Jonathan Shradar

Our small group had a game night and it was a blast. It is a joy to have such an amazing group of people as friends and to do ministry with. It is also really good to just play together every now and again.  But it was something that happened during one of our games that launched me into thinking about what people in the church hear, what they own, and why it matters.  It was Bible Taboo. Yes, the game Taboo (the buzzer had a dead battery) with biblical words. There really isn't anything sanctified about the game, you still try to get your team to guess a word by any means necessary without using the list of other words on the card.  The word on the card was "family." I quickly thought to myself... church values! Reservoir has for the last year or so communicated our key values as "Jesus. Family. Renewal." We are a people rescued by Jesus. Formed into family. For the renewal of others and all things. Pretty amazing, right?! So that's what I go with. "Wh

" When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”  When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. " -- Luke 5:4-7 (CSB) This little exchange really caught my attention this week and I think it speaks to the pastor's or missionary's ache when we labor for years unsure of success and all we can give is our obedience.  Here Simon and the boys had been out all night fishing to no avail. They were not rookies. They knew their vocation. But the fish were avoiding the nets. So in the morning they came ashore, cleaned the nets, and set them to dry. As they finish the work, or so they think, Jesus hops on Simon's

"All Creatures Great and Small" is a great Masterpiece show that is the perfect change from the typical murder mystery the PBS special airs. No one dies, at least not humans, and the show reveals more about human relationships or the longing for them, and if we have eyes to see it, questions of vocation and purpose. (Spoiler alert...) While there was much brewing in this week's episode, it was the seeming resolution for Tristan that caught my attention as it pertains to our work and a broader purpose for all of it. Tristan is the playboy-wanna-be little brother who this season finds out that he really did not pass all of his veterinary exams. Lacking credentials he has been processing through his purpose and vocation (as for him, and likely us, the two often drive each other). Much space has been filled with Tris lazing about wondering what he is meant to do. But this week, in helping a grouchy old women grieve the loss of her dear pooch Tristan has an epiphany.  It was t