A new buzzword in the church world (at least in America, which is all I can personally speak to), is “multiethnic.” A growing number of Christians want to be part of a multiethnic church, a place with “diverse” worship, a body of believers that resembles the beautiful picture John paints for us in his Revelation 7 vision.
Read MoreA memory popped up on my Snapchat, and I ended up down a rabbit memory hole, thumbing through my snap history back to when I first downloaded the app. The posts were snapshots of a girl with a smile, a witty comment, thriving through her high school years. Those posts offered tribute to a false narrative, the small controlled glimpse into my life I allowed my peers to see.
Read MoreIsaac. Many Christians know the story. God promises Abraham a son. He finally receives that son. Then, God does the strangest thing. He tells Abraham to take his promised son and kill him on an altar. Somehow, Abraham doesn’t even hesitate and goes to do what God asks.
Read MoreI remember it more than I like. I have a story almost exactly identical to this. I was with a huge group of friends, who are so loving and welcoming. They’re not intimidating or judgmental. They’re the opposite - silly and encouraging.
Read MoreThe other day I was at my church helping to set up for an event when out of nowhere I felt tiny arms wrap around me in a hug. I glanced down to see a little girl that I had never seen before. She looked up at me and said something which both surprised me and stuck with me: “I love you… what’s your name?”
Read MoreI can hear the ambient sounds of open space right now in this COVID world. Others are working or living in hospitals listening to the desperate cries of people as the ventilators give way and morphine is administered in their tubes.
Read MoreThis all happened on a ferry last summer. I was traveling between spaces, and I was weeping. I thought I would hide in the bathroom until I stopped, but I emerged and fell apart again. I didn’t want to walk all the way back to the bathroom and parade my grief before strangers a second time, so I sat on a bench, as children and couples passed. I cried for the whole hour.
Read MoreFor me, racial reconciliation is very personal. I grew up in St. Louis where the Ferguson riots were. My dad was an associate pastor near that area. Later, we moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the most segregated city in the nation. I have spent the last four years of my life sitting in the streets of the black neighborhoods hearing stories.
Read MoreNo matter what has happened in history, during some of our darkest hours, there is one truth that the bible shines a light on, God was aware and at work. Paul confirms this in Romans 8:28 when he states those beloved words “we know that all things work towards the good of those that love God and are called according to his purpose.”
Read MoreWe all pictured 2020 to look a little different than this. As we’ve all been watching the news for weeks now, this pandemic has unfolded right in front of our eyes. Never, did it cross our minds that part of 2020 would be spent quarantined at home. As we watch the news from home, all we see is death and suffering. You start to wonder, when will this all end?
Read MoreEven before the world was struck with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people already struggled with anxiety. However, this pandemic has exacerbated those feelings of worry, uncertainty, nervousness, and fear in both Christians and unbelievers. The difference between us and those who are lost, is that we can hold onto God’s truths for our lives even when we feel like we are in utter despair.
Read MoreSeeing people with the worth God created within them can change your entire outlook on life. It makes missions more valuable to you, because you care whether those in another city, state, or country hear about Jesus. It makes prison ministry seem more important than ever, because no matter what they've done, you know God still values them as equal in worth compared to you.
Read MoreBeing alone means different things. It can be a solo hike through the woods while you listen to the whisper of trees, commune with the birds, and savor solitude that can’t be found inside walls. It can be a cross-country drive that’s filled with audiobooks, podcasts, and music you refuse to listen to in the company of others. The journey is space for you to settle into who you are before arriving at the destination.
Read MoreI woke up in the middle of the night to an alarm on my phone and the wail of sirens. My roommates and I moved aside suitcases so we could stuff ourselves (and our dogs) into the hall closet. Within five minutes, the storm hit.
Read MoreMy hope in taking you on this journey is not that you learn how to start a non-profit or how to find your calling in life. It is my desire to show you what God can do when you try to be fully surrendered to him (I never want to claim to be fully surrendered because we are all always a work in progress).
Read MoreFog. God has been using this natural phenomenon to give me perspective for many years now. This past week has been different. With the many historical changes occurring in our nation in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, and working in healthcare myself, I could not help but feel overwhelmed.
Read MoreHave you ever looked up the word hospitality to see what it means? Dictionary.com defines this word as “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.”
Read MoreEverything around you is moving. Texts received and emails flooding inboxes. Schedules are filling up…quickly. Just a few short weeks ago, we had such big aspirations and goals for ourselves. But then life got busy and time flies, and it becomes hard to focus on what matters most.
Read MoreAlthough many good things came out of 2019, there was also a massive rise in tragic events, and in particular, the rates of suicide. In New Zealand, where I’m from, over the past year, suicide statistics have increased drastically. It appears people are feeling more helpless and alone in this world than ever. In cases of suicide, families are left broken and grieving and so for many, the new year brings painful reminders of the previous year’s tragedies.
Read MoreI hadn’t expected to be able to sit down with her and talk. But the longer we sat there at the table, the more of her life story she poured out. I realized I’d judged her too harshly and not asked the right questions. I fiercely wished that I had checked up on her in the past to make sure she was okay after seeing signs of depression.
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