• Uncategorized

    Hugging or Mugging — What does it matter?

    If I were parenting a teenager (or if I was a teenager, especially one heading off to college in the fall), I would listen and re-listen to this sermon by Tim Keller: A Reason for Living My only complaint? He so thoroughly describes the problem (the crushing or convicting moment that most people come to when we have to figure out if life is just meaningless) that he doesn’t get to spend that much time on The Answer. But, ah, that’s what the rest of his sermons are for, right? Absolutely.   Oh, and you’ll have to listen to understand why I titled this post the way I did. It’s…

  • Grace in Daily Life

    To Learn to be a Blessing, You Have to Learn to Serve

    So much love! What a testimony this family has: And how glad I am that Fred encouraged me to watch this super fun video too:   What a voice! To give Soph a sense of just how uniquely gifted this young man is, we scoured old three tenors videos to hear other men who can fill entire halls with walls of profoundly beautiful sound. Oh, how I love music! It is a true joy to listen to this—what a range! And he’s only 17 years old. Can’t wait to hear how he progresses in the coming years. But even more than the great music (truly great music!), I love how…

  • Uncategorized

    Head Crushing Physical Pain

    As a sort-of PS to my previous post … I’m actually doing just fine emotionally/spiritually, so my tears today were only due to one cause: physical pain. For the first time in my life (after 1 million + frequent flyer miles), my ears will not equalize after my most recent flight. I know that sounds very simple and lacking in drama, but the truth is, I am experiencing head-crushing pressure and pain in both ears. I can’t hear normal sounds.  It feels like I have a foot of cotton covering both ears and that the bales of cotton are being pressed into my head with a vise. If we were…

  • Just for Fun!

    One of the Two Recipes I Can Cook: Brown Sugar Chicken (Crockpot)

    Since more than a few women this weekend asked for the recipes for the two meals I can ACTUALLY make,I thought I’d go ahead and post one of them since I have it on my laptop anyway. If I remember to do so when I get home, I’ll type up the second one for you. BROWN SUGAR CHICKEN (in the crockpot) –12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or 6 boneless, skinless breast halves (I just use boneless/skinless chicken breasts from Costco.) –1 cup brown sugar (it’s okay. you can brush your teeth after.) –1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (stay with me…) –2/3 cup vinegar (I used white wine, but think regular white…

  • Redeeming Church Conflicts

    How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 3 of 3)

    Dave’s post today is definitely worth the read: How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 3 of 3) I particularly appreciated this excerpt:   “Wise and mature pastors, leaders, and members will recognize that this pastoral change is part of God’s plan for producing holiness in His eternal children. They will respond with light—truth, healing, beauty, compassion, and care—because their life goal is to reflect all of the characteristics of their Lord and King, Jesus Christ. But others? Sadly, they will respond with darkness—lies, distortions, relational injury, ugliness, judgment, and betrayal—because even though they claim to live for Jesus and His glory, they are ultimately motivated by their own selfish desires.…

  • Uncategorized

    May the Name of the God of Jacob Protect You

    Our “Psalm of the Day” today: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!  May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with…

  • Redeeming Church Conflicts

    How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 2 of 3)

    When it comes to the topic of firing your pastor, Dave has decided there is just too much to cover in two posts. So in addition to last week’s post (our most popular post  to date—I wonder what that indicates about this particular topic?), Dave will write two more. Here is yesterday’s. It is definitely worth the read: How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 2 of 3)  

  • Hope in Suffering

    Reason for Sorrow — Founded on the Value of So Much Hope

    Today’s Slice of Infinity could not have been more timely for me after a night of sleeplessness, stress dreams, and nightmares: The Value of Something Here is just one excerpt:   “I see reason for sorrow, but it is founded on the value of so much. Hope, like character, takes years to build and minutes to shatter. But friends, hope, like character, can also rise beyond the moment to reinvest in what is of ultimate value—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This hope points in cumulative strength to the person and power of a God who is real, and will not let you down.” Amen and Amen. And thank you, Dr.…

  • Uncategorized

    Paige Benton Brown

    Yowza! Is my heart being ministered to (yet again) by the one and only Paige Benton Brown! Well, actually I’m being ministered to by God but He is using this brilliant, humble vessel. Want to be convicted and encouraged? Make time for this video teaching: The Responsive Heart (I can’t wait to LiveBlog her this summer. Twice. My fingers are going to be SO tired … but it’ll SO be worth it.)