It’s easier to be moved with compassion towards people when we remember this …  

I’ve been thinking a lot about my childhood / teen years lately because: 1. I’m chewing through books on the teens of this generation: The Millennials, Generation iY, and also reading Tim Challies’ new book on The Digital Explosion … so I’m thinking about our old black and white television, our first VHS machine, our first microwave, Pong, Space Invaders, and using my sisters box-of-a-Mac. 2. We’re in Fred’s childhood area and a friend of his from high school died this week so we’re having all sorts of conversations about high school, the brevity of life, how grateful we are for God’s grace in our lives, etc. 3. In a…

Just a quick note to let you know that the Random Number Generator I use chose Nancy L. as the winner of the $25 iTunes gift card. Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey on teens & technology & relationships. Blessings on your weekend! Yours,  Tara B.  

After a fun-filled night with some young ladies from my church, as usual, I I was WAY blessed (even though I was trying to be the one blessing them) …   Thanking God for the Body of Christ …  

While walking Lilikoi this morning (in the pitch-black, 32 degrees of a Montana spring morning—BRRRR!), I listened to a sermon that I am sure I will listen to repeatedly in the coming years: Work and Rest by Dr. Timothy Keller I had been thinking about this idea of “rest” a lot lately. Mostly because I haven’t had much rest (and I know that isn’t good!). But also, I have come to the conviction that even when I DO have time to rest, I don’t rest. I am active. Doing. Moving. This past weekend I started to get a little scared: Don’t I even know how to rest anymore? What kind…

I once had EMDR recommended to me to help me “process” any “PTSD” related to my vivid memories of walking in on my mother’s suicide attempt and having to be the child (I was a teenager) who called 9-1-1, took immediate steps to preserve her life, etc. etc. It didn’t seem like a good fit for me, but if someone had asked me why, I seriously doubt I could have given a very substantive (biblical, practical) response. Thank God for brilliant men like Ed Welch! His article on this topic is instructive and, as is true of all of his writings, God-centered: EMDR and the Meaning of Suffering    

Another must-read RZIM devotional from Jill Carattini: Nouns and Adjectives On the Throne Stick through it to the end. It’s worth it! I’ll tempt you with the final paragraph to show you what I mean …   “I don’t know why the throne was empty every time I closed my eyes some years ago. Perhaps I had removed God from the throne long before tragedy hit like a roaring sea and seemed to remove everything in its wake. Perhaps God was ruling from the rooms where we needed God most. I don’t know. But the emptiness of the throne forced me to reexamine the one who inhabits sovereignty itself. Carretto’s…

Whenever I’m prepping new content (for a retreat or conference), I always have my “heresy-checkers” review my speaking notes to make sure I (hopefully!) have not inadvertently included any heretical material. I’m willing to fall flat on my face for Jesus! But I never want to lead someone ASTRAY. Anyway … earlier this week, Challies pointed us to a brief post that defines heresy and it only strengthened my commitment to (hopefully!) never accidentally teaching or writing heresy: Heresy – What is it?    

Flip it around, and the post could just as readily apply to women in their helper (ezeer) role— But this brief post from Z will be, I believe, particularly helpful to its intended audience—married men who take seriously God’s call on their lives to lead their wives: Focus on Her Less, Focus on Her More    

I guess I must be being very transparent on this blog about my exhaustion level (and/or the people who are actually talking with me and seeing me in real life are just OBSERVING my exhaustion level), because yesterday I received two encouraging notes from friends I just wanted to share portions with you. You know. Just in case any of YOU are also facing tasks that are WAY beyond your abilities today too. Ken Sande used to say, “The day you feel ready to step into that mediation room is the day that you should stop being a mediator.” Of course, we prep. Boy do we prep. And we pray!…