According to Facebook, I have more than a thousand friends. Some of them I’ve never met in person. Many are acquaintances. Some are closer friends. Then there are the friendships that go deeper. These are the relationships that have stood the test of time. Friendships...
Refrigerator Magnet Theology
How many magnets grace the front of your refrigerator? One? Five? Twelve? Refrigerator magnets can be silly, serious, or snarky. They can be cute, corny, or classy. Refrigerator magnets have also generated much theology that sounds good…but isn’t. Consider these...
Trick or Treat for Adults
Trick or treating is supposed to be for children. Unfortunately, I see an adult version of trick or treat all too frequently on social media feeds. The “treats” vary, but they’re all tempting: We're giving away 5,000 free iPhones because the company can’t sell opened...
Does Our Communication Reflect Our Christian Identity?
Who are you? Whoever you are, does your vocabulary reflect your identity? Or are you masquerading as someone you’re not? Lately, I’ve been hearing Christians say things such as: Sending good thoughts your way. What’s your sign? Sending you good vibes. You’re so...
Stealth Consequences
I did it again. Sigh. You’d think I would be more careful. But for several weeks, clean up from Hurricane Irma has required us to step into overgrown areas to clear downed trees. Those overgrown spaces were also full of Brazilian pepper vines. For those who are not...
Answered Prayer vs. Expectations
It’s really difficult to pray without having expectations. Lots of expectations. I should know—we recently came through months of prayer for healing for my husband’s cancer. Those expectations create a disconnect when God’s answer does not match our prayer. Even when...
Waiting in Hope…Even If
Are you in God’s waiting room? Have you been praying for something, on hold for an answer, hoping for your circumstances to change? I confess, waiting is not my favorite activity. And right now, I’m waiting for something especially critical…test results of a loved...
Christians, Please Stop Saying That
Last week another hurricane hit Florida. But it wasn’t just another hurricane. Irma is the most powerful storm to ever come out of the Atlantic. So large, it covered the whole state, coast to coast. The. Whole. State. We endured Category 1 winds on the east coast....
A New Way to Express Kindness
Kindness is a virtue most of us appreciate and many of us aspire to. You may have heard about the practice of random acts of kindness. It supposedly began in 1982 when Anne Herbert scrawled the words "practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a...
Hurricanes, Trust, and the Sovereignty of God
Hurricane Irma is coming. The most powerful storm ever in the Atlantic basin is aiming for Florida and tracking to travel up the east coast. Where. I. Live. Granted, by the time it reaches our area, it’s predicted to downgrade from a Category 5 to a Category 4. Not...
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