we have a lovely group at the refuge called “advocates”. we started a few years ago and meet monthly for training-learning-practicing some of the issues related to journeying with people in hard places. we also have a smaller extension of advocates that meets more intentionally once a month to share the load together at the […]
Read Morethis is what love looks like here
one of the things i have always tried to honor at the carnival (and facebook) is never exploiting my friends’ stories. it is hard sometimes because i want to share some of the wild & beautiful & hard & ugly & hopeful & hopeless moments that i experience each week with the people i intersect […]
Read Morebeing known for love
“they will know we are christians by our love, by our love. they will know we are christians by our love.” – peter scholtes when we started the refuge 4 1/2 years ago we said that we never wanted people to come to the refuge for the “great teaching, worship, or kids program.” i am […]
Read Moremrs. claus reminds us to "feel your boobies"
thanks, everyone, for the love & prayers. it did cheer me up. unfortunately i do have a ruptured disc & am now in the process of figuring out what to do next. i have a surgery consult but meanwhile am going to keep working at physical therapy & some other alternatives to surgery and see […]
Read Moreparadox
“ a paradox is something that appears to be a contradiction, but from another perspective is not a contradiction at all. you and i are living paradoxes, and therefore must be prepared to see ourselves in all our reality. if you can hold and forgive the contradictions within yourself, you can normally do it everywhere […]
Read Moresmall is plenty
i’ve been off line for the past few weeks getting my kids off to a new school year & taking a break from thinking about the blog. it’s nice to have 8am-3pm back every day after 3 long wacky months getting my oldest out to college & enjoying summer with my other 4. i hope […]
Read Moregender equality is so pretty
* this is a post i wrote a while back for christine sine’s summer blog series about the kingdom now & how people are seeing it up-close-and-personal. i thought i’d share it here, too. it’s short & sweet & when i re-read it today it reminded me of how thankful i am for my brothers […]
Read Morecodependence, independence, interdependence
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 Moresomebody's daughter, somebody's son
hello my dear-friends-from-afar, this is the longest time i have had between posts without trying to take a break since i started the carnival. because this gap was unintentional, it has felt a little weird. but it has also been a good reminder that i am glad i have stayed dedicated to only writing when […]
Read Morethe gravitational pull toward margin
a few months ago a dear friend called me and asked me if i knew of any bible study material for poor single moms who needed an infusion of hope (she works for a ministry that provides practical help for them). i racked my brain for any material that was designed specifically for that demographic […]
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