Gaining a heart of wisdom
In ways that are both mundane and catastrophic, life has a way of going off the rails. Everything from rain showers overlooked by the weather forecast to devastating diagnoses, all serve to remind us that we're not in control of our lives—at least not as much as we might wish. Whenever the unexpected happens, we're… Continue reading Is Your Theology Able To Handle The Unexpected?
Every week, we make thousands of decisions, some routine and some monumental. It almost always boils down to a simple yes or no—but for the person sitting in the hot seat, the call often seems anything but simple. Sensing a market to exploit, the internet overflows with books on decision making, oracle cards, and even… Continue reading 6 Best Practices For Making Good Decisions
The slow work of sanctification is a lifelong process. Therefore, most of us get out of bed every morning confident that our "three score and ten" leaves us plenty of tomorrows. Does that sound like a valid license for procrastination to you? With Pentecost Sunday approaching us on the church calendar, I'm thinking about its… Continue reading Celebrate Pentecost with New Commitment Based on an Old Revival
Middles will never be my favorite—not even with a pan of brownies! The middle feels uncertain, and the transition from one shore to another may even become turbulent and dangerous. In our marriages and families, in our careers, and in our ministries, life's shifting seasons can be disorienting. In times of shifting seasons, we're tempted… Continue reading Finding Joy in Seasons of Major Life Adjustment
Before I was married, I worshiped with a lovely community of believers in Portland, a church planted in the days following World War 2, in which early services were conducted in Norwegian. Some of my friends and colleagues in ministry were second or third generation church members with roots deeply planted in that community and… Continue reading Why Is Worshiping God Together So Beautiful?
In the little church we call home, my husband and I are team-teaching the adult class, and our goal is an overview of the entire Bible. We're talking outlines, key verses, and major characters, but most of all, we want to consider how each of the sixty-six books fits into the narrative arc of God's… Continue reading Can We Justify Deep Learning In These Troubled Times?
Whatever your age or stage of life, if you've made it this far without experiencing sorrow or pain, CONGRATULATIONS, you are a rare and wonderful creature! But don't get too comfortable there, because trouble is a certainty. Jesus declared that it's a sure thing, but not a hopeless thing, for he also said that he… Continue reading God Has a Powerful Purpose for Your Pain
Scripture records at least 153 passages about darkness, and it's a well-worn metaphor for anyone who has read the words and heard the sermons. In the Old Testament, darkness is linked to death and light to life. In the New Testament, light is often associated with knowledge and darkness with ignorance. It would seem, then,… Continue reading Gifts Found Only in the Dark
In the dark, in the car, hands on the steering wheel, I sighed in frustration. “I can’t do this anymore,” I said out loud, startling myself with the fierceness of my tone over the sound of the car’s heater. On that frigid January night, I was brittle with fatigue and hollow with disappointment. I had… Continue reading How I Found Myself Living in the Desert
Doubt has a stubborn power over the human heart, and while it's an uncomfortable place to sit, it's a normal part of the human condition. Far better to bring it to the surface than to try to push it down. Like a beach ball in a swimming pool, it will surface anyway. There's a false… Continue reading Dealing with Doubt within a Life of Faith
Living Our Days 