The Basin and Towel: Recent Episodes

Chris Cahill

Pastors and other church workers need support from a number of sources. From practical tips to spiritual insights, we hope you’ll find something on The Basin and Towel podcast to encourage you to think a little deeper about a variety of ministry-related topics. Your host is Pastor Chris Cahill of Lodi, Ohio, who brings to the table more than 40 years of ministry experience and 20 years of caring for pastors and church workers. Episodes are archived after 90 days. For a list of archived episodes, visit our website at www.basinandtowel.org.

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on July 26, 2026, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Parma, Ohio.

In last Sunday’s sermon, we thought about questions like “If God is such a good and loving God, why does He let bad things happen to good people?” or “If God created the world good, and is taking care of it, why does so much bad stuff happen all the time?” As we think about a famous passage from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans today, we’ll find out that even if bad things happen, even to people who know how much Jesus loves them, God has already done more than we can imagine to prevent us from ever becoming disconnected from His love.

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on July 19, 2026, at Saint John Lutheran Church in Massillon, Ohio.

Sometimes you hear somebody ask “If God is such a good and loving God, why does He let bad things happen to good people?” or “If God created the world good, and is taking care of it, why does so much bad stuff happen all the time?” Today’s Gospel lesson addresses those questions with another one of the stories that Jesus used to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. In this sermon we’ll think about these questions and the story Jesus told, but we’ll also take a little time to think about how you and I might respond to it - and what help we have.

A video of this worship service is available at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/191xMX8ifS/

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on July 12, 2026, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Malvern, Ohio

Jesus often taught about the Kingdom of Heaven by using stories, called parables. One of the most famous of these parables comes from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, where Jesus tells the story of a farmer who goes out to his field to plant seeds by grabbing them by the handful and just scattering them around as he walks. The seeds don’t always land where they should, and don’t all grow the same.

Sometimes sermons about this parable focus on the seeds, and sometimes they focus on the types of soil; but in this sermon I want to focus on the presence of Jesus.

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on July 5, 2026, the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, at Saint John Lutheran Church in Massillon, Ohio.

On the last Sunday of June in the Year of Our Lord 2026, the members and friends of Saint John Lutheran Church in Massillon, Ohio, gathered to recognize and thank God for the ministry of their pastor of almost 40 years, Rev. John Telloni, as he retired from active ministry. After the worship service there was a wonderful celebration of their love for him, and his love for them, and the gifts of God they all had received in their ministry together.

The following Sunday, the first without their pastor, I was there to help them begin this new season of ministry. This was the sermon I preached there.

A video of this service is available at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DA1t4a1k9/

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on June 21, 2026, the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Amherst, Ohio

If you’ve recently been to a graduation party, you’ve probably heard or seen this verse from the book of Jeremiah the prophet: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version). Many Christians expand the ideas in this verse to a life that is marked by performance (doing the right things) that leads to prosperity, which leads to power (also known as influence).

But much of Jeremiah’s life and ministry wasn’t like that at all; for that matter, neither are the lives of lots of Christians. And even Jesus himself said that the lives of His followers would be marked by their penitence (or repentance), persecution by others, and ultimately the promise of the Father’s eternal love.

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on June 14, 2026, the Third Sunday after Pentecost, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Malvern, Ohio

While Juliet of Verona daydreamed about her beloved Romeo, she wistfully wondered “What’s in a name?” Do you know the names of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles? No, there isn’t going to be a quiz, just - do you know all their names? Do you know anything more about them than just their names? It may surprise you that we don’t know much about most of them. Take the Apostle Matthew, for instance. We know that he had been a tax collector when Jesus called him to follow him, but we don’t really know anything more about him. Or do we?

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio. It’s been a year since I retired from 45 years of parish ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is a sermon I preached on June 7, 2026, at Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Sharon, Pennsylvania.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus often told stories to teach certain points about the kingdom of heaven. These stories are called parables. Today’s Gospel lesson has one of these - a famous one, about two men whose lives on earth could not have been more different, but ended up in unexpected places when they died. Most of us know this parable as “The Rich Man and Lazarus,” but today I suggest that a better title might be “Abraham in Heaven.”

