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Some blog changes

09 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

approachable, blog, challenges, Church, enjoyable, God, laceduplutheran, life, politics, relevant, theology

At the beginning of December I told you I was going to take a little break from blogging in order to figure out what to do with the blog.  Things were going along fine, but not as well as I thought they could.  Plus, I was in the midst of finals for the semester.  So I needed the time.

I’ve taken that time, got back into some travel posts and an occasional other posting on theology, life, and politics.

This time away has given me the break I needed to refocus.

I’m making a few changes to the blog over the next month or so.  These changes really have to do with the overall theme of the blog.

Going forward, you’ll still see posts about travel, theology, life, and politics.  However, I’m going to be hitting a few themes pretty consistently.  Somewhere in the post I’ll be focusing on church and faith.  I’ll be hitting the challenges that I have found the church in the West faces – being approachable, being enjoyable, and being relevant.  And I’ll do this by talking about how this applies to us individually, as a community, and in leadership.

In case you are wondering, here’s how I’m defining the terms I just used.

Approachable – Is God approachable?  How about church?  The pastor and leadership in the church?  More specifically – Is doubt ok?  How about questions – are they welcome in a church?  They should be.  Does the architecture create a divide between God and the people, how about with the pastor?  How is a church or pastor supposed to accompany people where they are if they see themselves as unapproachable?

Enjoyable – I’m not talking about being entertained here.  I’m talking about this – are you bored out of your mind at church?  They why the hell would you go?  Why would anyone else for that matter?  We have the best news in the history of creation – how about sharing it in a way that would actually connect with people?  Church doesn’t have to be boring – I’m not talking about just worship either.  And it doesn’t have to look or feel like a concert either.  Things that are done well are enjoyable. That’s true for high or low church worship.  It’s also true for all aspects of church and life.  Let’s be enjoyable.

Relevant – This doesn’t mean flapping in the wind on policy or doctrine.  Not even close.  This means, are we as a church talking about the things that are going on in people’s lives?  Or are we too afraid to do that?  If we are afraid, then no wonder people look for answers or comfort elsewhere.  We should be talking about porn addiction, drugs, broken relationships, violence, work stress, how we teach people, money, sex, etc.  If we can’t talk about these things in church, without there being shame involved, then where are we going to have healthy conversations with people and walk with them in their own life struggles and challenges?  How are people going to experience change in their life?  We have a message of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.  Those are powerful things when we are dealing with tough issues.  And issues isn’t the right word – all of these things pertain to people’s lives, so they are messy.  But they are real, and they are what people are dealing with daily.  Church should be too.

So there you have it. This is the new focus here at Laceduplutheran blog.  These are subjects I am passionate about and I hope you’ll see that in my writing.  I continue to welcome your comments, ideas, and examples.  Let me know if you have ideas for how I can focus on these subjects even better – who knows where it can lead.

As we go forward, you’ll see other cosmetic changes happen with the blog – all focused on what advances the discussion about the three challenges the church faces.  I hope you’ll continue to join me in exploring these things.

God bless!

Matthew

Blog changes

12 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog

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blog, break

I’m taking a semi-break.  A what?  A semi-break. It’s a kind of break – but only partially. Let me explain.

I’m going to continue to post travel posts to the blog.  I enjoy doing this and I still have a ton to post.  These posts bring back fond memories.

I’m taking a look at how I’m going to change the blog up a bit.  I’m getting a little tired of some of my other postings – not feeling inspired at the moment.  My backlog of things I had planned on blogging about are “meh” at best.  They just aren’t doing it for me right now.  And frankly, if that’s all they are, then they aren’t worth posting.  Maybe some of this has to do with the way I’ve been posting.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’m loaded down with lots of school and church work right now.  Maybe it’s a combination of several things.

Regardless, I need to take a step back from this one part of the blog.  I’m been thinking about how to change the blog up anyway, so this might be a great opportunity to do just that.

Here’s my promise to you – when I’m inspired to write, I will.  I just don’t promise to post on a regular, every day, at the same time consistency for the non-travel part of the blog.  I know this goes against every sage advice about growing a blog.  But here’s the thing – I do this blog because I want to do it.  I don’t make a penny on the blog.  My plan was never to make a penny on it.  I do it because I enjoy it.

Right now, I need a time to re-examine and see where the future of the blog is headed.  And I need some extra time to devote to seminary classes, preaching prep, and candidacy requirements – all of which take up a great deal of time.

