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Created for the Garden, Living in the Desert
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis Relational heartache, loneliness, despair over injustice and righteous anger are all familiar emotions for most of us. Personal disappointments frequently lead to honest disappointment with God as well. We are confused. Our understanding is limited by a bias gleaned from painful past experiences as well as the chaos of modern life. God’s design revealed in Genesis gives us understanding of God’s true heart and allows us to unravel our present condition. God prepares a luxurious garden, generously providing for every need; the provision of…
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Life Interrupted: Lessons from a Teen Pregnancy
Mary’s story has always fascinated me, but never more-so than a few years ago in a darkened theater. I went to the movies with a friend, and we watched as a young woman portrayed the confused teen who found favor with God. My own life had been freshly interrupted by God. Mary’s confusion echoed my heart’s response. The friend sitting next to me gasped as she saw Mary’s surrender: “Oh God. I can’t believe she said yes.” That’s the rub. A young Jewish girl agreed to have her life forever altered to be part of God’s purposed story. The account we read in Luke is short and yet so much…
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Christ Has Died. Christ Is Risen. Christ Will Come Again.
Christ Has Died. Christ Has Risen. Christ Will Come Again. These are the words I repeat with our community of Christ-followers each time we gather to observe communion. They have come to mean something endearing to me, more than ritual recitation. They echo what has happened, and they speak to what will happen. This Thursday my mind dwells on the last supper our Lord had with His disciples and the events that took place Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so long ago. I grew up hearing the stories of faith from my family and another community of believers. Friday morning coffee brought the story of Jesus’ suffering. How He’d been…
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Even You Need Rest
Hey, friend. When did you last take time for soul care? I know. It’s not a vacation-guilt-trip we’re after here. But summer is almost over. The ministry year is planned. (Or, maybe you’re really stressed because it’s not!) As one who’s learned the value of taking care of my own soul (and paid the price for not doing it), let me encourage you to get out your calendar & find time. Make time. Cancel something if necessary. We can’t afford not to. Ruth Haley Barton spoke to a group of leaders in my area a few years ago from her book Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership. A friend…
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Pure and Undefiled, Not Perfect
I got to hang out with a precious friend this week, and this time was different from every other time we’ve gotten together. This time she brought a friend with her, a child almost two years old.
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Missing the Whole Story
I’ve loved stories all my life—probably one of the reasons the gospel narratives and Jesus’ parables are some of my favorites. And these days I find myself story-telling a lot. Clarifying truth in stories is important to me, and they provide a wonderful teaching tool almost daily with my kids.
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Believing the Impossible
This has been a week for believing the impossible. A Republican in the Massachusetts Senate seat. The New Orleans Saints playing for the NFC Championship. For many years the measure of “impossibility” in my circles has been “When the Saints win the Super Bowl….” We’ve said it with a chuckle in our voice, and perhaps a twinkle of hope in our hearts. But believing it’s possible? Well, that’s altogether different.
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Great Expectation
The “Night Before Christmas” is officially here. And, for my four-year-old, tomorrow morning will finally be different from the last twenty mornings or so. Every day for the last several weeks, she has bounded down the stairs and made a beeline for the stocking hung from our mantle. Every morning, she exclaims, “It’s empty!” We’ve been amused, and somewhat heart-touched, at her daily expectation and every morning greet her with “It’s not Christmas yet!”
