Jeff Lowry
@opulentjarl.bsky.social
Irregular Misconceptions and wobbly nuance. Newly Lutheran. Assistant Minister. Discerning a Call to Ministry :-O
Sometimes, simply not throwing a temper tantrum is a huge accomplishment.
October 1, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Sometimes, simply not throwing a temper tantrum is a huge accomplishment.
The Liturgical readings today are appropriate for where I'm at. Also, a thought, the entirety of scripture warns against the accumulation of wealth, it disparages the rich. Yet, like Tevye, who of us would not wish to be smitten with the curse of money, from which we never recover. :-)
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The Liturgical readings today are appropriate for where I'm at. Also, a thought, the entirety of scripture warns against the accumulation of wealth, it disparages the rich. Yet, like Tevye, who of us would not wish to be smitten with the curse of money, from which we never recover. :-)
This has been a really hard couple of months. I believe God reveals God's self in unexpected ways, through difficult events, small events. I also believe God will put me where I need to be. I need to be patient and wait. Always lead with grace and love. :)
September 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This has been a really hard couple of months. I believe God reveals God's self in unexpected ways, through difficult events, small events. I also believe God will put me where I need to be. I need to be patient and wait. Always lead with grace and love. :)
I got to anoint some of the congregation with oil today during the healing service. I don't know where to shout my exuberance at the experience...or the appreciation of having the opportunity to do so.
June 30, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I got to anoint some of the congregation with oil today during the healing service. I don't know where to shout my exuberance at the experience...or the appreciation of having the opportunity to do so.
Submitted my application for Parish Lay Ministry Academy. We’ll find out. 🙂
June 21, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Submitted my application for Parish Lay Ministry Academy. We’ll find out. 🙂
I finished reading the Gospels. I'm now well into Acts.
June 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I finished reading the Gospels. I'm now well into Acts.
My plan, to wait two years and retire from current career. Go to seminary. In those two years I want to expand and grow my knowledge as a Christian and Lutheran. I can start lay ministry academy in the fall, but I'd need to quit the doctoral program. I can't do both, or don't want to do both.
June 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
My plan, to wait two years and retire from current career. Go to seminary. In those two years I want to expand and grow my knowledge as a Christian and Lutheran. I can start lay ministry academy in the fall, but I'd need to quit the doctoral program. I can't do both, or don't want to do both.
Reposted by Jeff Lowry
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Day is May 5th. How will it show up in your conversations, communities and in your church? Resources curated by the ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations at bit.ly/mmiw-elca
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Day is May 5th. How will it show up in your conversations, communities and in your church? Resources curated by the ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations at bit.ly/mmiw-elca
Reposted by Jeff Lowry
We are always in danger of becoming the pharisees, sadducees, the scribes, the money changers. Of using our faith and traditions in ways to exclude others or exalt ourselves.
April 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
We are always in danger of becoming the pharisees, sadducees, the scribes, the money changers. Of using our faith and traditions in ways to exclude others or exalt ourselves.
I was thinking about the washing of feet, since Maundy Thursday is tomorrow. Last year a relative few were willing to let Pastor wash their foot. I've been wondering why. It is an act of humility and service on her part, but maybe because it also requires us to be vulnerable.
April 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I was thinking about the washing of feet, since Maundy Thursday is tomorrow. Last year a relative few were willing to let Pastor wash their foot. I've been wondering why. It is an act of humility and service on her part, but maybe because it also requires us to be vulnerable.
We said goodbye to my mom’s oldest and best friend today. She was a woman of unrivaled good spirits and good will. Of joyful faith and amazing musical talent, and leaves a legacy of love, laughter, music, and faithful witness.
April 13, 2025 at 12:47 AM
We said goodbye to my mom’s oldest and best friend today. She was a woman of unrivaled good spirits and good will. Of joyful faith and amazing musical talent, and leaves a legacy of love, laughter, music, and faithful witness.
I wonder what people mean by "woke agenda". I'd rather be awoke than asloop. It is too easy to plug our ears and close our eyes. But! Mark 7:31-37 and 8:22-25. If we have faith in Christ, we should not be afraid to see and to hear.
March 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I wonder what people mean by "woke agenda". I'd rather be awoke than asloop. It is too easy to plug our ears and close our eyes. But! Mark 7:31-37 and 8:22-25. If we have faith in Christ, we should not be afraid to see and to hear.