Maybe this semi-break will last one week.  Maybe I’ll be back to posting what I have been posting.  Maybe I’ll somehow combine what I’m doing here with my tweets on the bible that I do over on Twitter (@laceduplutheran and @Holey_Bible).  Maybe I combine what I’m doing here with the daily prayer I post (pleasepraywith.me).  Who knows.  I guess we’ll all find out soon enough.  In the mean time, I’d ask for some prayers.  Prayers that I don’t feel overwhelmed, prayers that I complete tasks on time, prayers that I learn what I need to, prayers that the direction of the blog goes the way it should go.

Thank you.  Thank you for reading my blog.  Thank you for the comments you offer.  I appreciate all of you and look forward to moving forward with the blog.

Back to…

22 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog, Uncategorized

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Tags

blog, social media

I took last week off from posting anything on social media.  No travel blog posts, no theology, no politics, no prayers, no tweets. No nothing. It was like a vacation.  Only it wasn’t.

We moved back to our home after being away for two years.  I needed the time to unpack (still not totally done, but a good way through).  I’m also working on my Approval Essay (really important essay for concluding seminary).  That’s coming along well.  It’s due Sept. 1 – So I’ll be working on it until then, continually tweaking and changing things as I see it.

Taking time off from social media was nice – a breathe of fresh air.

I’m also realizing that I might be doing too much.  Or maybe I’m just feeling a bit weighed down.  I like posting travel blog posts.  They are fun.  I enjoy writing on theology and politics.  I enjoy creating unique tweets on the bible.  I enjoy all of this, but I’m wondering if I’m just feeling like there has to be a faster way to do this all.

I’ll keep playing with things and see how it works out.

In the mean time, I’ve restarted most of it.  I’ll get back into a groove soon.  It will have to if this is going to continue – classes start next week.  So I better find that groove quickly.

Until tomorrow…Peace.

Something new and an apology

30 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog, Theology

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Tags

blog, prayer

I’m going to start off with an apology.  I’m not sure I need it yet, but I’ll find out in a few minutes.  Read on and I’ll explain.

So the Daily Prayer experiment is going well.  Well, actually, I’m not sure what it’s doing to be perfectly honest.  My intent was just to offer a prayer on social media because I needed to read a prayer.  Too much on social media is upsetting, angering, divisive and blaming.  My thought was that posting a prayer would be good for me to see.

Apparently several other folks thought so too.

So I decided to streamline things a bit.  I added a Twitter feed and now a blog.  They have the same prayer (actually the twitter feed is connected to the blog).  The idea is that more people can pray along – there seems to be a desire for prayer.  At least I know I’m not alone in that desire.

So here’s the thing with the blog.  I added a widget that allows people to enter their e-mail and they will receive an e-mail whenever I post from the new blog.  The challenge is I’m not sure if you all are getting those e-mails too (if you subscribe to Laced Up Lutheran blog).  The two blogs come from the same account.  So if that is happening, please, please, please let me know.  I’ll remove the option so people aren’t receiving something they don’t want to receive.

Anyway, here’s the information on the blog and twitter feed:

Blog – www.pleasepraywith.me

Twitter – https://twitter.com/dailyprayer16

Blessings to you.

 

Why do Christians Insist on Fighting?

05 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by laceduplutheran in Society, Theology

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

being right, blog, Christianity, fundamentalist

Ok, pet peeve time.  You’ve been warned, so buckle up.  I promise to keep this short.

My rant today is this – Why do some Christians insist on fighting with other Christians.  No, I’m not talking about situations where life and death are at hand.  I’m not talking about physical brawls when someone gets attacked.

I’m talking about online discussions.  I’ve seen it in the comment sections of articles and blogs – that’s usually the worst.

And yesterday, someone decided to do it on my blog.

Now, let me say, I have no problem with people having different beliefs and holding a different worldview.  That’s great, because frankly, I know I don’t know everything.  I enjoy getting a diversity of opinions and observations about the world, God, church, etc.  I think it helps us to come closer to truth.  I even enjoy having to think about what I hold dear.  But people who do this approach discussions from a humble attitude.

What I can’t stand is when someone poses a question that really isn’t a question at all, but more of a leading question intended to do one thing:  show how the person who asked the question is right and you are wrong.

I’m sorry, but if you are more interested in being right, than in learning something, or seeing a different way of looking at the world, then guess what, I’m not going to put up with it.  You are asking for a fight.  What kind of Christian are you that is looking for a fight?  Seriously?  I have to question what you mean when you say you are a Christian.

