…on the Alaska Air flight from Los Angeles to Spokane with the screaming infant sitting behind him? He would twist uncomfortably around to draw near to the screaming; he would shove his hand between the seats, and wiggle his fingers at the infant while making strange noises; he would somehow appease the overtired, congested baby… Continue reading W.W.J.D…
Author: erika
Priorities
At our Servant Partners staff meeting yesterday, we spent some time discussing how community organizing and church-planting can relate to one another. We talked about a holistic view of people and salvation; we talked about redemption that is both physical and spiritual; we shared stories about how our work in community organizing in urban poor… Continue reading Priorities
Can I have a witness?
I just enjoyed a few rare daytime minutes alone with my husband (thanks Lauren!) out in Pasadena. As we were walking past the Fuller Seminary student parking lot, Doug made a comment about the collection of hulking SUV’s, the smattering of luxury vehicles, and the presence of lots of shiny, new, good-looking cars. (Are we… Continue reading Can I have a witness?
The apprentice
This past weekend Doug was busy preparing our worship service for Sunday, in the midst of cooking breakfast for his family and playing with his kids. At one point, he set his guitar down in the dining room, propped up against one of the chairs. A few minutes later Mercy trotted over to her instrument… Continue reading The apprentice
Encoding
Scot McKnight is doing a series of posts on Psalm 119. His comments today reminded me of what a mystery it is for us to come to a place of “understanding” when it comes to scripture and the things of God. Doug and I have good friends, John and Ann Goldingay, who often entertain students… Continue reading Encoding
“Truly worthy?”
Doug and I found ourselves sitting in our living room yesterday afternoon with some good friends from our church. They are a couple that has been on a journey of healing and restoration in both spiritual and very tangible physical ways. Since we have known them, there have been maybe a handful of times where… Continue reading “Truly worthy?”
Quotation of the Week
I went in there wondering if Bono was a Christian, and I came out wondering if I was. Overheard at a Willow Creek pastor’s conference session featuring a video presentation of a discussion between Bill Hybels and Bono. From the November 13th Newsweek, “An Evangelical Identity Crisis” (I realized I did not provide a link… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
How do we deal with Cinderellas in church planting?
One thing I have learned about parenthood is this: you have to pick your battles. When you have a baby, you likely have in your mind a set of ideals for how you, and your child, will relate to one another and to the world. Then you discover that your child is human. And you… Continue reading How do we deal with Cinderellas in church planting?
There’s no crying in church planting
A couple of things have provoked me this past week to think about church-planting and being a “missional” church, both in my particular situation here in L.A., as well as in a more general context. There is much discussion, some good books, and a few quality blogs that tackle the question of what it means… Continue reading There’s no crying in church planting
Sweet dreams
Mercy is very much at that age where she like to role-play things with her toys that are familiar parts of her life. Specifically, she is obsessed with her toys going “night night.” My theory is that, since this is an area in her life where she has little control (and would have things happen… Continue reading Sweet dreams