Unexpected Turns and Crazy Ideas
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we
Like a Good Little Christian
I used to be a good little Christian. I knew all the Christian-ese. I had a few key scriptures memorized. I did all the things good Christians do - I read my Bible pretty regularly, I went to church every Sunday, I listened to worship music in my spare time, I memorized popular Bible verses. I was really good at acting like a good Christian. And I counted it all as merits in my honor. I was doing a God a favor, I guess. I used to think that there were levels of Christianity. Growing up in church, I was
Sissy Men, Super Women, and the Troubles of the Modern Home
One of the many random courses that I was required to study in my otherwise useless degree was Inter-Personal Communications. Although it had little to do with the direction I had planned to take my Communications Degree of Radio / TV / Film, this class was one of my favorites. It was taught by an atheist professor that didn't like me and my "preachiness" (as he put it) very much. But, oddly, I really liked him. He fascinated me. He looked almost exactly like Christopher Walken, but somehow, with an even surlier demeanor. He was dry and slightly bitter. But
I Didn’t Have Time for God
I was too tired to read the Bible. It put me to sleep. I struggled for a long time. I felt like a failure. I looked around me and saw my Christian friends reading the Bible, growing, learning, praying, in what seemed like a perfectly disciplined faith. I felt like I couldn't live up to that anymore because I was a mother. What little time I had to myself, I was too tired to read the Bible. It put me to sleep. I felt so guilty that reading the Word of God put me to sleep, but it did. I
When God Makes No Sense
When you can't feel God, believe He's there anyway. When you can't see God's hand, believe it's there anyway. When you can't understand God's plan, trust it anyway. That's faith, friends. It's easy to see a person of faith and assume they just walk on a bed of roses, perhaps blissfully unaware of the issues around them. It's easy to look at someone else's life and say, "Yeah, good for them, but they have no idea what real suffering is. They have no idea how hard my life or situation is." But they do. How do I know? Because they're
Atheism is Impossible (A New Year’s Revelation)
It's a new year, and while most of us are probably wrestling with our resolutions and how we are going to finally execute them this year, I have a challenge for you. Instead of a resolution, how about you have a revelation? Scientifically, you can't be an atheist. My pastor told a story once about sitting on a plane next to an atheist. He challenged the man by telling him that he thought atheism was scientifically impossible. You can hear his witty banter here, if you want. Or you can read my summary. My pastor challenged the man by pointing
Dangerous Bible Games
It has been fascinating reading the comments you are writing on the posts I've made about Phil Robertson and the Duck Dynasty debacle. I love reading all the different perspectives, yes, even the ones I don't agree with. But I have seen a recurring theme among many of the comments as well as other articles I am reading, whether they are from Christians or non-Christians - and it's a problem that needs to be addressed. We play dangerous games when it comes to Christianity. In my view, there are two main games we play that are both destructive and damning.
I Blame God for Phil Robertson
I fear we need to gain a little perspective on the subject of Phil Robertson vs. the entire homosexual community. I've heard a lot of people clarify their stance on the subject with phrases along the lines of, "it's not what he said, it's how he said it." Perhaps we need to have a little reality check. Phil Robertson is an uncouth, backwoods redneck (self-proclaimed). His beard is longer than my hair. His idea of comfortable clothes includes camouflage pants and a camouflage shirt. His idea of Sunday fancies includes camouflage pants and a black shirt. His idea of interior
The Bible is For Bigots (and Other Christmas Stories)
Wow, the web seems to have blown up in the last 24 hours over the whole A&E Networks vs. Phil Robertson debacle! It seems everyone has a distinct and polarizing opinion on the subject. In case you're unaware entirely, Phil Robertson, the father of the family starring in the A&E show Duck Dynasty, said (in a nutshell) in an interview with GQ magazine that he believes homosexuality is wrong because the Bible teaches that it's wrong. And what a hullabaloo that created! People are shouting from their virtual mountain tops on either side of the debate. "Christians are haters!" "Stand
To Santa or Not to Santa: That is the Question
It's that time of year. When elves are being mischievous on shelves. When reindeer are flying around shopping center rooftops. When an old man can somehow see when I'm sleeping. He knows when I'm awake. He knows if I've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake. (That's the only reason to be good, after all.) I don't ever want my kids to grow up thinking Christmas is all about Santa, or Santa's birthday (thank you, Bart Simpson). I know lots of families who wrestle with faith versus culture this time of year. I've read many blogs on
Record Cold, a Dead Heater and a Miracle I Didn’t See
"The worst ice storm in years!" "The coldest weather DFW has ever seen this time of year!" "Icemageddon!!" "Icepocalypse!" These are just some of the phrases floating around social media and local news over the past few days here in Dallas/Fort Worth. It has been the coldest, iciest weather I can remember in DFW. It started on Thursday with freezing rain and sleet, coming down in droves, for a solid day. And here we are, Monday morning, and about 2% of it has melted. Literally entire freeways are shut down. People have been stranded on the highway for days. No
A Letter to All the New Moms, From a Recovering Perfectionist
Before I had children, I knew exactly what kind of parent I was going to be. After my first child, I just knew I was mother of the year. After my second child, I questioned whether or not I should give my children up to be raised by wolves - perhaps they would do better than I. After my second child, I questioned whether or not I should give my children up to be raised by wolves - perhaps they would do better than I. I went to the hospital yesterday to visit a friend who just had her first
A Spiritual Smorgasbord and Its Various Impacts On an Otherwise Sane Person
