Advent and Exile
Confession: I wasn’t always a fan of Christmas music and the Christmas season in general. As I’ve written about before in a blog co-written with Charlie, it took me years to understand the power of rhythms in my life — daily rhythms, weekly rhythms, monthly rhythms, and annual rhythms. Christmas honestly seemed overblown — we […]
Celebrating Advent
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited that Advent is here. I’ve been looking forward to this season since…oh, about March. Advent is not meant to anesthetize us from our angst or distract us from the hard things we might be experiencing this year; rather it is an intentional space for us to enter […]
When You Feel Thankless on Thanksgiving
Today is Thanksgiving, and if I had to guess, I’d say your life looks different now than it did last year at this time. Traditions highlight COVID’s disruptions. You probably have a few empty chairs at your table today. Perhaps you’re also navigating relational, financial or health challenges that weren’t there last year. This Thanksgiving, […]
Parenting Myths We Believe #2: Parents Know Their Children Best
This series of blogs has been such a blessing to write. As a parent, I’ve had to dig through all the half truths and outright lies I have believed throughout my life. Sometimes they are so subtle that it is really hard to unearth the deceptions. This particular myth is very clever, and I really […]
Perspective on Hardship
I do not like years that end in zero. It’s not a numerology thing, so don’t be worried. It just seems that years which have ended in zero have amplified the current cry of “How long, O Lord, how long?” Our voices cry out and join with the voices under the altar. They echo the […]
Perspective on the Election
The last election cycle has been hard. The angst and uncertainty in our country has been palpable. As the dust begins to settle on this contentious election season, people are now experiencing a variety of new emotions. Some people are elated and optimistic about the future because the candidates they voted for won. Others are […]
Family Life and COVID
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to write for this post. I had it on the calendar to tackle and I’ve been putting it off and I think I know why. This is really hard. Family life is really hard right now. Who wants to read about that? I struggled to come up with a line […]
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Amidst COVID-19
Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God […]
Does 2020 Feel Polarizing? A Perspective on Christian Unity
I remember when the emails started rolling in from leaders in late summer. “I’m not sure what to do about my small group gatherings this fall. We have people all over the map! Some want to wear masks, some don’t want to come if they have to wear a mask. Some are only comfortable meeting […]
10 Apps to Encourage Your Walk with God
Everyone is on a quest for less screen time and digital distraction. We monitor our data usage and chide ourselves for spending too much time on social media, but there are profoundly good things we can do with our phones too, including engaging with God and caring for our spiritual lives. God and technology are […]