Tod Bolsinger

Another Article on Faith and Work

On Friday, I mentioned that I'll be speaking next weekend at Laity Lodge, outside of San Antonio, Texas.  Here is another introduction to an article that I wrote for the Lodge's online "sister" ministry about faith and work called The High Calling.

Standing with Others Prepares Us to Stand Alone

We tell our children about the people we hope they will become (and indeed hope we are): people of courage and conviction who stand for right even before powerful authorities able to make things awfully wrong. William Wallace refused to beg for mercy from a corrupt king (as immortalized in Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart). Sir Thomas More spoke out against King Henry VIII’s flagrant disregard of Christian teaching at the cost of his own neck. We admire the few willing to lose what is dear in this world to maintain a standard from another world.
We call them people of integrity. But how do we become like them?

Click here to read the rest of this essay at The High Calling.

Click here to read other High Calling Bible study/reflections
by Tod Bolsinger

Faith, Work, Integrity and Compromise

Next Friday I will travel to Laity Lodge (one of my favorite places) to speak at a conference for Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church of Austin. As I have written before Laity Lodge is part of the H. E. Butt Foundation Ministries that is passionate about the ministry of laity in everyday like and work settings.

Since I began my association with Laity Lodge, I have been asked to write for their website, The High Calling.  Below I have posted an intro and a link to one of my past articles.  I'll post another on Monday. 

For those of you who strive everyday to make a difference for Christ in the real world--the true "Showtime" Christians--I think you'll be strengthened and encouraged from the ministry of The High Calling.  (And if you ever have a chance to get to Laity Lodge, by all means, go.)

Dirty Words from a Preacher's Mouth

“Compromise” is a dirty word to preachers like me. A word search of all the sermons on my laptop computer reveals that not once—not once—have I ever used the word in a positive way from my pulpit. Instead, every single use of “compromise” in a sermon has been to offer a warning or express a woe...Christians should never compromise, we preachers preach. Then we pronounce the benediction and go eat cookies in fellowship hall.

Again, so far as we are talking about Christian convictions, this is good.

But there has been an unfortunate side effect...

Click here to read the rest of this essay at The High Calling.

Click here to read other High Calling Bible study/reflections
by Tod Bolsinger

Speaking at Laity Lodge

"You have had a fair amount of pain in your life, like everybody else.  You have been a good steward of it."

--Howard Butt, founder of Laity Lodge to Frederick Buechner.

This quote has long been one of my favorites.  Only today did I discover that it came from the wisdom and insight of Howard Butt. Howard Butt's story is one of stewardship and faithfulness that has made a difference in thousands of lives for Christ.

On June 23-26, I will get the great privilege of speaking at H.E. Butt Foundation's Laity Lodge in the hill country outside of San Antonio, Texas. 

The theme of the conference is Show Time: Honest Faith in the Everyday.

I am excited about this opportunity because I will not only get a chance to be part of the great legacy that is the H.E. Butt Foundation and the ministry of the lodge, but I will also get to work alongside musicians Ashley Cleveland and Kenny Greenberg. In addition, Jackie Halstead will also be speaking.

If anyone is interested in joining us at the retreat you can get more information and register here.