I grew up in church. Ok, more specifically I grew up in a non-denominational Disciples of Christ church and an evangelical, charismatic Church of God private school. And then I went to a Baptist church. Ok so, more accurately, I grew up denominationally confused. The liturgical, dogmatic church where I grew up was in stark contrast to the charismatic, evangelical spirit-filled church where I went to school. Whereas on Sunday mornings I was wearing robes and lighting candles, on weekdays I was casting out demons and dancing in chapel. Then when I became Baptist I learned a lot about rules
First Fruits
I love listening to past sermon series from my church. It's like finding an old journal and reminiscing on things you forgot you knew, forgot you loved, forgot you thought. My favorite place to listen to them is in the car, because when you're the mother of a toddler and an infant, the car is one of the few places where you can actually focus on something for any length of time. I find myself looking for excuses to drive just so that I can listen to sermons. My pastor, Robert Morris, is very anointed and his teachings always strike
Selling Jesus
There is an epidemic in the church today. It's rampant in not only the church-proper, but also para-ministries and various evangelical organizations. It is the epidemic of "selling Jesus." We, as a church, have become borderline obsessed with how we market the message, so much so that some are even overlooking the Messenger. We get caught up in gimmicks, selling points, and marketing strategies. Don't believe me? Take a look at the tools of the modern church. Everything from True Love Waits to the modern, hipster "God is cool, just look at how cool our church is" mentality - the
Gratefulness that Changes Us
I had the privilege of reading the birth story of a friend of mine today. I knew bits and pieces of her story, but I had never heard it told from beginning to end, all the details included. As I read her story, I was moved to tears at the courage through struggles, the faith, and the joys that came from patient endurance. I didn't know her during that time of her life. All I see now is an amazing mother who takes pleasure in the tiny details of her son's life. I see a mother who makes every occasion
The Credit and the Glory
It was only when I realized I had failed that I realized I had finally passed the test. I had been a worship musician traveling between various towns and churches for over ten years. I had played every kind of venue there was - the famed, the dive, the tiny, the nostalgic, the coveted. I could credit to myself many accomplishments during those years. I could name off the cool people I had met, the opportunities I had had, the names I had opened for. My band had been on TV in literally every country in the world. But I
C.S. Lewis Talks Prayer
"In Gethsemane the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not. After that the idea that prayer is recommended to us as a sort of infallible gimmick may be dismissed." C.S. Lewis
Seeds
A seed is a small thing. It seems insignificant on its own. But when planted, in due time, it becomes something entirely different. It might become a giant tree, or a field of wheat. It might become a weed or a rose. But whatever it becomes, it always starts out small. This is not a lesson in botany. This is a reminder to our hearts about the power of our word-seeds. Yes, words are seeds. And they may not seem like much when we say them, but some (if not all) words have lasting impact. So lasting, so powerful, they
Whether Lady Gaga Likes It or Not…
I read an article today begging the question of why young people are leaving the church. It was an interesting article citing the problems with young people and today's philosophies. I thought it made some good points. You can read it here, if you fancy. But I don't think it quite answered the question: why are young people leaving the church and can we do anything about it? This is a conundrum I've pondered many times in recent years. It's certainly a topic believers should explore, given the state of the country today. And while I won't purport to have
God Still Moves
Nothing brings me more excitement than seeing the work of God in the lives of those I love and care about. It means they are being obedient to His will and allowing Him to do what He does best in their lives. And when He is free to work, His righteous Right Hand moves mountains, heals sick, saves the lost, and utterly changes for the better everything it touches. I get excited just seeing it happen! I was blessed to see several examples of His handiwork tonight, alone. My heart is overwhelmed with His goodness. But it shouldn't surprise me.
I Hope I Never Forget…
I hope I never forget the way Addie talks all day in her little four month old way - with a long string of "ah-goos" and raspberries. I hope I never forget the way she lights up when anyone she loves is near, smiles a big, toothless smile and squeals with delight. I hope I never forget how she looks on her big brother with a longing to be right in the middle of whatever he is doing. I hope I never forget how Virgil says, "Good night, sweet dreams, I wuva you," every night when I close his door
You Know You’re a Tired Mom When…
As a follow up to yesterday's post, I thought I'd make a list of some of the silly things I've done as a tired mom. I have to admit I've been guilty of some pretty ridiculous mom laziness in my time, moreso lately it seems. Some of them, when I think about them, make me literally laugh out loud. So I thought I'd compile a list of my lazies in hopes that it will serve to remind me someday of the craziness of this era of motherhood, and remind some of you that you're not as bad as you think.
Mother of the Year
I've been quite tired lately. Tired, cranky, incessantly hungry, so much so that for a few terrifying days I thought I might be pregnant again. Don't get me wrong, we want more kids. Just not yet. Dear sweet Jesus, not yet. I love being a mom. It is far and above the best thing I've ever done. I'm no super mom. But I love my babies and they bring me more joy than I ever could have imagined. But they wear me out. I'm beginning to come to grips with this as my daughter turns three months old. We're through
Miracles Still Happen
It was a Monday like any other Monday during the end of my pregnancy. I woke up that morning one day past my due date and about ten days past my wit's end. Yes, I was mentally and emotionally done being pregnant. But I was apparently not physically done. Now before you go judging me for my ungrateful attitude, please let me explain that I am a relatively complaint-free pregnant woman, up until the last few weeks. Being that I'm only five feet tall, I'm convinced that my tiny frame just makes carrying around a seven pound baby and twenty
