Book Review: ordinary

My thesis in this book is that we must turn from the frantic search for “something more” to “something more sustainable.” We need to stop adding something more of ourselves to the gospel. We need to be content with the gospel as God’s power for salvation. We also need to be content with his ordinary […]

sometimes: a reminder

Sometimes life is hard. But sometimes, life is harder. Sometimes you make mistakes and have to go back and apologize, and hope they forgive you, no matter how much you think they won’t. But sometimes you do everything right, and they still hate you. Sometimes you recognize you did something wrong and restitution has to […]

The Mess of Ministry

I’ve been a part of ministry since I was a baby. First I was just the child of a traveling preacher, then a YPK, PK, Sunday School teacher, missionary, camp counselor, youth group leader, part-time worship leader, pianist, mentor, nursery worker, small group leader. . . and while there have been countless things I’ve learned […]

what a year.

It sounds so cliche to say but I am shocked at how quickly the year’s end came upon us. Just like that, it is 2019. A new calendar, a new set of goals, a refreshed perspective. 2019 is full of possibilities. I am stoked for our new website launch (you can find our new site […]

journal entry: a Grenada word picture

sixteen january, two-thousand-eighteen tuesday, late “Sometimes I think that I feel too much. But how can I not, after all I’ve experienced, all the people I’ve met? Sometimes the memories, the tiny snippets in my head, the thoughts come crashing – hard – into me, like the waves against the cliffs of Fort Jeudy. That’s what […]

“Check your heart!”

How many of y’all have seen the video on Facebook by Christian comedian John Crist where he says “Check your heart” in response to everything? It cracked me up because I do hear Christians say it quite often, usually in a joking way. But after my Bible reading yesterday, I think I–and all of us–need […]

stop looking for “the one.”

I feel the need to clarify something. First of all, I appreciate the response to my last blog post. I really do. It means so much that people comment on my post, like it, share it or excerpts from it, and message me about it. It is overwhelming and humbling, and I love y’all. […]

How to know you’ve found “the one”

[photo by Ashley Crutcher Photography] It was a sticky day in July. Campers would be arriving in just a few short hours and there was a lot to do before then. As we sat at brunch, I could tell he was nervous. “What’s wrong?” I asked after we prayed over our rice bowls. “I […]

Discernment for the Believer

Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 Law. Grace. Legalism. Liberalism. Churches today seem to enjoy being on one side of the spectrum or the other. Either they have a list of rules as long as the […]

when you’re not supposed to build the temple

I’ve been learning recently that even if I want something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s what God wants. It is so easy to wish for different opportunities and miss the ones God has already given me. I’m really good at explaining it away too: explaining why I/we would be so good at whatever it is […]