Mission Backpack
My daughter and I were trolling the aisles of our favorite discount store today, on a mission to find a gift for my darling husband, who turns 45 today. He's not easy to shop for! [...]
An empty, but clean, nest
My husband called me at about 6:40 pm. "Is it okay if my small group meets at our house tonight?" he asked. "Sure," I said. "What time?" "Seven," he said. I realized that "is it okay?" [...]
Rest blog tour
A number of bloggers have recently posted reviews of my book Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity. Most have been very positive, which I appreciate. A few were honest about what they didn't like about the [...]
A Sanctuary in Time
There are certain places that feel sacred to me—the chapel where I was married, the lake at sunset, my garden when everything is in bloom. God made us so intricately. When we come into a [...]
Holy Listening
I got a call last week from my dear friend Beth, who happened to be in town. She asked if we could have lunch. I eagerly agreed. Beth's parents are my age, and good friends of [...]
What are you waiting for?
What does it mean to “wait”? The Bible says “wait on the Lord.” Right now, I am listening to the wind hum through the window sashes, making a sound like a pitch pipe. I am waiting [...]
Soul gardening
This week is spring break—and while some of our friends are traveling to warmer climes, we’re at home, running errands in the rain. As much as I wish I were someplace warm, I love [...]
Evangelical atheism?
My friend and fellow writer Karen Mains' latest newsletter is up, and it's another good one. She's reviewing Gary Haugen's latest book, Just Courage, and looking at how our outward professions of faith don't always [...]
Reading the Bible in Community
On Wednesday I will be teaching a class on "How to use the Bible devotionally in small groups"--part of a series for a class at Willow Creek, my home church. I'll be talking about listening [...]
Can I quote you on that?
I love finding great quotes—thought provoking, interesting nuggets, wise and concise. I’ll often underline and flag them in books, or just find them in random spots—perhaps even in collections of quotations. Lately, I’ve been [...]