jose and i just got back from portland. we went to hang out for the weekend with our friends deborah & ken loyd. oh, it was good for my soul. i was encouraged. reminded that this is work worth doing. challenged. humbled. these guys are the real deal and we left feeling more loved, less lonely, which […]
Read More12.3.07 – from the refuge blog…the magi: pagans who see God
it’s 4 weeks until christmas. hard to believe. i know it’s a really sucky time of year for a lot of people. the darkness sets in, depression about money, relationships, life stuff, and the reality of how hard it is to pull off this life somehow becomes more apparent. for me, the holidays usually just […]
Read More9.25.07 from the refuge blog…we're in good company
when you think of mother teresa, what words come to mind? for me, i think of “poured out, deeply connected to God, amazingly humble, willing heart, in love with Jesus, filled up. sacrificial love” among many others. i am pretty sure “doubter of God”, “overwhelmed with emptiness”, or “tired of never getting His help the […]
Read More9.3.07 from the refuge blog…fabio jesus
i hate to pick on fabio, but honestly, I do not know what his appeal is. he’s just so….perfect. those abs, the flowing hair, the perfect smile, those penetrating eyes. if you could can the world’s view of “perfect specimen” of course he would be it. (i will admit i do have a weakness for […]
Read More7.7.07 from the refuge blog…no girl pastors allowed
a few days ago i got sucker punched for having ovaries, if you can believe that. i was in atlanta at the big christian retailers conference to launch a book that I co-authored that is just being released. it is a women’s bible study/journaling tool in a magazine format and it’s pretty cool. check it […]
Read More6.19.07 from the refuge blog….Can Church Really Be Church if We Don't Listen to Someone Talk?
Well in typical Refuge style we tried something a little out of the ordinary this past Sunday and at first glance it felt like a disaster. I realize, yet again, how foreign it is to not have the safety of a sanctuary with padded chairs, a perfectly timed worship set and a 30 minute inspirational […]
Read More5.15.07 from the refuge blog…Downward Mobility
Well it’s official I am over the hill! 40 years old. I know those of you who have already hit this mark don’t have a lick of sympathy for me. My favorite card this year was made by my son Josh, who’s 15. Here’s what he made up: Roses are red, violets are blue You […]
Read More4.3.07 from the refuge blog…Reflex
“Where’s Jared? You brought him home, right?” We had been home about 20 minutes from a team basketball party at a restaurant and were mindlessly sitting in the living room watching the end of American Idol when Jose looks up from his computer and asks again, “You brought him home, right?” I immediately leaped out […]
Read More3.19.07 from xgcw….get over it
i had someone tell me last week that i needed to “get over it.” i need to get over my hurt and pain related to the white, suburban evangelical megachurch and move on. i read the words several times and wanted to scream and shout at the top of my lungs “don’t you think i […]
Read More2.27.07 from the refuge…The Carnival
I am tired of the carnival in my head. I cannot take credit for this thought, my good friend John Nunez tossed it out there in a wacky conversation and the idea has lingered. I guess I latched on to it because it’s so….me. Most days there’s a carnival going on in my head. Let […]
Read More