I ignored the warnings for months. The first was a quiet, almost imperceptible nudge. Then came stronger recognition. Finally, last fall, when asked for a prayer request, my answer reflected a growing awareness. But still, I pushed those warnings aside. For those who...
Our family recently survived a brush with Matthew, a category 4 hurricane. No, that’s not quite right. Compared to some other locations, we did more than survive. We thrived. Yes, we cleared away debris, and several neighbors lost large trees. But all in all we were...
Gardening is therapeutic for me. After spending much of my day writing and preparing to teach a Bible study, I enjoy the physical exertion of battling the weeds in my yard. Having lived in a large city for most of my life, I confess I labeled anything I didn’t plant...
Christians are dying for their faith around the world. According to Open Doors USA, a missions organization supporting persecuted Christians around the world, “2014 will go down in history for having the highest level of global persecution of Christians in the modern...
We may not like it, but we’re surrounded by double standards. Most of us have a love-hate relationship with them. We don’t like it when someone else espouses a double standard, but if it’s our idea…. Children shouldn’t curse. Adults do it all the time. People must...
September is back-to-school time. But kids aren’t the only ones whose schedules gear up. Summer vacations are a memory. Businesses focus on projects that languished over the summer. Churches mobilize their ministry programs. Families turn their attention from...
Just when I thought our culture could no longer surprise me…it does. Consider these two examples in the entertainment world: A clan of duck hunters from the Louisiana backwoods has become a media phenomenon. This conservative Christian clan has fueled an...
I recently returned from another writers’ conference: the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference (CCWC). It was a wonderful time of networking with others in Christian publishing, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new colleagues. Writer’s conferences usually...
Mother’s Day is over, but for some, the emotions –happy or sad – linger. I recently spent some time with a young friend who is struggling with her role in the family and in the Church. Her feelings were exacerbated by the calendar – Mother’s Day happened to be the...
We’re more than halfway through the season known as Lent. In many churches, Lent is observed as a forty day period of prayer and introspection leading to Easter. It’s also a traditional time of fasting, when some Christians give up a favorite food or activity in an...
Meet the Tate Family Been thinking about organizations that depend on volunteers. Whether it’s your church, Bible...
Have To, Want To, or Get To? Ever feel burdened with all the have-tos in your life? Many mornings I awake with...
Shifting to an Eternal Perspective When I was a child, I often heard older people speak of heaven with a sense of...