Rock Brewery, where I began my 2011 Craft Brewery Pilgrimage. They, along with Chris Pack, are bringing to life a way for people to tell the truth about how church has shaped their understanding of sex. Jesus,
Jesus, Don’t Let Me Die Before I’ve Had Sex Read More »
In Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Jacob Marley tells Scrooge that, “I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard.” Marley’s soul is bound by the actions and intentions of his life. Each of us is forging a life that binds us to ourselves. We
Links in the Chain Read More »
We fear many things, and we expect leaders to alleviate our deepest fears. We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid of making mistakes, and of failing. We are afraid of pain and suffering, of loss and of death. We are afraid that we will be forgotten. We are afraid of other people, and
Leadership and Fear Read More »
I appreciate the way Lauren Winner writes. She is honest, and writes honestly and bravely about things that mean a lot to me. She writes in a way that engages my attention and makes me want to read more. I appreciate her sense of humor and her sense of perspective. I enjoy reading what Lauren
Book Review: Still Read More »
Lent is not about giving things up. Lent is not a liturgical second chance for people who are not following through on their New Year’s resolutions. Lent is not about chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or Facebook. Lent is about being honest. It is an opportunity each year to recognize who I truly am, and to take
So, What is This Lent, Anyway? Read More »
Benedict’s Rule tells us that “Always, we begin again.” Today, my Craft Brewery Pilgrimage begins again. I start with several intentions in mind. First, I know that something very important happens when people come together around a table. Who I am and what I do are reflected in the community of leadership, monasticism, and revelry
2012 Craft Brewery Pilgrimage is on the Move! Read More »
The Naked Pint by Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune is an excellent book. If the Craft Brewery Pilgrimage were a college course, this would be required reading. It is well-written, informative, entertaining, opinionated, and a lot of fun. If you have questions about brewing, if you are intimidated by having so many craft brewing choices, if
Book Review: The Naked Pint Read More »
Brew Like a Monk by Stan Hieronymus is a very valuable resource for anyone who is interested in monks, brewing beer, and the strong tradition of the Belgian monastic communities that produce some of the best beers in the world. Benedictine monastic communities live by the Rule of Benedict, which encourages them to contribute to
Book Review: Brew Like a Monk Read More »
You can find just about anything you want to know about beer and brewing in the Oxford Companion to Beer. It is a big book, over 900 pages. It is the kind of book for which the words “comprehensive” and “definitive reference” were created. It is a beer lover’s dream, the kind of book that makes
Book Review: The Oxford Companion to Beer Read More »
