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A subdued Christmas? Sometimes. A happy Christmas? Always! And that is what I wish for you this Christmas. (by Ajith Fernando)
As I pray for the 2018 Urbana Missions Conference, of course I pray specifically for our dear friend, Ajith Fernando. Please do pray for this dear pastor and brother in Christ (and his family–who sacrifices each day to support and enable his ministry). And please be blessed by his reflections on Christmas! (I’ve highlighted a few passages in it–so please note that the emphases are mine.) Happy, Blessed Christmas to you, my friends– Yours in Christ, Tara B. A SUBDUED CHRISTMAS by Ajith Fernando “Some of you were a little concerned that in my last letter I seemed to be open to the possibility of not going to Urbana because…
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Dreading the Holidays? Dreading the PEOPLE at the Holidays? Here are five things to remember that might encourage and protect you from further harm …
In 2018, at age 48, I can honestly say that I truly enjoy the holidays. I love celebrating Advent; I think icing sugar cookies is fun. I even like the chaos and clutter of the tree and decorations, etc. etc. But it is the quiet of the holidays that I love the most. I know that may sound strange to many of you because your calendar’s cup overfloweth in a whirling dervish of concerts, parties, crafting, shopping, hosting, etc. But for our little family of three introverts + Ella, we gear down over the holidays because we are so happy to have me not traveling for speaking events and so grateful for any and all vacation time that…
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Megan Hill’s New Book: “Contentment–Seeing God’s Goodness”
Oh, how I love to read books written by friends! It is even more fun when I am invited to review a pre-release manuscript. Such was the case with Megan Hill’s latest book: Contentment–Seeing God’s Goodness. Like so many of the P&R titles, this is a profound and beautiful book. As I prayerfully read Contentment, I was reminded of biblical truth and encouraged/equipped to act in accordance with sound theology. I was drawn to worship Christ and thus, to turn away from my fear-soaked, other-and-self-centered, “constant state of distress, anxiety, and regret” (pre-release .pdf page 19). Through sound biblical teaching applied to the challenges of real life, Megan Hill helped me…
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A Four Year-Old Explains Reformation Day
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I couldn’t sort out my feelings, but now that I have, it’s too late …
“I couldn’t sort out my feelings, But now that I have, it’s too late. Right now, more than anything else, I wish that time could wait.” Earlier this weekend, I found this (poem? prose? sliver of a journal entry?) on a crumpled piece of notebook paper in my “I’ll get to it One Day or my kids will throw it all out for me one day when I am gone” area of my work space. Do you have an area like that? I used to PRIDE myself on NOT having an area “like that.” But then I woke up one morning and realized that all of the people I trusted…
- Hope in Suffering, Redeeming Church Conflicts, Redemptive Relationships, Relationships & Peacemaking
A FREE Women’s Retreat — from our family to you! No travel required. Just grab your Bible, a cup of tea, and if you can–a beautiful view and a REAL (i.e., grace-filled, wise, compassionate, FAITHFUL–friend). And enjoy!
Earlier today, I was poking around some old files and I found all of the audio recordings that I did for the beautiful women of the beautiful Camp Barakel just a few years ago. Since I assume that a few of you, like me, might be struggling a bit with lingering sorrow, heartbreaking confusion, or simple relational pain and loneliness … I thought it might be a good time to review God’s Word, meditate on Truth, grieve as needed, and most of all … be refreshed in Christ, our Savior. Our God. Our Brother and our Friend. And so. Here is a little FREE RETREAT from our family…
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When Peacemaking Causes Conflict
Have you ever tried to “fix” a relationship and “make peace” only to have it backfire in your face in such a terrible way that you really wish you had just left things alone? I have. There is just something so much easier (on the surface at least) and “nicer” about peace-faking. Sure, when we focus on protecting ourselves by denying that conflict exists or pretending that everything is fine—pasting a smile on our face while slamming shut the door of our heart—we know on a deep level that we are not loving because “love makes us vulnerable” (CS Lewis). But the pain of rejection and betrayal from people we…
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When Our Church Leaders Let Us down
Awhile back, I received an email from a woman who was seeking my advice about some concerns she and her husband had regarding their new pastor. I won’t go into any more details (in order to guard their confidentiality), but I think even with just that cursory picture in your mind, some of you might want to read my response to her: “Dear Tammy [NOT her real name of course], I am so very sorry to learn of this painful situation in your church! I have prayed for you and I hope that this email provides you with some ideas for consideration–but of course, I don’t know ‘for sure’ what…
- Hope in Suffering, Redeeming Church Conflicts, Redemptive Relationships, Relationships & Peacemaking, Surviving a Childhood of Neglect and Abuse
We can’t talk about forgiveness without acknowledging the reality of pain …
I was trying to find the desk in my office the other day (I assume that if I can unearth the desk, there might even be a FLOOR in there somewhere) … and I came across my notes from a Conference I attended years ago. The speakers were wonderfully challenging and comforting (a good combination): – Tim Laniak drew a frighteningly accurate portrait of what happens when shepherding is corrupted and becomes only heavy/crushing accountability or namby-pamby bedside pastoral care. Having spent years living among and studying the Bedouin shepherds, Dr. Laniak has no ‘precious moments’ ceramic figurine portrait of what it means to be a shepherd. Instead, he explained that…
- Avoiding Inadvertent Retraumatization, Child Protection / Abuse in the Church, Surviving a Childhood of Neglect and Abuse, Trauma Recovery
When Your Friend is Raped or Beaten
[A repost from enCourage] The very week that the #MeToo campaign began to dominate my social media relationships, a woman in my community told me that she was being physically hurt by a family member. Of course I immediately did everything I could to help her. But I also remember thinking at the time: Would most women in the church know how to wisely respond to a friend who is being physically and/or sexually assaulted? Having worked as a Christian mediator for over twenty years, and having taught thousands of women at conferences and retreats during that time, I have many examples of responses that make things worse, and of…