I knew something was wrong the moment I walked inside. The distinct lack of our ten-year-old dog, Bay, coming to greet me—that was clue number one. Clue number two came in the form of a packet of gum with several pieces ripped out, lying in the middle of the living room floor. Some bits half-chewed. […]
Every day we are surrounded by discomfort. Every day we’re faced with the ways the world rejects the precepts of Yahweh and chooses to go down its own path. Every day we’re faced with the commission to make disciples within a world where barriers are already erected against people of faith. Some predispositions are fabricated […]
“Hey, Renee, can you come here for a sec?” I can’t help it. The second my husband says my name, even in such a casual way, I tense up. Hearing him use my full name—not “babe”, not “angel”, not “love” or any of the other pet names I’m used to—makes me feel like a kid […]
There’s something so comforting in tradition within the Church. In one generation following the next, and the next, and the next. Tried-and-true creeds, hymns and platitudes passed down from one congregation to the next. Tradition has churned out a good deal of faithful, God-fearing men and women. It’s difficult not to see the value in […]
Have you ever met someone, then gotten to know them better only to find yourself surprised to learn that they were a Christian? And I don’t mean in a good way! Jesus had a lot to say about the fruit people bear and about how we show our love for Jesus. There’s a great percentage […]
As I write this blog, I sit in my favorite coffee-shop. Not in my usual spot—instead I’m tucked away on one of the older benches, facing the bar counter. Right before me hangs a pair of chalkboards that tells of the charitable organizations this shop gives its tips to. I read the countries on one: […]
Living with discomfort is…well, uncomfortable. People often take great steps to avoid it. We step out of awkward situations, avoid difficult conversations, and bow out of tough social events. Parents do their best to keep their children from experiencing hurt, disappointment, and the sting of failure. Coworkers cover for each other. Friends hide grievances behind […]
It can be all too easy to label ourselves as damaged goods. From things we’ve done or that have been done to us, many Christians or people considering giving their lives to Jesus stand on the slippery precipice of shame, a foot in the kingdom and another on the ice, their souls just one aching […]
My experience growing up in the faith was both an incredible privilege and a source of unique challenges. I certainly had plenty of great, godly people to look up to in my formative years! But from a very young age I remember feeling confused, uncertain, and a little let down that I couldn’t seem to […]
As a kid, I remember going to a lot of Christian conferences where huge emphasis was placed on Praise and Worship sessions. To my young, hyperactive mind, they seemed to go on for hours! But I didn’t mind; I loved the high-energy dancing with my friends and singing at the top of my lungs in […]