“Allow yourself a moment in silence; acknowledging God is present with you.”
This sentence is at the start of a devotional I’ve been doing for Lent, but I was thinking this is something you can keep in your back pocket all the time.
This sentence is at the start of a devotional I’ve been doing for Lent, but I was thinking this is something you can keep in your back pocket all the time.
March 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
“Allow yourself a moment in silence; acknowledging God is present with you.”
This sentence is at the start of a devotional I’ve been doing for Lent, but I was thinking this is something you can keep in your back pocket all the time.
This sentence is at the start of a devotional I’ve been doing for Lent, but I was thinking this is something you can keep in your back pocket all the time.
I just...I don't know...I see people on their phones ALL THE TIME, yet they don't respond to text or email. Like, I know you're not that busy...or maybe you are and I'm just being a butt.
March 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I just...I don't know...I see people on their phones ALL THE TIME, yet they don't respond to text or email. Like, I know you're not that busy...or maybe you are and I'm just being a butt.
Are we the bad guys now?
February 27, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Are we the bad guys now?
“any path is only a path . . . Look at every path closely and deliberately . . . Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question . . . Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good, if it doesn’t it is of no use” (Castaneda, 1968)
February 24, 2025 at 2:01 AM
“any path is only a path . . . Look at every path closely and deliberately . . . Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question . . . Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good, if it doesn’t it is of no use” (Castaneda, 1968)
Doom scrolling LinkedIn is an entirely different kind of eldritch scenario.
February 20, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Doom scrolling LinkedIn is an entirely different kind of eldritch scenario.
If anyone wants to do a doctoral program for me, that would be great…
February 20, 2025 at 1:07 AM
If anyone wants to do a doctoral program for me, that would be great…
Reposted by Jeff Lowry
My newsletter tomorrow focuses on Jesus’ sermon from Luke 6:17-26.
In it, I invite us to be encouraged to not fall into cynicism, pursue the cause of justice, especially for the most vulnerable among us, and to see joy as a form of resistance.
Join here: benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile
In it, I invite us to be encouraged to not fall into cynicism, pursue the cause of justice, especially for the most vulnerable among us, and to see joy as a form of resistance.
Join here: benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile
Rev. Benjamin Cremer
I have spent the majority of my life in Evangelical Christian spaces. I have experienced a lot of church hurt. I now write to explore topics that often are at the intersection of politics and Christia...
benjamin-cremer.kit.com
February 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
My newsletter tomorrow focuses on Jesus’ sermon from Luke 6:17-26.
In it, I invite us to be encouraged to not fall into cynicism, pursue the cause of justice, especially for the most vulnerable among us, and to see joy as a form of resistance.
Join here: benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile
In it, I invite us to be encouraged to not fall into cynicism, pursue the cause of justice, especially for the most vulnerable among us, and to see joy as a form of resistance.
Join here: benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile
It's amazing how much distress the Yahoo Mail UI change is causing me. I think I'm officially at that age... :-/
February 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It's amazing how much distress the Yahoo Mail UI change is causing me. I think I'm officially at that age... :-/
I met with my discernment mentor yesterday. It was a great meeting; she asked me what about being a pastor excited me and I didn't have a great answer. I'm not sure what excites me about it yet, just that I feel called towards it.
February 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I met with my discernment mentor yesterday. It was a great meeting; she asked me what about being a pastor excited me and I didn't have a great answer. I'm not sure what excites me about it yet, just that I feel called towards it.
Right now I only have ChatGPT and Google's AI on my side as I try to figure out if I should keep up with this EdD program or not. I feel like I should not, and AI agrees. But my partner and my pastor think I should stick with it. -___- #notarealproblem
February 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Right now I only have ChatGPT and Google's AI on my side as I try to figure out if I should keep up with this EdD program or not. I feel like I should not, and AI agrees. But my partner and my pastor think I should stick with it. -___- #notarealproblem
Reading about adult learning theory and memory...and not being able to learn or remember it. I'm killing it!
February 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reading about adult learning theory and memory...and not being able to learn or remember it. I'm killing it!
I’m beginning to feel that avoiding social media is as stressful as succumbing to it. It’s weird trying to find new ways to occupy my mind and fingers.
February 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I’m beginning to feel that avoiding social media is as stressful as succumbing to it. It’s weird trying to find new ways to occupy my mind and fingers.