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By Dan Carlson, on March 19th, 2010
“Sharing Stories, A Path to Spiritual Fitness”
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN. (Bring your own lunch!)
The topic for our March Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “Sharing Stories, A Path to Spiritual Fitness”. The words “sharing” and “stories” have so much depth and spirit, and are critical components of this ministry. Come and join us as we explore these words deeper and see how they contribute to our spiritual health and fitness. Hope to see you there!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on March 19th, 2010
Yes it has been awhile. It has been awhile since I’ve posted a “wandering”. (for those who don’t know what a wandering is, it is a category of my weblog posts where I let my mind wander and just write down where ever the words wander). As I was sitting, thinking and writing today, for some reason I was inspired to write a post, a post titled “Sharing Stories”. I started getting deep into those two words, “Sharing” and “Stories”. Too deep and too chaotic to share in this wandering, but needless to say, I’ll be revisiting that chaos. We’ve got a Spiritual Fitness Gathering coming up next week and I was trying to decide on a topic, and “Sharing Stories” surfaced through that clutter of “too much stuff” (a quote from a song of a master storyteller, extra point if you can name the artist and the song) in my head. All of a sudden, the term “Sharing Stories” seems to be a perfect foundation to build the outreach of this ministry upon. How does this sound?- Public Safety Ministries – Spiritual Fitness through Sharing Stories or maybe, Sharing Stories, A Path to Spiritual Fitness, hmm I like that a little better, but I think this is the beginning of something…. Well, enough wandering for now….
By the way, soon I will be sharing the story of a milepost I will soon reach in my ministry journey. A story that has kept me from spending much time on this website, but that will all change shortly.
Take Care, Dan
By Dan Carlson, on February 22nd, 2010
“Spiritual Care: A Coordinated Effort”
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, February 24, 2010. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN. (Bring your own lunch!)
The topic for our December 23, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “Spiritual Care: A Coordinated Effort”. There is an abundance of Spiritual and Emotional Care resources available to public safety and emergency services personnel, but often we see a lack of coordination of those services. Come and join us as we have a discussion about available resources and how they can be best utilized to care for the spiritual health of our professionals and our profession. Hope to see you there!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on January 19th, 2010
Due to my seminary studies, which will conclude this summer, we will not be holding our monthly Spiritual Fitness Gathering in January. I will be attending classes at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary during our regularly scheduled time. Our “Gathering” will resume as normal on the fourth Wednesday of the month in February: February 24, 2010. Hope to see you then!
By Dan Carlson, on December 18th, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN. (Bring your own lunch!)
The topic for our December 23, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “New Light and New Life into a New Year”. This hoilday season is a time of new beginnings. We celebrate the birth of a savior, the return of daylight to growing darkness and the beginning of a new year. Come hear and share stories of the joys and challenges of this season and the year to come. Hope to see you there!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on November 23rd, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN. (Bring your own lunch!)
The topic for our November 25, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “Giving Thanks for Burdens as well as Blessings”. Are the daily challenges we face blessings or burdens? Join us as we look at the “baggage” we carry through life and how these bags impact our spiritual health. Hope to see you Wednesday 11/25/09!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on October 22nd, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN.
The topic for our October 28, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “The Path We Travel”. Join us as we gather in “Spiritual Fitness Exercise” as we discuss the paths we travel in our careers, our families and our faith. We will explore what it means to be pilgrims seeking spiritual health and fitness. Hope to see you Wednesday 10/28/09!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on September 21st, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN.
The topic for our September 23, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will again be: “GOD”. Join us as we continue to open the door on last months discussion of God. Who is God historically and academically? Who is God culturally? What impact does God have on our lives and our profession. And most of all, who is God to each of us in our own unique perspective? Big questions with many answers, but hopefully the start of a great conversation. Hope to see you Wednesday 9/23/09!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on August 24th, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, August 26, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka, MN.
The topic for our August 26, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “GOD”. Join us as we open the door on a discussion of God. Who is God historically and academically? Who is God culturally? What impact does God have on our lives and our profession. And most of all, who is God to each of us in our own unique perspective? Big questions with many answers, but hopefully the start of a great conversation. Hope to see you Wednesday 8/26/09!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on July 18th, 2009
A friend of mine is recovering from cancer. In the scheme of things, it wasn’t the worst cancer you can get, the chances of recovery are very good. However treatment has been very involved with surgery, chemo and radiation. There have been side effects, some set backs, eating issues etc. But he is on the path to full recovery and that is very good news. On a recent visit to the doctor he continued to hear good news, but also news that the recovery will still take many months and the work is not done. The Doc also added a prescription that needed immediate attention: “Go have some fun!”
