the #1 word that i use at the refuge (other than nutty, messy, wild and beautiful) is relationship. to me, when Jesus summed up the law and said it’s about loving God, others, ourselves that he was basically saying “it’s about relationship, people.” it’s not about stuff or knowledge or words–it’s about love. i also […]
Read Moreloss.
“every time there are losses there are choices to make. you choose to live your losses as passages to anger, blame, hatred, depression, and resentment, or you choose to let these losses be passages to something new, something wider, something deeper…” – henri nouwen * * * * * i came across this nouwen […]
Read Morechurch refugees part 3 – "spiritual practices"
last one! phyllis and i had fun sitting at my kitchen counter yacking away about a topic that unfortunately we know far too much about–church refugees. good, amazing people who for all kinds of reasons have “left” church. if you are just now reading, check out part 1 and part 2. i know there are […]
Read Morechurch refugees part 2: "life outside the bubble" – a video conversation
this is the second part of a 3-part-conversation i had with my friend phyllis mathis, who is a therapist-life-coach-church-refugee. if you haven’t watched the first video, check it out here. i really appreciated the comments & especially loved this quote about the real church attributed to tullian tchividjian (thanks sam & doug): “if we’re the […]
Read Moretrust
a few weeks ago–in a small spiritual formation group i participate in now and then–the facilitator started our time together by having each of us pull out one of these cards and reflect up on it for a while. i’ve used these cards before in groups, and i must say it’s amazing what always seems […]
Read Moresigns of hope: grief is weird
* this is part of an easter season series called signs of hope, real stories of people seeing hope & resurrection in the midst of the pain and struggle of real life. * * * * * grief is weird. the loss of those close to us can stir up all kinds of hard things […]
Read Moresigns of hope: staying in instead of running away
in this season of easter i have been posting a few interviews with friends, some “signs of hope”, little slivers of resurrection in the midst of real life. the first two were: emerging from the darkness of sexual abuse and the bumpy road of sobriety. i am a little behind but will try to […]
Read Moreactually, the grass is greener
i wrote this post last week but in all of the hubub of jose & i’s crazy trip to kuwait & bahrain never posted it. sometimes that happens–the moment comes and goes and now as i go to hit “publish” i wonder if i should. but after my quick trip to the middle east i […]
Read Moresigns of hope: emerging from the darkness of sexual abuse
this is part of an easter series here at the carnival, celebrating signs of hope–real stories from my friends, signs that out of death and darkness, hope and new life are emerging. * * * * * abuse really pisses me off. any form of it–emotional, physical, verbal, sexual–is so damaging. and more pervasive than […]
Read Moresigns of hope: the bumpy road of sobriety
during this season of easter, i am going to share a few of my friends stories of hope in the midst of the real life. these might not seem too exciting to the un-trained eye, because they aren’t stories of complete and total 100% rock solid true blue victory over the darkness and struggle. i […]
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