Isaac. 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 don’t think there has ever been a point in my life that I wasn’t apart of a church family. I honestly love attending a church service on a Sunday morning. It’s so uplifting and encouraging to see so many other people love and worship Jesus with you. Attending church is definitely been something I want to do, rather than something I have to.
Read MoreRight now, our country is deep in turmoil trying to wrestle through issues facing the black community and it is inevitable that those conversations are going to seep into our workplaces too. So, how can you be an advocate on behalf of minorities and promote diversity in the workplace?
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 MoreIt was our first time in Washington state. My husband Mike and I traveled south along I-5, returning from a visit with our friend Kimmy. We were invited to attend his graduation from the University of Washington-Seattle. We stayed near Seattle-Tacoma Airport for just a few days and planned several get-togethers with Kimmy, who we had not seen in a couple of years.
Read MoreI love the book of Psalms. Over the last few weeks I have found myself going there often when I reach for my Bible. I love to read them, because you can hear the intensity with which the writer writes. They’re very raw and vulnerable—just like we are sometimes when we’re at our worst or lowest.
Read MoreAs Yelena and I started researching racial reconciliation and how to best address the topics, we went to our friends to find resources. It just so happened that my neighbors across the street had a podcast. Their podcast was addressing racial issues in light of Christ and their own personal experiences.
Read More“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,” this is the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38). “Love your neighbor as yourself,” this is the Second Commandment (Matthew 22:39). Let’s unpack that “love” word just a bit in order to understand exactly what Jesus is asking of us today.
Read MoreAs I write this, I have been unable to hug my family in over 8 weeks. I have fortunately seen them in the past few weeks in short spurts with quite a bit of social distancing. For some, COVID-19 may have left you unemployed. During this season, you may have suffered anxiety, panic attacks, and depression
Read MoreGrowing up I loved everything to do with the arts. I would put on skits for my parents, direct my friends in mini plays, and use a camcorder to record the world around me. I loved the arts but I was confused how the arts and loving God could go together.
Read MoreSeveral times in my life - for one reason or another - I have found myself in seasons during which I didn’t take communion. I moved and didn’t have a church home. I was travelling every weekend. Or I just felt disconnected from God
Read MoreJust when states and countries began re-opening after months of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a video of a black man killed by a white cop in Minneapolis set off protests all around the world. It’s all anyone is talking about and everyone has an opinion. So, what should Christians be doing? Should we be participating in all of this? What do we say? What does the Bible say about all of this?
Read MoreA few years ago, in a season of change, I found myself praying for friends. It was a strange prayer, since I’ve always had friends, and good friends at that. But I needed more than just someone who was on the same schedule as I was and more than someone I bump into at the coffee shop on campus. I needed women who would pray for me and hold me accountable,
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 MoreI’m finally going to have a garden of my own this year. When I lived at home, there was always something growing during the summer. Even when my parents didn’t plan out the full garden, we still had plenty of blueberries and apples along with a decent amount of blackberries and peaches.
Read MoreDo you know who is saying this? It’s surprising how many confessing Christians have never heard this scripture. This was spoken by Jesus Christ, the one our entire faith rests upon. In the slew of social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, magazines, and literature, his name sometimes gets cut out. God has a much larger platform presence than Jesus Christ.
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 MoreBe honest with me for just a minute—have you had a moment (or two or eighty–three) during this pandemic with those you most love? Have you totally lost your focus, your emotions, and the tight reign you try to keep over your tongue? I have. I’ve had several of these moments, if I’m being honest, and just earlier this week I was in the throes of one such time. I have this issue that I am always working on, with having high expectations of people.
Read More