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry.

In my retirement I’ve been preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on Holy Trinity Sunday, May 31, 2026, at St John Lutheran Church in Garfield Heights, Ohio.

The calendar of the Christian Church counts fifty days after Easter and marks that Sunday as Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciples (Acts 2). In that calendar the very next Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday, when we remind ourselves and others that the God who has revealed Himself to us in the Holy Bible is one God, but three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we also have three Creeds (or statements of what we believe) that help us to believe, understand, and teach the Christian faith. These are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.

As Lutheran Christians, we also have Martin Luther’s “explanation” of the Apostles’ Creed from his Small Catechism, which he wrote to try to help us learn and teach and tell what our life is like with this Three-Person God. That’s the focus of this sermon.

During this sermon, I “quoted” Martin Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed, which he wrote in German. I learned a particular English translation sixty years ago, but it has changed a bit here and there over the years. You can find the English translation that is currently used in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at https://catechism.cph.org/en/creed.html

By the way, a number of people at St John Lutheran Church came out of this worship service and commented that they also remembered learning that explanation when they were young, and that they were (quietly) reciting the words along with me during the sermon. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of what we have known so long!

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on May 17, 2026, the Seventh Sunday after Easter, at Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Sharon, Pennsylvania.

The Seventh Sunday of the Easter season comes between the day Jesus ascended into heaven (40 days after Easter, Acts 1:1-11) and Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter, Acts 2:1-41). The book of Acts tells the story of how, while the disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised, they decided to elect Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot and bring their number back to twelve (Acts 1:12-26). That’s the background for this sermon, and the Bible readings for the day.

In this sermon I suggested these four takeaways:

Pray with boldness and confidence, because you are the dear children of your loving heavenly Father
“You shall be My people, and I shall be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28)
“You will bear witness” (John 15:27)
“In everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11)

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Pastor Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where last year I retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry. In my retirement I’ve been doing some substitute preaching in several congregations of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - this episode is the sermon I preached on May 10, 2026, the Sixth Sunday after Easter, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Malvern, Ohio

In Lutheran worship services a hymn might be sung right before the sermon will be preached - that hymn is called the “sermon hymn.” In this worship service the sermon hymn that was chosen was a fairly long hymn by Martin Luther, titled “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice!” I decided that, instead of singing all ten verses and then preach the sermon, we should break things up a bit. So I preached some before we sang the first six verses; then I preached a little more; then we sang the last four verses; and finally I preached the conclusion. If you want, you can find both words and music for this hymn at https://hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/556.

A video of this service is available at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BC8MPjTf7/

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, a retired pastor and the Second Vice President of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more at the Basin and Towel website -bit.ly/bnt2025

You can also follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel and on YouTube HERE». I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where I recently retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, I had the privilege once again of preaching at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Malvern, Ohio. The Gospel lesson for that Sunday was a parable Jesus told, a story that gives us a little glimpse into the kingdom of God. This one is in Luke’s Gospel, at the beginning of Chapter 16, and on the surface it’s a story about a business man, his office manager, and how people act under pressure.

But what if there’s more to that story? What if the parable that begins Chapter 16 is actually one of a quartet of parables that began in Chapter 15? and what if the common theme of all four parables is about the determination of God the Father to forgive your sins, to restore you to His love, and to celebrate you and welcome you into His eternal family for the sake of Jesus, His Son?

You can read the sections from God’s Word that were read on September 21 at these links:

Amos 8:4-7

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Luke 16:1-15

And you can read the three parables in Luke 15 HERE>>

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, Ministerial Care Coordinator of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more about Pastor Cahill and the Basin and Towel website, and follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook and on YouTube at https://bit.ly/m/revcahill. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

On Sunday, September 7, I had the privilege of preaching at St. John Lutheran Church in Massillon Ohio, on Luke 14:25-34 with the theme "Counting the Cost."

