Engage
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How to View Work as Worship—Not a Curse
Work in any culture is…well, work. Sometimes enjoyable. Often hard and exhausting. Sometimes challenging because of the people with whom you work rather than the work itself. That can apply to any kind of work—inside or outside of your home. When you are working with your God-given skills, all work can be an act of worship. This article will illustrate that truth for you. Not knowing that truth makes you susceptible to the “Work Is Secular” infection. Listen to the podcast “Counter the Work Is Secular Infection.” The Subtle Spread of the “Work Is Secular” Infection What do I mean by that? Somewhere along the way between the time of…
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On the Trinity and Gender Hierarchy
Referencing the work of William Witt in Icons of Christ against such thinking, one of my students noted that some complementarians continue to argue that male-over-female hierarchy is rooted in the Trinity. But Witt argues that the fundamental issue of God’s nature is more important than anthropology (the study of humans). So, this student asked for clarification from Ver-lee Cheneweth, my teaching assistant who has made the Trinity and gender a subject of deep research. Here is Ver-lee’s response: First, in Classical Trinitarianism there is no hierarchy in the Godhead. Second, we must not pattern male/female relationships after the interrelations of the members of the Godhead. Why? Because the Creator is greater than creation.…
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Tell the Next Generation About the Lord
“You’re the writer. Take this,” my siblings said as we cleaned, sorted, and emptied my parents’ home after they both passed away. Everything that appeared to document their lives, ministry, and testimonies was stuffed into an overflowing box and handed to me. For three years the box sat in my office closet. My husband, the one who loves to take out the garbage, queried, “What are you going to do with it? You know someone’s just going to throw it away someday.” Despite that reality (which I accept), I finally opened the contents of my parents’ lives and dove in. I categorized and read, scanned and discarded. Ray Dubert’s baby…
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2023–Annus Mirabilis or Horribilis? How God can make a way, even through the valley of death
As we reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023, what meaning are we teasing out of the year behind? And how does that shape our expectations for the year ahead? 2022 has been a tale of two cities for us—”the best of times and the worst of times.” Annus mirabilis–Helping a new friend recover her trust in Jesus. One of our best-ever Women’s Bible studies (thank you Kristi McLelland). A new walk-in shower with a bench. Absolute bucket list moments—circling the DC tidal basin in cherry blossom prime time, celebrating Jack’s retirement in the shadow of Florence’s breathtaking Duomo, worshipping in wonder in Gaudi’s astonishing Sagrada Familia basilica in…
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A Word for 2023
As I’ve done since 2014, I began 2023 by asking God to give me a word and a verse for the year. It was a new concept to me then. This is the definition I found: “One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.” What in me needs work? Where do I need to focus spiritually? What is God working on in my heart and life? As a Christian I open my heart to listen well to God’s voice. Perhaps you would benefit as I do from asking God to show…
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Renewed vows to my kids.
Please Welcome the words of my dear friend, Laney Wooten. Laney lives outside of Longview, Texas. She is wife to Jon and Mom to six energetic children, with a mosaic of special needs and talents. Her beautiful words are encouraging and full of promise for a bright, blessed year in this journey of parenting. Well, I’m about 15 years in to this mothering thing and I’ll admit, I’m getting burned out. I know I’m not the only one either. You, like me, probably feel like you’ve just loaded the billionth pile of laundry fully aware that you’ll see it right back in the same place tomorrow. Maybe you’re stuck in…
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Ask, Seek, and Knock
“Name it, claim it!”, “Just believe!”, “Ask for whatever you want!”, “I want these circumstances to change!”, “You don’t have because you didn’t ask or have enough faith!”. These phrases circulate through our culture. Some of these phrases can seem to be supported by Scripture. But if we look closer, we can see the fallacy these phrases propose. You may or may not have fallen into the trap of asking God for whatever you wanted to make your life easier. Or maybe you have asked for things but the answer was “no” which left you angry with God, disappointed in God, or confused about God. Maybe you have doubted…
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Luke 2:14—Peace on Earth to Those with Whom God Is Pleased
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Those are the words the collection of angels declared to a band of shepherds. Their words filled the night sky right after an angel of the Lord announced to those shepherds about the birth of Jesus who was “the Savior…Christ the Lord.” The Grand Birth Announcement Listen carefully An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior…
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Trusting God in the Bizarre
I have tongue cancer. Bizarre, right? I’m not male, nor do I engage in the particularly bad combination of both smoking and drinking, which are the big markers for this nasty invasion. In two weeks I am scheduled for surgery to remove the cancer by cutting out a big chunk of my tongue—which is a particular challenge and sadness for a professional speaker. One of the things I have discovered is that, even without any drugs, the weight of this diagnosis and the upcoming difficult surgery and recovery has consumed a lot of my mental and emotional energy. Everything in my life has taken a back seat to this crisis.…
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Christmas Is God Saying “I Love You”
She’s an independent small town business woman jaded by past relationships. He’s an engaged, rich guy from a big corporation trying to take over her struggling enterprise. They meet two days before Christmas. He’s impressed, her heart melts, a miracle happens, and they kiss under the mistletoe. This common trope of sentimental love promoted on every channel and streamed into homes worldwide is not at all the love of Christmas that Scripture describes: This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 Christmas is God saying, “I love you. I’ve…
