I'm kicking off the study of freedom by looking at its spiritual dimension: what does it mean to be free on a soul level? No other kind of freedom is as important or influential as this one. You could be free in every other way and be miserable for eternity. What does someone gain by... Continue Reading →
As children, we grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing about the home of the free. Our nation has fought wars for it—both for ourselves and for others—for centuries. American culture places a high value on freedom, but is it manifested in the lives of those who love and live for Christ? If... Continue Reading →
Our church has been focusing on growing in unity by studying Philippians. We recognized that before we can go make a difference "out there," we all need to be on the same team "in here." This doesn't just apply to the people I see every Sunday, but to all believers everywhere. We are called to... Continue Reading →
I’m kind of a bread addict. This summer, I baked it for the first time in my life. There is just something about a steaming loaf of crispy, floury crust on the outside and flaky deliciousness on the inside that grabs at me. Despite having only recently donned a baker’s hat, rolled up my sleeves,... Continue Reading →
Buried in the Old Testament’s prophecies about rebellion, judgment, and the wrath of God is a beautiful bit of hope. In my favorite verse of all time, Zephaniah shouts, "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by... Continue Reading →
Anyone besides hermits born in the wilderness can tell you that whenever you put multiple individuals in close proximity, there is a high likelihood of eventual conflict. And if those hermits happened to be neighbors, it wouldn’t take long for them to learn, too. Even Cain and Abel duked it out when they constituted half... Continue Reading →
Growing up in the church, I’ve met a lot of women who love the Lord: collegiates, young moms, career ladies, empty nesters… but one of my favorite age groups is the golden girls. A bunch of women in the 70+ category can change the world like no one else. These people have (for the most... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving is more than food to me: it’s a chance for my crazy, animated, and very vocal family to come together in all of their comic glory every year. It’s a reminder that no matter our differences, these are my people, and this is where my heart belongs. Family festivities are a pretty basic locale... Continue Reading →
This summer, I found a stranger in my backyard: a baby bluebird. He was sitting on our rock wall looking slightly dazed and not at all uneasy at my presence, though his mom started screeching at me from the tree above when I approached. We have a few stray cats that come and go in... Continue Reading →
I giggled at one of those retro-looking but kind of catty pictures on Pinterest the other day. It said, “Life was much simpler when we could play a friendly game of red rover and just clothesline the people we didn’t like.” While I was never particularly vicious in red rover (partly because I had no... Continue Reading →
The Dwelling Place 