BEN DUBOW

Running the Way

Category: My Story

  • Saved Twice: Pastor Nancy

    I am saved by Jesus—and I also experienced salvation through a white, middle-class, middle-aged, cisgender, heterosexual woman: Rev. Nancy Butler. When my world blew up, Nancy showed up. She hired me in the church office—just enough structure and a paycheck to get me off the couch and back among people. She leveraged her gift as →

  • A New Role

    Today, during a congregational meeting, the members of Riverfront Family Church, called a team of new pastors to co-lead the church. This comes after months of prayer and discernment by the leadership, board, transition team and members. Named as the new Co-Pastors are three current members of the church, including myself. Each of us will be →

  • Discernment, Part #5: Principle of the Path

    I have been in an ongoing discernment process, and also sharing about that process here on the blog. For the most part, I have been following a process prescribed and laid out by St. Ignatius — the Spanish monk who founded the Jesuits. I think it… →

  • Discernment, Part #4: People

    For me, the fourth step in the discernment process involves PEOPLE — my faith community. This is less of a “next step” than an ongoing process throughout. I share and process with other people and listen to their insights, questions, suggestions … →

  • Discernment, Part #3: Process

    I have been posting this week about the discernment method I am working through as I face some big questions about WHAT IS NEXT FOR ME in the coming months and years. You can read Part #1 here and Part #2 here. This third post is about PROCESSING … →

  • Discernment, Part #2: Prayer

    The next part of the discernment process is PRAYER. Simply put, I am going to spend intentional time talking to God about each of the four options. For this kind of prayer time, I try and find a quiet space with little distraction. I will begin wi… →

  • Discernment, Part #1: Presumptions

    As I posted yesterday, I had a great meeting with my spiritual director. He is big on Ignatian Spirituality and the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and often we will use these tools. I am in a season of discernment, trying to figure out what’s next f… →

  • Discernment in Community

    Discernment is an activity that best takes place within the context of authentic community. As we pray and listen, we share what God is doing in our lives with others, seeking feedback, affirmation, encouragement, warnings, corrections, questions … →