holiness in the modern world
“Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God. . . . ” Genesis 32:28
Holiness has grit. God’s people, set apart for his purposes, know and love God as they earnestly wrestle with him through the questions and challenges of life.
One year ago, my husband and I found ourselves in a crisis, and we needed to sing. Acutely troubled with a single enormous decision and with the cascading effects of the secretive actions of others, we were also extremely isolated, unable to discuss almost anything with almost anybody (other than our lawyer) for 73 days. …
Continue reading "We Did Not Despair: Singing into a Place of Grace"
It's still New Year's Day (for the next 21 minutes), so I still have time to declare a focal word or theme for 2024 that describes what's on my mind as we dive in. I had never chosen a word or theme for the year until 2023, but in December a year ago, one word …
Last Sunday, a leader stood before a congregation in a chapel and announced that the following Sunday would mark the start of Advent, a season of waiting for Christmas. We were thus waiting last Sunday to begin an official period of waiting a week later (today). It was an announcement of a coming announcement about …
Continue reading "The Murk, the Advent, & Promises Fulfilled"
Thursday night, I received the opposite news of what I had hoped for, and, oddly, I'm OK. Why is that? The unwelcome announcement was that after enormous personal investment--and for the second time around--I didn't receive a grant that would have funded the launch and establishment of a project I have been working on for …
Continue reading "Not (Entirely) What I Wanted for Thanksgiving"
"Will you come preach at our church?" the pastor asked. "Sure!" I answered. "What's the topic or passage you'd like me to cover?" Well, let's just say the answer surprised me! You can find out more on how that conversation went in the recording at the link below. Even better, this sermon suggests answers to …
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