May all of your expectations be frustrated, May all of your plans be thwarted, May all of your desires be withered into nothingness, That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child And can sing and dance in the love of God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Benediction by Brennan… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
Category: Faith
A reminder
Last night we gathered at the tutoring center for our evening session together after a long day of painting houses and loving kids. Our pastor had invited members of our youth group to join us for the evening, and after he introduced them all, he invited them to answer some questions and share a bit… Continue reading A reminder
Inspiration
I received this email yesterday morning, and it moved me so very deeply: Erika, Your blog post today was wonderful. And I’ve been toying with an idea that I hope you can help me with – OR maybe you can direct me to someone else that can help me. I’ve been trying to be a… Continue reading Inspiration
Always with us
In discussions regarding economics, poverty and the like, people will call upon the words of Jesus that proclaim that the poor will always be among us. Many people have a sense that, well, inequality is just a result of the nature and function of social and economic systems, and they are certainly right. I have… Continue reading Always with us
Quotation of the Week
Not too long ago, those of us at the Simple Way were about to speak to a congregation. The person doing the introduction said, “These folks are a voice for the voiceless.” And something inside me hurt. I gently corrected them. Everyone has a voice. I know many amazing people who have used the old… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
Blessed are the feet
Today was our second day standing outside of Mack Elementary School handing out fliers and registering kids for the sports and art camps we are sponsoring next week. Although I didn’t have my two kids with me today (though they were awfully cute recruiters in their balloon-covered stroller yesterday), we still made for a surprising… Continue reading Blessed are the feet
My way
This afternoon I went inside a little party supply shop down the street. I needed to purchase a dozen balloons for our recruitment today at the local grade school for the summer camps that next week’s Vacation to L.A. team will host. As I walked up and down the two cramped aisles of the tiny… Continue reading My way
Vacation with a purpose
Next Sunday, a group of children, youth and adults will come to our neighborhood to live in our homes for the week, paint the home of one of our church members and help prepare our tutoring center for a busy summer of ministry, and lead sports and art camps for children in our community. This… Continue reading Vacation with a purpose
A day of rest
Tomorrow a friend and co-worker has offered to come over for a few hours to take care of the kids, not so that I can go to a doctor’s appointment or do work but so that I can have some personal time for prayer, reflection and rest. Even writing the last words of that sentence… Continue reading A day of rest
Backyards and washing machines
When Doug and I moved here, we brought with us the nice washer and dryer that I had bought during my single in Portland days. Having done the laundromat/quarters-in-the-basement thing for years, I had really come to appreciate having my own laundry facilities. The first year that we lived here, I can remember various people… Continue reading Backyards and washing machines