Doug and I have been watching the six-hour BBC production of Pride and Prejudice (courtesy of Doug’s sister) in bits and pieces during this past week. As we drove to the little coastal town of Garibaldi yesterday afternoon, Doug made the comment that watching this film has made him realize how much has been lost… Continue reading Whitewashed
Category: Church
Eyebrows
I just finished our nighttime ritual of songs in our big bed before putting Mercy down to sleep in her room. As we were lying next to each other, Mercy reached out and began to trace her finger over my eyebrows. It was yesterday that she discovered eyebrows, apparently for the first time. It was… Continue reading Eyebrows
Quotation of the Week
“What are you doing to get word out about your church?” I hate this question. “How big is your church? ” I hate that question even more. One reason (amongst many) why I never wanted to pastor was I’m just not someone who is a “Church Pimp” – selling my church like its better than… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
What missional looks like
I read a great post by Don Johnson recently about service in the local church. He contrasted the “ivory tower” of ideals and innovations with the simple and seemingly unimpressive quiet faithfulness of local churches everywhere. As a minister who is certainly in a church context that presses the boundaries of normal, a church context… Continue reading What missional looks like
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?
“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?”
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
And a little child shall lead them…
I was sitting in the back row at our worship service this morning when a kid from our congregation came and set down next to me. I asked him how he was doing and he kind of shrugged and said, “Okay.” I said, “Just okay?” and he said with a long face: “Yeah.” Well, my… Continue reading And a little child shall lead them…