I spent many years as an accompanist for choirs, soloists and presiding ministers who chant! One of the hardest parts of that work was to decide who was helping whom. The first rule for those who accompany—yes, there’s a metaphor coming soon here—is to match the singer’s tempo, volume and style as closely as possible. To meld into a unified musical voice—the accompanist helping the singerMORE...
Today’s entry introduces a new FullofYears feature: short musings about lectionary texts that may soon appear in your line-of-sight. These entries may prove helpful in interpreting a Sunday’s appointed lessons with sensitivity to the realities faced by those who are older. Background Exegetics—the science of Bible interpretation—rests on some rules of hermeneutical thought. (E.g., the firstMORE...
A rule of thumb: If you need to ask anyone that question, you likely know the answer already: “NO!” Even though this exchange may be a common experience, some folks still find it necessary to ask the question. (And perhaps have difficulty responding to the rejoinder, “And why do you ask?”) Why do any of us want to continue a conversation that likely begins with the lonely or empty feelingMORE...
I’ve been a *homeless shelter volunteer for years, so am familiar with the scope of that work on a normal evening. Last weekend was different—a few of the residents were severely agitated, a disturbance that required more than our usual responses. Usually I come home from those late-night shifts with the usual mixture of emotions—admiration, sorrow, guilt, frustration, gratitude and resolve. FromMORE...
Back in the day, “congregational tool and die guy” was my way of describing my role as a resource developer. Alongside other colleagues, I wrote workshop designs, constructed large-scale programs—e.g., The Pelican Project—and set up nation-wide resource introduction tours. The results: curricula, events, replicable workshops, booklets, videos and programs in stewardship, ChristianMORE...
One of my enduring mantras goes something like this, “There’s no such thing as an idle conversation.” That’s why many of my verbal interchanges with other people end up being more than an exchange of pleasantries. In that vein of thinking, I’m pretty sure that there’s such a thing as “holy conversations,” those rare times when earnest exchanges become inspiring and inspired. It might even beMORE...
One of the new books on top of my work desk is a Roman Catholic *hagiography that walks readers through a year of celebration of the lives and witness of acknowledged saints. These stories of historical heroes whose lives have given hope and courage to Christians for years. You might want to consider how reading about saints could inform your own spiritual well-being. That’s what happens for meMORE...
More and more, I’m coming face to face with the uncomfortable possibility that I am no longer capable of engaging in certain behaviors. You may face the same question: How do I know when “I can’t” changes into “I shouldn’t?” You may feel like I do: Obviously diminished physical skills tell me that these bones, muscles, tendons and nerves don’t have the stamina, strength or flexibility theyMORE...
Perhaps one of your family members serves in the United States military. In the preceding blog, we considered what *“best soldiering” includes and how **Luther’s thoughts help add spiritual focus to military service. Today I share reflections about how I might honor soldiers—while they are deployed and when they return. In our church—yours, too?—we include armed services personnel in our weeklyMORE...
Perhaps one of your dear family members serves in the United States military. In this and the following blog I hope to strengthen your appreciation of that service as a spiritually connected matter, in fact a calling! The older son of our good friends recently participated in the *U.S. Army Reserve’s 2019 Best Warrior competition. Presently a law enforcement officer, he was nominated by fellowMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.