We work hard in life. We work hard at our jobs, at our health, at our relationships, at our finances, at our homes, at our learning, at our faith… but how hard do we work at our “fun?” And if we are working at having fun, does that take the fun out of it? Last week I heeded the doc’s advice when we had the whole family at the cabin for the day. The kids were wake-boarding (in the cold and rain) and it looked like fun. So I took a shot at water-skiing. It’s been many years since I’ve skied, and I often plan on getting in shape to take it up again, planned to have fun, but never did. So I just did it, and it was fun! (It wasn’t pretty, but that made it more fun for the kids. Fun can be infectious)
So I am with the Doc here, go have some fun. Don’t spend a lot of time working at it, don’t over plan it and over think it, just go do it… have some fun.
The Scene of the Fun
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on July 13th, 2009
Our Next Spiritual Fitness Gathering: Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Noon to 1:00 at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church. (Bring your own lunch!)
The topic for our July 22, 2009 Spiritual Fitness Gathering will be: “The Peace Officer Deployment Cycle”. Join us as we discuss the different phases of a career in law enforcement and the support systems available to help navigate the transitions.
By Dan Carlson, on July 11th, 2009
As this website is renovated I’ll make weblog posts describing site additions and changes. Today I added a page of ELCA Ministry Partners. Check it out!
By Dan Carlson, on July 10th, 2009
As you can see there have been some changes to the website. It all started with attempts at a new logo. After a consult with my Web Coach Griff, the next thing I knew I had a whole new look to the site. As you can see we are still under construction, more changes and renovations to come. My focus is content and format right now, then we will work on the “look” of the site.
Take Care
By Dan Carlson, on July 9th, 2009
The last few days I’ve been working on a new logo for the ministry. So far this is what I’ve come up with working in Microsoft Word. My computer skills are somewhat limited, so there is not a color component, but with the help of my daughter and son I actually came up with a rough version of something I like.
I’ve got a couple different versions, with the same components, just moved arond a bit. If I still like it (and don’t get a lot of negitive feedback) in a few days, I think I’ll look for someone with better skills that I have to make it more professional.
So let me know what you think!
Take Care!
By Dan Carlson, on June 27th, 2009
So how do I begin a post that is my first in several months. I guess I just begin. Some may have wondered about the recent absence of posts. I received a few emails, phone calls and personal coments about the significance of February 15, 2009. It took me awhile to realize it was the date of my last post. I was at a MESCA chaplain graduation ceremony last week (more on MESCA later) and one of the graduates said he enjoyed the website but it hasn’t been updated since 2008. So I figured it was time to get “Back At It”.
First of all, I want to let everyone know that the ministry is thriving! That is the primary reason for the absence of posts, too much going on, not enough time to do everything the way I’d like it to be done. But the model for this ministry is one of traditional chaplaincy: A Ministry of Presence, Service and Relationships. This website provides a ministry presence to a larger public safety community so again, time to get “Back At It”.
Here are some of the ministry services that have been filling my time:
MESCA – The recently established Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplain Association that was developed by Dr. Jeff Stewart of the Minneapolis Police Chaplain Corp and endorsed and supported by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.
MN National Guard Yellow Ribbon Communities Initiative - I have been working on a variety of Yellow Ribbon initiatives for almost three years now. As we gain more experience the project has grown and seen significant tangible results. This increase in activity has resulted in a partnership between Public Safety Ministries, The MN Chiefs Assoc and the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute. We have created a training curriculum that will be implemented throughout the state in the coming months.
Spiritual Fitness Gatherings – We have started to gather public safety professionals and those who support the professions for monthly (fourth Wednesday of the month, noon to 1:00 pm) gatherings at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka. It is a time to gather specifically to grow in our spiritual fitness.
The business and devlopment part of the ministry has also filled much of my time:
ELCA Ordination – I continue my seminary studies and internship responsibilities. I can now see the end of that journey. With a little luck (class availability) I’ll be ordained by this time next year.
PSMI Board Expansion – We have expanded our board of directors adding business, fire service and clergy perspectives to the group. I am excited about learning from the additional insights.
Ministry Partner Affiliations – We are establishing more formal ministry partneships with organizations supportive of the mission “Serving Those Who Protect”.
Well, that’s a brief overview. More detail to come on the above initiatives.
I want to close with a prayer I try to say every day:
Dear God,
I ask for the strenght to serve, the peace to rest, the wisdom to discern and most of all the humility to acknowledge that all that I am and all that I have are gifts of Your gracious love.
Amen
And let’s all say a special prayer for our troops as they prepare for the withdrawal of US troops from cities in Iraq.
Take Care!
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Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association