Christians have spent way too much energy, time, and God knows what else in trying to be right over the centuries – to the point of killing other Christians who were “wrong.” When are we going to learn?  When are we going to stop trying to convince others that our brand of Christianity is the only true way and everyone else on the planet is not just wrong, but damned to hell.  Enough already.  I’m tired of the fundamentalist outlook and attitude.  If you are so insistent in your fundamentalist outlook that you think you have to save the world, including me, with your “rightness,” I’m begging you – Don’t bother me with it – I’m no longer interested in what you have to say.

And fundamentalism isn’t just a conservative branch of Protestantism either.  There are fundamentalist Catholics too and others.  fundamentalism is a way of looking at the world – and frankly, it’s rather shallow and weak.

Rant over.

Year in Review – 2014

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

blog, year in review

It’s New Year’s Eve and time to take a little stock in the past year, especially as it relates to this blog.  I started the blog in March when I realized that I needed some way to do a couple of things:

1. Have somewhere people back home could follow our trip to Finland.

2. Have somewhere I could post all the thoughts going on in my head out somewhere so I don’t dump it all on my wife.

These continue to be the main motivations for this blog.  It’s been amazing to see so many people take an interest in what I write about and post pictures on.  I’m quite humbled by this.

When I look at it, I think there are two different types of visitors to the blog:

1.  Those that are travel enthusiasts and enjoy seeing pictures from far away lands with some details about the locations.  These visitors appreciate that fact that I don’t throw a bazillion pictures down in one post.  My promise to you is to keep doing what I’m doing.

2.  The second type of visitor to this blog is those who don’t mind, or actually might enjoy the travel posts, but come to the blog because of the religion/theology/other deep stuff.  You keep coming back, commenting, engaging with me, etc.  It’s great to hear from people on these subjects – to know I’m not just some crazy person out here.  My promise to you is to keep posting my thoughts, posting interesting articles, reflections on the church, reflections on the church in Finland, etc.

It’s been an awesome year for this blog.  I’m having fun with it and based on the number of people who visit (with the number increasing over time), you’re enjoying reading/seeing pictures of what I post.  That’s what I call a win-win situation.

I hope you all have a great New Years.  Tomorrow I’ll be posting on my goals for the blog for 2015 – both travel and religion portions of it and then I’ll be back to posting regularly on Monday.

All the best,

Matthew

Link

What do You want from this blog?

10 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by laceduplutheran in Blog

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

article, blog, reader feedback, website

What do You want from this blog?

The link is to an article that was passed on to me called “How to may your website a fundraising winner.”  Great article!  Forget the fundraising aspect for a minute – the very concept is great.  If you don’t have time to read the entire article (which you should do anyway), here’s the gist of it.  What you think is important about your website may not be the same thing that your readers think is important.  If you want to thrive, then change your site to what they want – success will follow (however you measure that).  In the  article, the website was for a cancer foundation so success for them was in terms of donations. 

This article got me thinking.  This is a relatively new blog – only a couple of weeks old – an infant in the Internet age.  I’ve written a little about the things that I care about and I’ve written on a variety of topics – sermons, Finland, wellness, seminary, CPE, running, children.  I’ve posted with pictures, posters and with just words.  I’ve also now linked to an article. 

What I want to know from you, dear reader is this – what do you want from this blog?  What do you care about?  What will make you want to come back for more each time I post?  I want need feedback so I can make this blog experience more to your liking.  Maybe there’s a subject you like or don’t like.  Maybe you like pictures, or maybe not.  Maybe you want to hear more about Finland, or you couldn’t care less.  You get the idea.  I don’t know though, but I want to hear.  Send the blog on to others for me too.  I’d love to hear the feedback from someone coming here for the first time – what would make them want to come back?

Send some comments.  I’d love to hear from you. 

And by the way, if you want me to give feedback for your website or blog, I’m happy to return the favor. 

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laceduplutheran

laceduplutheran

I believe that God, church, and theology are approachable, enjoyable, and relevant for everyone. I write about this a lot because people need to hear it. So many people feel lost, hopeless, alone, and are searching for identity and meaning. I'm an ELCA Pastor (Lutheran) who has a background in politics, business, and the non-profit worlds. I take churchy theological ideas and words and communicate them in everyday language that people can understand, in ways that relate, and show that God, church, and theology matter a great deal. Oh, and it doesn't have to be boring either - mostly because it's the best news ever!

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