This past weekend, I was thrilled to receive a bulky envelope from a good friend up north. Inside were two smaller envelopes: one held a stack of Kroger grocery store gift cards in varied amounts, and the other held a single gift card with a note and scripture verse attached. These were sent to us… Continue reading Inspired again
Quotation of the Week
In the churches that I have been to, we sing well, the Bible is read, and Jesus is referenced, and we pray. And then there is the sermon, which is well crafted, and is creative and effectively presented. This message calls me to do something, to behave in way that is better than my current… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
My 30 live-in nannies
Yesterday Doug and I went to our OB, and I was really hoping that she would tell us that my bed-rest restriction was over and I could resume some level of activity. That was not the news we received. Instead, we came home with two more weeks, minimum, of continued bed-rest prescribed. We also asked… Continue reading My 30 live-in nannies
Aaron the Contrarian
When Doug and I got married, my pastor made some reference in our wedding ceremony to Doug as someone “who never met an argument he didn’t like” or something to that effect. It is looking as if Aaron might be heading down a similar path… A while ago, I made the decision that the word… Continue reading Aaron the Contrarian
Come let us worship
“The First Testament does not assume that human beings in general, or the people of God in particular, know by intuition how to worship, or that they bring to God the best they can devise or the expressions that form in their own hearts. God lays down what counts as proper worship.” (From John Goldingay’s… Continue reading Come let us worship
Surprised
As I find myself once again in a position of requiring a lot of help from a lot of different people, I was struck by something the other day. I realized that, when tragedy or hardship strikes, there are those you assume will be the first to be by your side; those who will most… Continue reading Surprised
Quotation of the Week
“The exodus does not take Israel from serfdom to the freedom of independence but from service of one lord to service of another…The way Exodus talks of freedom—or rather, fails to do so—confronts Western preoccupation with freedom. Freedom in Scripture is the freedom to serve Yhwh.” From John Goldingay’s Old Testament Theology Volume One (Via… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
My daughter the surgeon
There are few things I can do right now with my kids that are doctor-approved. One thing I have taken to doing is lying down in Mercy’s bed with her when it is time for her afternoon nap. Clearly a bed-rest approved activity! Yesterday I cuddled up with her in her bed with all the… Continue reading My daughter the surgeon
Spaghetti and tithing
Being on bed-rest carries significant challenges for me and for my family. Thankfully, we are a part of a community of people who know well how to care for and serve one another. In two days, I can already testify to the willingness of many to make serious sacrifices for our sakes, and as frustrating… Continue reading Spaghetti and tithing
Welcome
One of the things Doug and I noticed on our drive from Spokane to Los Angeles was the remarkable civility and warmth we experienced in Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Living in a big city, and maybe especially a place like L.A., there is this shell or crust (or spikes, even) that develops between people:… Continue reading Welcome