Why you need play as a spiritual practice
"Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly." (Jesus, in Matthew 11:30) Sunday, I sat on [...]
Why the life of faith needs questions
Sometimes, I find that the life of faith has more questions than answers. Questions about the Bible and what it means, and how to live out our faith. Questions about how we treat people if [...]
Three Bible Words That Might Surprise You
Taking time each day to read the Bible can help us grow spiritually, and experience God’s love. Truth? I am sometimes tempted to skip this spiritual practice or hurry through it, because I think I've [...]
What is “biblical femininity”?
There are few phrases that can stir up argument as readily as "biblical womanhood" or "biblical manhood." Patriarchists particularly have used those words to define roles within hierarchy--telling women that the bible restricts their participation [...]
How to get more out of reading the Bible
When we're really familiar with the Bible, it can seem a bit dry, or overly familiar. We miss out on a chance to encounter God. Two practices can help us: slowing down, and digging deeper. [...]
Running toward freedom
Where does a mom go, when she finally gets the courage to leave an abusive marriage? When that woman has finally had enough, and gathers her courage and few of her possessions and flees, where [...]
Taking it to the streets on Good Friday
Most Good Fridays, I go to my suburban church where I watch a service that is beautiful, moving, tear-jerking at times. It has been planned out for months, every note of music carefully scripted, every video [...]
Opening the gift of the present
What do you think of when you hear the words, "fully present"? Present means to be here. When you were in school, maybe your teachers took attendance. Students would respond to their name by saying, [...]
Five simple strategies for slowing down
We live hurried lives. We feel, as today's reading in Deeply Loved describes, restless and unsettled. Imagine someone telling you: "You are like a jar of river water all shaken up. What you need is [...]
Free book Friday: Where have you noticed God?
When I teach spiritual formation classes or lead small groups, I build a habit of asking a simple question to begin our time together: where have you noticed God since we last met? I'd do [...]