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, Ministerial Care Coordinator of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more about Pastor Cahill and the Basin and Towel website, and follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook and on YouTube at https://bit.ly/m/revcahill. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Welcome back to the Basin and Towel podcast! I’m your host, Chris Cahill. I live in Lodi, Ohio, where I recently retired from 45 years of pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Now that I’m retired - but substitute preaching in other churches - I’m hoping to post many of these new sermons to the Basin and Towel podcast as I go along. These recordings may not be uniform in quality because the acoustics and audio systems in the churches will not be uniform, but I’m game if you are.

On Sunday, August 17, I had the privilege of preaching on Hebrews 11, “Heroes of the Faith? Really?” at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Malvern, Ohio.

The Basin and Towel podcast is written and recorded by Rev Chris Cahill, Ministerial Care Coordinator of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can find out more about Pastor Cahill and the Basin and Towel website, and follow the Basin and Towel on Facebook and on YouTube at https://bit.ly/m/revcahill. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.

Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com

Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

This is the fifth episode in a series of conversations I’m having with our leadership at Christ the King Lutheran Church, where I serve as pastor. I’ve been thinking seriously about retirement and what that might mean for me and for our congregation. I hope these conversations will help us to plan together for the transition from this current ministry to the ministry of the next pastor.

Our conversations are based on the book titled “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works.” . In today’s episode, I want to focus on chapter six, “Resigning ‘Young’ to Start Another Ministry - and does the outgoing pastor always need to leave town?”

You can read the transcript of all the episodes in this series as they become available at the Basin and Towel blog here: https://thebasinandtowel.wordpress.com/

Zach Zehnder is author, program leader, and President of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can c...

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

"Deciding when it's time to leave"

You can read the transcript of all the episodes in this series as they become available at the Basin and Towel blog here: https://thebasinandtowel.wordpress.com/

Zach Zehnder is author, program leader, and President of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can c...

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

This is the third episode in a series about the conversations I’m having with our leadership at Christ the King Lutheran Church, where I serve as pastor. I’m starting to think seriously about retirement and what that might mean for me and for our congregation. I hope these conversations will help us to plan together for the transition from this current ministry to the ministry of the next pastor.

Our conversations are based on the book titled “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works.” In today’s episode, I want to focus on the third chapter, “Three Essential Questions” and the fourth chapter, “Ten Models of Post-Pastorate Professions.”

You can read the transcript of all the episodes in this series as they become available at the Basin and Towel blog here: https://thebasinandtowel.wordpress.com/

Zach Zehnder is author, program leader, and President of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can c...

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

This episode is one of several that I have in mind that are intended to be seeds for upcoming conversations with the church council of the church I currently serve, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, as we begin to think about my potential retirement in a few years.

You can read the transcript of all the episodes in this series as they become available at the Basin and Towel blog here: https://thebasinandtowel.wordpress.com/

SHOWNOTES

Zach Zehnder is author and program leader of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

This episode is one of several that I have in mind that are intended to be seeds for upcoming conversations with the church council of the church I currently serve, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, as we begin to think about my potential retirement in a few years.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Zach Zehnder is author and program leader of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

This episode is one of several that I have in mind that are intended to be seeds for upcoming conversations with the church council of the church I currently serve, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio - but you’re invited to listen, too!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Zach Zehnder is author and program leader of the Red Letter Challenge at https://redletterchallenge.com/; along with Chris Johnson, Zach cohosts the Red Letter Disciple podcast at https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Mark Zehnder recently retired as the senior pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently ministers at https://www.alwaysforwardministries.com/ to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches as they work through periods of leadership transition.
The book “NEXT: Pastoral Succession that Works” by William Vanerbloemen and Warren Bird is available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Pastoral-Succession-That-Works/dp/080100571X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SF9EGP9KPD3&keywords=next+vanderbloemen+bird&qid=1681756932&sprefix=next+Vand%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Next: Pastoral Succession That Works

At the beginning of January 2023 my wife Bev and I embarked on a much-needed ten-day tour trip to Israel. This episode of the Basin and Towel podcast is part of a sermon I preached during Lent 2023, based on a place that my wife and I visited on our tour - “Gabbatha” - the stone pavement where Pilate passed judgment against Jesus.

