15: 5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make…
Tag: love
Locking Eyes with Grace
John 8 recounts a time when Jesus was interrupted by a group of Pharisees as he taught in the temple. They had a woman who was caught in the act of adultery, and according to the law of Moses, she should be stoned to death. Also, according to this law, they needed two witnesses (v….
If you say so Jesus
Luke 5:1-11. Jesus told Simon to put his nets down into the deep water. And, Peter’s response was a reluctant one. “Master, we have worked all night long, but we have caught nothing.” Um, Jesus. I just did that. You actually saw me cleaning up my empty nets before you borrowed my boat. But, after…
Evangelism for Introverts: Isaiah 55 and Walmart
Isaiah 55 has been somewhat of a war cry for me this year. I love when the deep mystery of faith reveals itself in practical ways–when I see played out in vivid reality that His ways are higher than mine. Usually I’m not so much of a girl person. Or a crowd person. But, this…
Ken, Doris, and Defiant Faith
So, asking for a friend. What do you do when you have a nervous breakdown in the middle of praise and worship? What do you do when you want to stop crying, but, for the love of God, all you can do is see your soon to graduate sons running towards you as toddlers, as…
This one’s for the grocery store lady
There I was, standing in line at the deli, waiting to order a sub after church. My sons and I were having an intense theological conversation : “No, you may not have a motorcycle.” “But, I will be 18 soon.” The woman in front of us turned and said “Your mom is right. You don’t…
Mercy, Target, and Back to School….
If anyone wants to have a taste of Hades, just go to Target during the back to school sale.There is no fire or brimstone, but there are people acting like all of life depends on getting the .50 pack of crayons for their baby. I almost got ran over by a woman pushing a shopping…
Hokey Pokey
When I was in junior high, my mom thought it best to put me in roller skates and push me out into the middle of a rink. I was shy. An introvert. And, I needed to be coaxed out of my shell. What better way to do that than to throw a party and have…
Ugly crying and the desert of doubt
There’s a lonely place devoid of spiritual awakening. A barren place of my own undoing. And I know I’m not alone in acknowledging the desert. It’s just that a lot of Christians don’t want to stare that reality down. Last week I had to sit in a doctor’s office and hear results from an MRI…
Religious Crust and the Walking Dead
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5 I remember the day I fake gave my life to Christ. I was at a church camp and the speaker was really loud and seemed to specialize in how awful hell was. I was a fornicator….
A Girl and Her God 