Imago Dei and pronouns
The Imago Dei is a mystery. How is it that we, made of dust, bear the image of God, the imprint of the divine? A mystery we can embrace but not fully explain, theologians have [...]
Darkness that lets us see the light
Part of me did not want to go to church. Another part of me longed for it, in a shaky, hungry sort of way. The hunger won out. At The Practice, the gathering we attend [...]
Disappointment with God: A Lenten Lament
I didn’t expect to usher in Lent feeling angry at God, but that’s how it went down. On Shrove Tuesday, my fervent prayers for a dear friend that I love and walk beside went unanswered. [...]
Be encouraged
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing--The Apostle Paul, in his letter to believers. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) My mother and I, in a flash of ambition, sort through [...]
Do not be afraid…
“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid.” ---Frederick Buechner, Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith In the Bible, the command repeated most frequently is “Fear not.” [...]
Fragile foster kids find a home
Where do the kids who no one wants go? How do foster kids who are "difficult to place" because of their medical challenges find a home? Sometimes, the story of a family captures your imagination [...]
Wise as serpents, harmless as doves?
Among the panicked Scripture quotes I’m seeing this week in response to the escalating refugee crisis, I’m noticing a lot of this one lately: “be wise as serpents, gentle as doves.” They apply this by [...]
Finding the path
We run downhill on a single track through a lush Midwestern woods, sunlight and green rushing past. Our feet staccato over roots and stones, undergrowth brushing our legs as we fly. I let out a [...]
What the Bible really says about women: Can women preach?
First in an occasional series. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on [...]
Xenophobia and philoxenia (or, what is biblical hospitality?)
A common critique put on 21st Century Christians is that they are better known for what they are against, than what they are for. I don't think this is true of all Christians--but the criticism [...]