On being an outsider
My brother was thrilled when my siblings, our spouses and I agreed to join him for a Seattle Sounders soccer match against..
More Stories from this Author
My children aren’t part of my résumé
I received an email after Easter with the subject line “Too cute and a distraction.” The church member was talking about my..
Admiration for weeds
I am not a fan of weeds. Weeding in Houston (where I live) is an extreme sport, especially in the summer time...
Lent: Reckoning with wounds
I went with a couple friends to see “A Wrinkle in Time,” directed by Ava DuVernay. My heart jumped when Mrs. Who,..
What will we stop doing?
Like many others, these days I’ve been swimming a sea of anxiety that only seems to worsen the more I read and..
Seeing the face of God
Over two months have passed since Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston and the communities surrounding it. The congregation I serve, Clear Lake Presbyterian..
What is biblical authority?
Why are churches leaving the PC(USA)? Some leaders of exiting churches with whom I have relationships have said that the PC(USA) no..
Who is blessed in a hurricane?
A little less than a month ago, I experienced my first catastrophic flood. Flooding is a normal thing in Houston, where I..
What is a legacy?
What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. – Lin-Manuel Miranda (“The World Was Wide..
Hope as self-care
This month we asked our bloggers to share how they are caring for their bodies and souls in the midst of the..
Perseverance of the saints
Nice weather in Houston has meant lots of time playing in the park with my 17-month-old son. One sunny day, my son..
Christian American or American Christian?
The Apostle Paul claims that “our citizenship” as Christians “is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). I preach on this identity all the time…..
The persistent pursuit of perfect programs
My book club is reading John Steinbeck’s novel “East of Eden.” A passing description of a passing character caught my attention: “Mrs...
Cultivating hopeful expectation
I am currently part of a formation cohort through my alma mater, Fuller Theological Seminary. As a young female pastor, I’ve had..
Carrying the lament of another
Last fall, I attended the DisGrace Conference on racism at Montreat Camp and Conference Center in North Carolina. The conference continues to..
In defense of total depravity
I have been reading a fabulous spiritual memoir by Mike McHargue called “God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and..
Monday’s coming
Several of my colleagues attended a conference where the overarching theme was something like, “Make Sunday Matter on Monday.” The claim was..
God at work in unanswered prayers
We asked our bloggers to share where they’ve seen God at work in 2016. Here is what they shared. As a pastor,..
Finding better anchors
I wear a charm bracelet that was given to me during a period of significant illness. Each charm reminds me of a..
The trouble with lament
Brown paper banners hung around the cavernous, stone auditorium. Names inscribed in black paint decorated the banners from ceiling to floor. Most..
Does our value in Christian education need to change? Further reflections
In my previous post, I posited that a decline in attendance in my congregation’s adult Christian education programs might not be solved..
Does our value in Christian education need to change?
A part of my job as the associate pastor of spiritual formation is to oversee adult Christian education, which has been a..
What is the purpose of church planning teams?
I recently assembled a leadership team to lead, vision and plan for adult discipleship programs and events in the congregation. The team..
Baptized and white
We were invited by the Outlook this month to consider our marks of faith. I don’t have any tattoos or even major..
Living generously when paying cash
My husband and I are currently participating in Dave Ramsey’s curriculum, “Financial Peace University.” Ramsey urges participants to carry cash for regular purchases..