• Just for Fun!

    Thomas the Tank Engine for GIRLS!

    My original Thomas the Tank Engine for GIRLS blog post continues to receive a LOT of traffic. I really think there is a HUGELY untapped market here and if I had money to invest (or any related SKILLS–like the ability to SEW), I’d jump in and start advertising on ebay or something. C’mon Thomas! Where’s the PINK! Give us some LADY & Gordon & James & Percy in cool PASTELS or frilly skirts. We’d buy ’em! We’d wear ’em! You could be rich(er) and our girls would be thrilled.   PS To the recent commenter … no, I don’t think I could sell you her Thomas the Tank Engine Sun…

  • Redeeming Church Conflicts

    Pastor Searches

    Is your church currently searching for a pastor? Or has your church EVER searched for a pastor? Or MIGHT your church search for a pastor in the future? If so, then you should read this article by Pastor Anyabwile: Want Ads, Witch Trials, and Pastor Searches One line of it really struck me: “… few committees seem to really carefully search …” I think it stuck out because of an interesting conversation I had last week … It was with a pastor who was calling because his state’s denominational women’s conference was considering inviting me to serve, but first he (and his committee that oversees the conference) needed to ask…

  • Uncategorized

    Given added effectiveness …

    Pastor Anyabwile continues to knock it out of the park on his PureChurch blog: Repentance and the 21st Century Man He includes a lengthy quote by C. John Miller. Consider just an excerpt (emphases mine): “Effective counseling is principally a carrying forward in private of specific applications of the preaching ministry in the church. The gospel message is announced boldly in a public context and given added effectiveness by a one-to-one follow-up in dealing with particular idols which Christ wants removed from each of our lives. Such confrontation in preaching and counseling involves a sensitivity to the heart cries of men. It combines tears and truth, as we bow together…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Nothing wrong …

    I craved a giggle this morning, so I opened up the cartoons that Craig Faust (brilliantly) drew after one of my events years ago. (Thanks again, Craig, for drawing this, sharing it with me, and allowing me to post it too!) (Don’t you just love the dog’s eyes??) I’m off to teach now! Slept fitfully and woke up sick. Hmmmmmm … maybe I’ve been pushing a little too hard. Oh well, it’s only two eight-hour days of teaching ahead of me, how bad can it be? 😉   Have a lovely Friday! Yours, Tara B.  

  • Grace in Daily Life

    Jesus brought us here, brought us all here, for her … (HT: Marvin Olasky)

    Oh! Please do not miss this astounding article in World Magazine by Marvin Olasky: Communion with St. Paul–That God might be glorified in Addis Abba I sat on an airplane last week and WEPT as I read of the ministry of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Lim. Dr. Lim left his profitable plastic surgery practice and comfortable life in the United States to minister to the poorest of the poor; the most rejected people in society. There was story after story of grace in action! Consider just a few: “A teenage mom walked in holding a 1-month-old with a completely cleft lip. She sat, gazed at her baby, and smiled—no, glowed:…