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

At the beginning of January 2023 my wife Bev and I embarked on a much-needed ten-day tour trip to Israel. This episode contains part of the sermon I preached at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi Ohio, the Sunday we returned - January 22, 2023.

I’ll have more to say about our trip in future Basin and Towel episodes.

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
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This episode of the Basin and Towel podcast is a large segment of an adult Bible Study I recently led at my church in Lodi, Ohio. We started by reading the account of Saint Paul’s “Farewell to the elders of Ephesus” toward the end of the book of Acts, but I took the opportunity to have am unscripted conversation with them about the need of pastors to have friends, both within and outside the congregation. (Resources mentioned in this conversation are listed in the show notes.)

BasinandTowel

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
You can learn more about the Barna Group’s most current research on reasons why pastors (consider) quitting, or not, at https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry/, or order the book The Resilient Pastor at their shop here: https://shop.barna.com/products/the-resilient-pastor
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This episode is the first in a new series in The Basin and Towel Podcast; I'm calling it "Another Side of the Table." This is not a new direction for this podcast, just an occasional side trip into a new area that has come into my personal life - I recently became the son of a parent with pancreatic cancer. In this occasional series I want to offer some personal reflections on a variety of things, like:

Caring Friends
Different kinds of helpers
Sadness, and determination
Responsibilities
Resources
and maybe more

If you have a thought or suggestion for one of the episodes in this series, or for some other episode of The Basin and Towel Podcast, drop me an email.

BasinandTowel,#Cancer,#AnotherSideOfTheTable

You can read transcripts of this and other episodes here: https://thebasinandtowel.wordpress.com
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
HERE>> is the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network website.
Henri Nouwen's book The Return of the Prodigal Son is available on Amazon HERE>>
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
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The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

If you’re a pastor or church worker or in some type of ministry, I hope that the Basin and Towel podcast can help you fill in some gaps between ministry theory and practice.

Not long ago I was in a conversation with several other pastors that revolved around the question "What are you going to do with your livestream now that we seem to be coming out of the pandemic?" Some were very sure about what they were going to do, and why; others, not so much. I'm going to try to summarize several of them in this episode - maybe they'll give you something to think about.

Let's get started.

BasinandTowel

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
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It's been a minute since I've posted an episode of the Basin and Towel podcast. Like you, I got wrapped up in Easter worship and other events in April, and in getting ready for the Convention of our SELC District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in St Louis in May. We're all back home from that Convention now, and this episode has some reflections on the Convention I shared with our Adult Bible Class at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi on May 22, 2022.

BasinandTowel,#SELC_District_Convention,#Thy_Strong_Word

You can find out more about the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at our website: https://selc.lcms.org/. You can watch videos of the sessions and worship services mentioned in this episode (all labeled "SELC Convention 2022") at the Facebook page of host church St Lucas Lutheran Church in St Louis at https://www.facebook.com/watch/stlucaslcms/
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, where I serve as Pastor, we've begun the season of Lent and our 40-day exploration of "The Forgiving Challenge" by Pastor Zach Zehnder. We've worked through two other 40-day challenges by Zach in the past, and I've been interested and excited to see what this one would be like.

The Forgiving Challenge follows the acronym "S.C.A.R.S." Each week, we focus on the meaning behind one of these letters: "S" for "Sin"; "C" for "Confession"; "A" for "Absolution"; "R" for "Restoration"; and "S" for "Sanctification." You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website, or at the Forgiving Challenge website - links to both are included in the show notes.

This third week of the season and the Forgiving Challenge our focus has been on "Absolution."

Today's Gospel lesson is about criticism, marginalization, forgiveness, and gratitude. At the end of this sermon, stick around for a message especially for pastors!

ForgivingChallenge,#sin,#confession,#absolution,#restoration,#sanctification

You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website: https://ctkfc2022.mystrikingly.com/ or at the Forgiving Challenge website: https://redletterchallenge.com/40-day-challenges/forgiving-challenge/
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, where I serve as Pastor, we've begun the season of Lent and our 40-day exploration of "The Forgiving Challenge" by Pastor Zach Zehnder. We've worked through two other 40-day challenges by Zach in the past, and I've been interested and excited to see what this one would be like.

