Cancelled TV shows, film sets closed down, sports barely played, and through it all, I’ve said, “What’s to miss?” Another lesson of 2020 is this: we don’t need our celebrities to survive…or even flourish. We need to realize this truth within the church as well. Where are the bold and courageous leaders now? Where are […]
Perspective
The Danger of Overvalued Beauty
As a teenager, I craved attention–especially from guys–and tried to wear short skirts and tight shirts that attracted their eyes my direction (without being too revealing–I was a PK after all). Even though I wasn’t allowed to date, I still wanted to be wanted–craved to know I was appealing to the opposite sex. I carried […]
Brace Yourself, for the Worst is Yet to Come…
I don’t know when I started consciously verbalizing this prayer, but “Come, Lord, Jesus. Bring revival” has stirred my heart for some time. I know that echoes the prayer of many believers. As the year progresses and we see evil increase, our discernment and desire should rise as well. Last year I read a Tony […]
The Freedom of Open Hands
My family and I moved this month. Four weeks ago when we put our house on the market, we weren’t certain our house would sell or even what we would do long-term if it did. We knew we’d have a roof overhead and warm beds, but we weren’t exactly sure what God’s next step would […]
Looking Into the Dark: Is Sex Trafficking a Threat to Yours?
When I was a teenager (maybe in the 14-15-years), my family went to the beach for vacation and spent an evening walking the Florida coast. In a search for seashells and maybe some autonomy, I walked several paces ahead of my parents and brothers. In fact, from the outside, it would hardly seem that I […]
Humility + Courage
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”― Thomas JeffersonGovernor Newsom (CA) has taken a stance of religious prejudice against churches, declaring the singing and chanting within a church is illegal. The over-reaching evil of power-hungry governors and mayors has shown American citizens just how far they are willing to go (as long as they meet no […]
Well-Fed When Starving
Last night, my daughter wanted to make a Greek meal. Like most ideas, I don’t know where the thought originated, but if it comes to her mind, it tries to find a way to materialize tangibly. My husband and I love gyros, hummus, olives, and all things bread and olive oil, so of course, I […]
Why Touching People Is Essential
A precious woman in my life finds herself in widowhood earlier than she anticipated. She lives alone now–something she’s never done. My friend’s main love language is physical touch (hugs) and she gives great ones. When this corona-virus quarantining isolation started up, I asked her if she wanted us to stay away and she emphatically […]
When Silence Screams
“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies…but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. I grew up just outside of St. Louis in suburbs with picket fences and gardens, but seeing and interacting with African Americans was normal to me. My dad invited black preachers to speak […]
A Fish that Goes Against the Current
In the last few months, our country has become even more dismissive regarding questions and analytical thinking. So easily offended, people don’t want to hear another perspective, or heaven forbid, a fact that might mess with what they’ve already determined to be right and good. We see this dismissive attitude overturning our ability to reason. […]