Community
Embracing the Broken-Spirited and Broken-Hearted
Our children’s pastor, Anne, delivered our sermon on Sunday. Not being a regular pastor, she a had a ton of tiny nuggets to share on familiar scripture, from a new and fresh perspective. I enjoyed it so much, I thought I would share some of her insight here. The sermon came from Matthew, Chapter 13 … Continue reading
Try to Understand First
My sister has been visiting from New Jersey for the past few weeks. She has three kids who are two, four, and six. She is a busy lady. The youngest, Lois, talks all of the time, like two-year-olds do. Most of the time we can understand her, but sometimes we can’t. When we can’t, whoever … Continue reading
Permission to Mourn
She approached me at the grocery store the day after I returned from vacation. It was the day before Father’s Day. I don’t know her well, but we worship together at the same church and we both attend the early service. I speak to her every Sunday. She asked me how Vacation Bible School went, … Continue reading
The Power of a Mission Trip
Last week, my daughter, went on her first mission trip. She didn’t have to go on an airplane halfway across the world. There were people right next door in South Carolina, who needed assistance. The trip got off to a chaotic start, when our youth pastor was unable to pick up the van she rented … Continue reading
Community at Work
My daughter just returned from her first mission trip. She went to Eastover, South Carolina with a small group from our church to help repair houses that were in terrible shape. There were so many ways that God had His hand in this trip, from the people who went, to the group she ended up … Continue reading
The Joy of Seeing the Fruits of Our Labor
I know I have been talking about Vacation Bible School a lot this past week, but honestly, it has consumed the vast majority of my physical and emotional energy. I’m exhausted, but my heart has been touched in so many ways. If you read this blog very often, then you know how strongly I feel … Continue reading
Extending Hospitality
I recently attended a luncheon hosted by a delightful neighbor of mine. We have two families on our street who are moving. One is moving just one town away and the other is moving all the way home to Germany. My neighbor thought it would be nice to gather the ladies on our street together … Continue reading
Music Can Unite
The show, The Voice, returned to television on Monday night and I’ll have to admit that my family was captivated. We are a musical bunch. My son plays the drums and my daughter plays guitar. We have some type of music playing in our home most of the time. It’s just how we are wired. … Continue reading
The Opportunity of the Nones
Our sermon on Sunday was about the decline of the American church. The pastor shared about being in a group with other pastors from around the world and how the Christian faith was growing in other parts of the world against all odds, but diminishing here in America. I decided to go home and do … Continue reading