Author: Renée Antrosio

Critical Thinking

It is easy to criticize. Authority. Administrators. Flawed systems. There is so much that is broken. Including us. Also ways to improve. Or get stuck. Even on a balmy February morning. No ice. No snow. No school. Well, not for the kids at Central HS who knew. Whose parents watch local news(!)  When I saw

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Dance Revolution OR Tone Down the Passion

Are you the person making an exuberant fool of yourself? Or are you the family trying to rein in the crazy? Mardi Gras has been in full swing since Twelfth Night, with parties increasing until Fat Tuesday. Oh, to be in New Orleans instead of gray Illinois.  King David was a dancing fool. Celebrating with

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Get Going

Make the “right” choice. We want decisions vindicated by their outcome. Demonstrating good judgment. Those we have selected, and invested in, to be successful. Choosing well. And we occasionally think that we can exert influence to steer people in the right direction. Poor Samuel. He had similar struggles. As high priest, he really wanted people

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Calling Collaborators

Lunch with the pastor of Grace Community; bringing our worship leaders together to share stories. Meeting with the pastor of Restoration Urban Ministries to plan our next connection points. Tea with a leader from Quest United Methodist to brainstorm for Good Friday Streetfest.  When I read Brian McLaren’s challenge of collaboration, it resonated. Is this

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Take a Look

I got nothin’. In a good way, I think. Silence. Waking up with a quiet mind. Unburdened and empty. Sleep has done its work. Resolved, temporarily, the conundrums of the previous day. But what will I write? What words do I have to share? When the disciples noticed that people were hungry, their answer was

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Dispelling Darkness

So much for sleeping. My thoughts flit disturbingly among heavy feelings of fault. Actions and words recent and far past that I cannot change or take back. Stuck. Darkness within and without. No sense waiting for another alarm. Get up and go seek. Light one candle for the strength that we needTo never become our

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The Path of Peace

Because of our God’s deep compassion,the dawn from heaven will break upon us,to give light to those who are sitting in darknessand in the shadow of death,to guide us on the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (CEB) May we experience God’s deep compassion, witness and walk in the light, and be guided on the path of peace.

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Identity & Authority

“What are you up to, lately?” or “What do you do?” Holiday parties and family gatherings. Meeting new people and catching up with folks we haven’t seen in a while. Often a little awkward. Hopefully fun. Painful at times. How do we define ourselves? By our connections. By what we do. And how do we categorize others? Organize

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consent

When I handed Brian Mustain the scripture readings for Sunday’s service, he glanced at the teaching title and said, “You should have called it The Cascading Consequences of Consent. Alliteration.” “Yes!” I agreed, “The Holy Spirit got consent first.”  I imagined health teachers everywhere instructing youth that the Holy Spirit received consent from the teenage Mary, and

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baby Jesus in a drawer

“Where is Jesus?” Good question; I search the container of jumbled ornaments and nativity pieces. Also my mind and heart. The books from the library with their own answers. Do I feel Jesus? Or see him? Where do I expect to find him? Today’s gospel reading gives one answer. After the Lord Jesus spoke to them, he

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