The Forgiving Challenge follows the acronym "S.C.A.R.S." Each week, we focus on the meaning behind one of these letters: "S" for "Sin"; "C" for "Confession"; "A" for "Absolution"; "R" for "Restoration"; and "S" for "Sanctification." You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website, or at the Forgiving Challenge website - links to both are included in the show notes.

In this episode, the sermon about "Confession" from our Lent midweek service of March 16, 2022.

You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website: https://ctkfc2022.mystrikingly.com/ or at the Forgiving Challenge website: https://redletterchallenge.com/40-day-challenges/forgiving-challenge/
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, where I serve as Pastor, we've begun the season of Lent and our 40-day exploration of "The Forgiving Challenge" by Pastor Zach Zehnder. We've worked through two other 40-day challenges by Zach in the past, and I've been interested and excited to see what this one would be like.

The Forgiving Challenge follows the acronym "S.C.A.R.S." Each week, we focus on the meaning behind one of these letters: "S" for "Sin"; "C" for "Confession"; "A" for "Absolution"; week of March 20); "R" for "Restoration"; and "S" for "Sanctification." You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website: https://ctkfc2022.mystrikingly.com/ or at the Forgiving Challenge website: https://redletterchallenge.com/40-day-challenges/forgiving-challenge/

In this episode I talk about "Sin" - and what I've learned this week about the sin in my own life.

ForgivingChallenge,#sin

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, where I serve as Pastor, we've begun the season of Lent and our 40-day exploration of "The Forgiving Challenge" by Pastor Zach Zehnder. We've worked through two other 40-day challenges by Zach in the past, and I've been interested and excited to see what this one would be like.

The Forgiving Challenge follows the acronym "S.C.A.R.S." Each week, we focus on the meaning behind one of these letters: "S" for "Sin"; "C" for "Confession"; "A" for "Absolution"; week of March 20); "R" for "Restoration"; and "S" for "Sanctification." You can find out more about the Forgiving Challenge at our special website: https://ctkfc2022.mystrikingly.com/ or at the Forgiving Challenge website: https://redletterchallenge.com/40-day-challenges/forgiving-challenge/

In this episode I talk about "Sin" - and what I've learned this week about the sin in my own life.

ForgivingChallenge,#sin,#confession,#absolution,#restoration,#sanctification

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

In a Basin and Towel podcast episode from November of 2021 I offered some personal reflections after completing the online curriculum called LivingWorks FAITH. In December of 2021 I completed an in-person event called LivingWorks ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).

Recently I had the opportunity to pull together some of what I learned from these and other resources in a presentation that I shared with pastors of the Central Circuit of the SELC District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This episode of The Basin and Towel podcast is a live recording of that presentation, which happened at Calvary Lutheran Church in Parma Ohio on February 1, 2022.

Here's a link to the handout mentioned in today's episode:

https://app.box.com/s/wpz8be19ej5zv5ba7yomhmu3oh7l757i

The handout also contains a page of live links to a number of informative websites about suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay

Here at the church I serve as pastor, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ohio, our readings from God's Word on November 14 acknowledged that even in the best of families there are still moments of tension, or seasons where the family seems to be more dysfunctional than otherwise. But we also saw that even in these moments and seasons the hand and will of our loving Heavenly Father is still guiding His children, and bringing about His long-term intention of love for us and for all people even if, in the short term, it's hard to see.

I didn't get to preach on these readings on November 14 because I was in a COVID quarantine; but I did revise my sermon notes into a Bible Study that we worked through the following Sunday. In that Bible Study we talked about families, their functions and dysfunctions, but we also talked about how those dynamics sometimes work out in churches.

You can download the study guide for this conversation here: https://app.box.com/s/n339qw3383toa3imzowq4xfrp859brri
You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw
You can connect with the Basin and Towel on Facebook @thebasinandtowel; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill, on YouTube, or by email at our website, www.basinandtowel.org. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a question or some topic you'd like to hear about.
Unless otherwise indicated, any Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed through www.biblegateway.com
Basin and Towel Theme by cliveromney from Pixabay