There’s a fun read over at the Peacemaker Ministries blog: Baseball and Forgiveness Even if you’re not a sports fan, you might enjoy it. But oh! If  your grandfather was buried with a Chicago CUBS hat in the casket (like mine was) and Wrigley Field is in your blood, then you’ll REALLY enjoy it. 😉  

Hey!!!! Guess what????????? Peacemaker Ministries has a new blog!! Yes, YES … I’m TOTALLY biased because cutie-bear Fred Barthel is one of the contributors. (But so is Ken Sande!) So you may want to check it out and consider bookmarking it: Route 5:9   (Wonder why they chose that as a name?????) Blessings to you! (From your friend who is ALMOST able to see her dining room and living room floors)– Tara B.  

A great read by Dr. Paul Tripp: Created for Community Hope you enjoy! I should be back in wi-fi range tonight and maybe even sleeping in my own bed if I make my flights.   Hope you’re enjoying a lovely weekend! Yours, Tara B.  

Fred was praying for me the other night and he prayed that, in particular, I would have a merciful heart toward a certain person who treats me very badly. As he prayed, I was stuck by how easy it was for me to have a hard heart toward this person. I think, “She is just SO proud! She sneers at me and judges me and obviously thinks I’m stupid / boring / ugly / worthy only of rejection.” And then, somehow, I give myself “permission” to, well, NOT LIKE HER. Or–if I’m feeling particularly “Christian”–to “love her” but PULL BACK FROM HER and keep her at arm’s length. When Fred…

HT: Pastor Anyabwile for pointing me in the direction of this post and the (MANY!) comments that have already followed it in only a few days. Some of you may remember that Fred has taught on the topic of “Worship Wars” at past Peacemaker Conferences. And of course, as a Christian conciliator who has served on conflicted church intervention teams–and believe you me, MUSIC MATTERS–I just have to say … Yikes! Against Music* (Don’t you just LOVE the posts that are humble and gracious!?!)   May God help us to seek HIS face and the true unity that reflect the Trinity! Yours, Tara B.  

Another classic from Peacemaker Ministries: Can the Church be a Peacemaking Forum? To tempt you with just a smidgen from it: “Some will say that the typical church today doesn’t have the resources to provide this level of care for its members. We don’t believe that this is a legitimate excuse. At the foundation of our conviction is Christ’s promise that his church would be built and the gates of Hell could not and would not prevail against it. Do you believe this is true of the church? Is the body of Christ that strong? If it is, then this excuse is not credible. One of the most common and…

If you haven’t yet read this classic from Peacemaker Ministries, please take a moment and click on over: “Daddy? Is that you?” I remember way back in law school (EONS ago!) when I first read The Peacemaker and started their conciliator training program. Oh man! The stories and testimonies Ken could share. He can be quite the crier too. Anyway–hope you enjoy and are edified as you head into your weekend!   May we make every effort to pursue peace this day and always. Yours, Tara B.  

From my iGoogle “C.S. Lewis Quote of the Day”: “Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment.” Too true.  Way way too true.  

I am continuing to slowly work through Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together” and this morning’s reading brought another level of “hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” to my heart and mind. (Oh–and by the way–I just can’t even IMAGINE being able to think so clearly and articulate so persuasively with such intelligent, forceful, and perfectly appropriate words. Truly, this man–who didn’t live to see 40 before the Nazis executed him!–was uniquely gifted by God.) Here is just an excerpt (I was SO tempted to keep typing and give you paragraph after paragraph … but really, I just encourage you to buy the book):   “On innumerable occasions a whole Christian community has been shattered because it has…

Do you ever respect and care for certain people … but, for whatever reason, find that you don’t really “click” with them? I can think of a few of these people in my life. We’ve never had a conflict. I don’t have any distinctly negative thoughts or feelings about them. But every time we interact, it’s very much like oil and water. We just don’t mix. We don’t get each other. This used to really bother me. I wanted to get along with everyone! Somehow I thought that “Christian fellowship” and “love” meant that every personality, every communication style, every quirk & maturity & immaturity would fit together well. But…