• Singleness & Marriage

    Adultery? And then …

    I received this question via email and I am wondering how YOU would respond: “If two Christians are friends and commit adultery with each other and then repent of their  sin of adultery can they still remain friends?  Can they be restored to a chaste, pure relationship and reconciled with each other as brother and sister in Christ?” What do you think?  

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Christian Conciliation & a Solvent Business Model?

    I received an email today from a fellow “recovering lawyer” who is interested in pursuing certification as a Certified Christian Conciliator with the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries. (This is the organization where I used to serve as a director.) She asked some interesting questions and I thought that some of you might be interested as well, so here is a portion of our email exchange. 1. How well utilized is Christian conciliation? Is conciliation fairly well received by churches, in general? Also, about how many certified conciliators are out there right now? The service is well-respected and growing, but not that well utilized by most…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    I just knew I wouldn’t like you …

    Last week, at different times, I had two (very well-respected, “successful”) Christians say basically the same thing to me: “The first time I met you, I just knew I wouldn’t like you. At all. And I didn’t.” But THEN, after getting to know me a little bit (AND after they observed me receiving some honor / awards / public acceptance), they said this: “But NOW I think that we really COULD be friends. I sure love you, Tara. I’d love to get to spend time with you and work with you.” Strange, huh? Not strange that they wouldn’t like me–that happens a lot. But strange to have two people in…

  • Grace in Daily Life

    “Near Him” — Another AMAZING Jill Carratini Essay

    Jill Carratini (at RZIM) has written another amazing essay that drew me to the throne of God in worship–and I hope will do the same for you. Please click through and read it! Here’s a snippet just to encourage you to take a few minutes and read this essay:   “Someone once told me that the opposite of Christlikeness is not sinfulness like we might expect but apathy. The idea that follows is that even the worst sinner who cries out to God is actually closer to the heart of Christ than the one who stands apathetically. The woman caught in adultery and clinging to the feet of Christ was…

  • Grace in Daily Life

    What is Your Worldview?

    I think about this topic a lot. PLUS — it’s a great conversation opener–especially for evangelism. So how would you answer these questions? 1. Where did I come from? (origin) 2. Why am I here? (purpose) 3. How should I live? (morality) 4. Where am I going? (What is my ultimate destiny?)   Isn’t it wonderful (full of wonder!) to be created by God; living for His glory; guided with clear commandments; with the hope and assurance of our Ultimate Home in Heaven with God one day? Grace abounds! Happy Wednesday to all — Love, Tara B.  

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    I didn’t know this about Ephesians 4:29 …

    Did you know that Ephesians 4:29 (‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen’) can actually be translated: ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may BRING GRACE TO those who listen.’ I learned that in Ken Sande’s plenary yesterday and I just know that I’m going to be thinking about that a lot in the coming days. Joy to you! Love, Tara B. PS In one of…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Dr. Hawkins on Unity

    Dr. Hawkins (formerly of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship) taught this morning on the characteristics of unity. He used Ephesians 4 as his text and here are just a few highlights from his teaching: In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul is literally begging the church to ‘not just talk it—but to WALK it.’ To walk as if you have been called by someone special. – Humility is wanting to do the most for the other person. (And humility begats …) – Gentleness with patience (which is endurance that is willing to take PAIN in order to endure). I couldn’t help but reflect on how LACKING I am in humility. Seriously. How often am…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Worship Wars

    One of the workshops at the Peacemaker Conference was taught by my own beloved hubby, Fred. The topic was conflict over worship in the Church and it was provocatively named, ‘Worship Wars.’ (By the way … as a (proud!) attendee, I can testify that Fred did  a great job and we were blessed.) But one (ironic? sort of sad? sort of funny?) thing happened related to Fred’s workshop: apparently, one of the conference attendees said that HE planned on attending Fred’s workshop to learn how to WIN the ‘worship war.’ (Eek!)  

  • Uncategorized

    OH NO!! Lost my notes …

    I wanted to “blog live” from the International PCA Women in the Church Conference … I took six pages of notes on Ligon & Paige ALONE! But then (oh no!) I LOST MY NOTES. Bummer. SO …. I bought the CDs and I’m going to re-listen to them and share notes with you — well, one of these days anyway. (Have to pack again in three days once I get home tonight at midnight. The Peacemaker Conference is this week. Hoooooray! But off we go to teach in Minneapolis in just a few days.) Please just know this: God was SO glorified and I was SO encouraged by the wonderful…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    The Needs of Many …

    I received this PeaceMeal from Peacemaker Ministries and thought that it might bless you too. So here it is! The Needs of The Many Outweigh The Few Even if a change in focus does not allow you to overlook every offense, it can often help you in two other ways. First, by recalling what is good in another person, you often will realize how much you will lose if your differences are not resolved. Many marriages, friendships, and business relationships are lost because people focus exclusively on a point of disagreement and forget about all that they have enjoyed in and with one another. Remembering the good may provide the…