As I write this, it has been nearly 9 years since that season spent in the refining fire of fear. Throughout that season—and even at various times in the years that have followed—I sought to understand the source of the fear. Was it something sent by God? Did it originate physically in my body—the result…
It’s a cold winter morning; Christmas has come and goneAnd I find myself in the stillness of a time without papers, exams, or readingsIn the stillness and solitude of my bedroom, I settle crosslegged in the center of my bedMy parched soul thirsty for time and space to reflect, to breathe, and to be with…
In my last full day in Israel this past summer, I made my way out into the city on my own for the first time. In the heat of the day I felt the sweat beginning to drip off my face as I made my way around Mount Zion to the southern side of the…
Particularly when it comes to the issue of suffering, one of the great obstacles of the Christian life is disillusionment; we enter into this life with God with great expectation and excitement, buying into the myth that the Christian life is a life of ease—a “rainbows and puppy dogs” kind of life. So when suffering…
Some of the most challenging and beautiful moments in my life have been the times when God has allowed me the honor and privilege of sitting with one of His children who walking through a valley season. These moments are beautiful because I believe that when we are invited into the pain and brokenness of…
There has been an interesting shift in my understanding of suffering over the course of the past year. It is a shift that is downright offensive to my sensibilities and human nature, and I have fought against it for much of my life. I’ve come to understand that pain and suffering can be a gift;…
The other day, I did a quick search for “news” on Google, and that simple search yielded disheartening results; more controversies regarding candidates for the U.S. presidential election, a failed mission to rescue hostages in Afghanistan, a policeman stabbed in France, and a shooting at a High School in Texas. It seems like the news…
Around this time, 7 long years ago, I was packing up my childhood room and counting down the days until I got to move out of my parents’ home and into the college dorms. That day feels like a lifetime ago, but I can still recall the excitement and anticipation that I felt (in fact,…
Broken. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines “Broken” as: Violently separated into parts Damaged or altered by breaking Made weak or infirm Cut off Not complete or full Admittedly, none of these definitions sound particularly comforting or attractive, and I think we could all agree that they are not exactly things that we would want to have…
Earlier this week I proposed a challenge to the women in my small group; find a Bible verse containing a truth, promise, or command, and spend some time meditating on how your life would be different if you actually lived like that verse was true. I challenged them to come up with practical ways that…
Paramutheomai 