“Let’s ask the Bible a question, flip it open, and point to a verse!” said one of my church friends. Humored, the group agreed. One young mom wondered if she would have a second child. She opened her Bible, her finger landing on Obadiah 1:17, “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance..." We cracked up, but we knew we weren’t using the best approach to Scripture (and this friend didn’t have another child). Here’s what the Bible says about itself: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Continue Reading
Why Embodiment and Place are so Significant for Humans
We turn into the open gate, the familiar crunch of gravel under our tires. Stepping out of the car, the scent of the pine forest fills my nostrils, evoking twenty-five years-worth of fond memories in this place. Already late for the first evening meeting, we head for the auditorium nestled in the trees. A towering, thickly forested mountain juts skyward in the background. Such beauty. Every year, I breathe in the sight. We hurry to join the others from our church network. For a good chunk of our lives, we have worshiped alongside these people, experiencing stirring messages and Continue Reading
Why Some Soul Wounds Require Understanding the Mother Heart of God
Going through my journals recently, I ran across an entry from February 2020. I was scheduled for a total hip replacement surgery, quite nervous about how the whole process. Sometimes I let the Lord speak to me through my pen. The deeply comforting words I found myself writing were these: "Let Me mother you in this situation." When we see God only as a father, not as a mother, we are left feeling like spiritual orphans bereft of the nurturing comfort and support provided by a mother. Read my article on this here - and may you experience the entirety of God's love for Continue Reading
Why I long to see gender equality in the Church
It was a simple enough assignment—reflect on the last eight weeks of class and share how I’ve grown spiritually by studying Luke-Acts. Little did I know I’d need a box of tissues at the ready. After discussing what I learned from the three texts we had read, I began to articulate something that touched me deeply. Permit me to share a portion of my recent spiritual formation essay: "One thing that was emphasized in this class is Jesus’ intentional and constant outreach to the oppressed and excluded, particularly women. Addressing this topic has a two-fold effect on Continue Reading