It’s Easter morning. I’m a teenager. Emotions are raging. My future seemed uncertain. A Scientology book sat on my desk in my bedroom—unread. The overriding imprint on my heart was fear. Fear and anxiety crippled me each day. Easter had always been one of my favorite holidays growing up—memories of Easter baskets, my mom wearing […]
I was sitting in the audience of a mega-church listening to my son-in-law preach. It’s kind of an odd feeling knowing him well, watching him live his life (off the stage), and loving him like a son. And being pierced with the truths of God’s Word as my heart and brain configure the learning and […]
My body got WRECKED under the notion to usher in the new year all out. It wasn’t pretty. With a full surrender to Jesus and a full surrender to life to its fullest, I decided this was going to be a YES year. Saying yes to new adventures, saying yes to the uncomfortable, saying yes […]
Irma, Helen, Rosa, Lorraine, and Claire were sitting outside enjoying the fresh air and friendly conversation. As residents of the Sunshine Retirement community, they loved sharing stories about family, community gossip, and adventures they’d all like to take for the upcoming year. These elderly ladies had two things in common: they all had son’s and […]
Being around thankful-cheerful people when you’re feeling blue or cranky or sullen can be irritating. That always seems to be when you run into someone who when asked how they are doing as a nicety replies, “I’m blessed.” I mean, good for them but if you’re feeling down and grumpy that just stings. I’m reminded […]
I’m sitting outside a small café in the middle of a village in Italy sipping my Americano. Some days I drink espresso like the Italians do but usually I prefer an Americano. You can’t get regular coffee in Italy unless you make it yourself, therefore Americano is my drink. This quaint little village has a […]
This is the question many of us are asking. More now than ever. As a kid my dad taught me that “bad things” were random. Evil is here and “stuff” just happens. I’d ask, “What about God?” Dad would say, “If there was a God why does he allow babies to die and cancer and […]
There was a famous research experiment conducted by two Princeton psychology professors that shows the harm busyness does to our priorities and our focus. Because the experiment was conducted on seminary students, it is very applicable to ministry leaders and churches. The year was 1973. John Darely and Daniel Batson were the professors. Three groupings […]
My two-year-old granddaughter was very distressed. Tears, screaming, confusion, frustration, and dismay consumed her. Then her dad said, “Come here. I will help you.” At first she stayed in her distress and kept crying. He said it again, “Come here. Daddy will help you.” She dropped her determined state to stay in her distraught and […]
I do it over and over. One of my adult children will be going through something difficult and I sense hurt or pain. Immediately my emotions are heightened and I want to fix whatever is causing this in my child. Yes, they are an adult, but being a mom doesn’t stop when they are grown […]
