From dust you were made; to dust you shall return... I was not ready for what happened next.... Standing before me was my own child.
On Ash Wednesday, as a clergy-parent
The Fallacy of Patriotic Worship
Worship is a sacred time, when we come together in the name of God, to proclaim the Word, to fellowship, to pray. It is when we remember our call to be people of peace, looking to the model of the Prince of Peace. It is when we gather around the Table to remember a Christ who engaged in nonviolence even when his life was threatened… even as he was executed by an occupying political regime. I prefer not to focus worship on secular holidays as a rule (see also: Mother’s Day and Father’s Day) for this reason; they tend to detract from worship of God and place our trust in humanity instead. I am a Christian because of the goodness of God, not the fallibility of humanity.
Faith at Home, Part 3: Choosing a Bible for Kids
In this Faith at Home series, I will be sharing some of the ways Jonathan and I have intentionally parented our kids (currently ages 7, 9, and 11) in a way that centers our Christian faith and faith-based values. My philosophy of pastoring and parenting is “That church would be an integral part of the... Continue Reading →
Faith at Home, Part 2: The B-I-B-L-E!
In this Faith at Home series, I will be sharing some of the ways Jonathan and I have intentionally parented our kids (currently ages 7, 9, and 11) in a way that centers our Christian faith and faith-based values. My philosophy of pastoring and parenting is “That church would be an integral part of the... Continue Reading →
Faith at Home, Part 1: Talking about Worship
In this Faith at Home series, I will be sharing some of the ways Jonathan and I have intentionally parented our kids (currently ages 7, 9, and 11) in a way that centers our Christian faith and faith-based values. My philosophy of pastoring and parenting is “That church would be an integral part of the... Continue Reading →
Joanna’s Story
It’s early in the morning. Still dark. The alarm goes off - she tiptoes around the house, gathering her things, so as to not wake the men and children. She pours a cup of coffee, leans against the counter, and closes her eyes, one last time as she prepares herself to face the day. ... Continue Reading →
Decoding Discrimination (or: How to Discover What Your Church Really Believes)
I’ve spent my life in church. I’m a bit of a church nerd, actually. I love business meetings and conferences; ecclesiastical conversations are my FAVORITE conversations; and, well, I use words like “ecclesiastical” on a regular basis (ecclesiastical = churchy stuff). I care deeply about church — and I care deeply about churches being honest.... Continue Reading →
Beth Moore & Benevolent Sexism
I’ve never been a huge fan of Beth Moore. The reasons for this shifted as my faith and theology did, but I’ve always found a reason to be skeptical of her. Most recently, she had fallen off my radar, as my list of followed theologians grew beyond common evangelical household names. Until today, when Beth... Continue Reading →
Junia was the first person in the Bible who lied to me. Well, to be fair, it wasn't really Junia who lied to me; it was the other people who lied to conceal her from me. I had been struggling with the issue of women in ministry for years. I come from a background that not only doesn't... Continue Reading →
In fear, but also in hope: On Ash Wednesday and going to war
There's something powerful about Ash Wednesday being the week you send your husband off to war. Again. He was supposed to have been gone already - I thought the service would be my first time at church without him. Instead, it was our last time at church together before he left. As I faced the... Continue Reading →
