The books we read, the stories we listen to, the worlds we spend time inhabiting—these are the things that make us. Proverbs 18:15 tells us, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “I cannot remember the bo
Twenty years ago I wrote an article called “The Church Behind Bars,” sharing what it looked like to find faith, hope, and community within the walls of a maximum-security prison. Ten years later, I followed up with another reflection, tracing the roots of transformation and the ways God was continui
I don’t remember where we first heard of the concept of a “Worry Box,” but it was an apt analogy for the worrying tendencies around our home. While I’m typically an optimist—always hopeful and looking on the bright side—my husband balances me out with his concern over things that could go wrong.Peop
In 2005 Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican theologian and Nobel Laureate known for his anti-apartheid work in South Africa, wrote a beautiful book titled God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time. In the introduction, Tutu writes, “We all lose hope that the suffering in our lives and in the worl
Hope Christian Reformed Church of Stony Plain, Alta., ceased to exist at the end of 2024. It served as a Reformed congregation in Parkland County of Alberta for about 120 years. It began as a German Reformed Church and ended its life as a Christian Reformed Church. During all those years the congreg
Before my feet even touch the floor, the battle between my desires and God’s will has begun. The phone next to my bed begs me to check my texts before I give any thought to prayer. A hot shower woos me to linger longer than needed. I face the choice between scrolling Facebook or enjoying conversatio
One of my favorite memories of seminary is a meal I ate.I interned at an organization for recovering addicts, the same place where a local church ran a Wednesday Euchre group. Every year at Christmastime someone from that church invited the whole group to eat at his home. In 2013, as a new and subpa
I grew up surrounded by mountains in the Pacific Northwest—“God’s country,” as I was told when I came to Ontario for my first church position. I think I often took the landscape for granted while I was living there. For me, the sights and smells around Vancouver were always my default idea of what t
It’s education hour at Sonshine Community Church. In one room, preschoolers gather in a circle, singing with gusto; in another, teens work to create posters about being a good neighbor; in yet another, an elderly woman tells stories and shows artifacts from her days as a missionary in Asia.What’s go
Candidates for ministry know they will soon wade through a variety of expectations from their churches and communities. People might expect them to be a Bible expert, counselor, mediator of quarrels, visionary leader, community organizer, and church growth expert in addition to a range of other role
A woman in distress lies sprawled on the asphalt in front of the church in the eerie glow of a faint LED streetlight that is about to flicker out. Above her towers a basketball hoop with a toothy, grinning pink-faced clown painted on the backboard. A diverse cast of characters surrounds the woman. A
I was invited to speak to a community college class about spiritual warfare and mentioned the importance of getting a medical evaluation to determine a person’s mental health. After my talk, a student came forward and said, “Pastor, I love your church. I am a nurse in a mental health facility, and y
In 1977 James Dobson founded Focus on the Family to, as their mission statement says, “nurture and affirm the God-ordained institution of the family.” Dobson’s organization was incredibly successful, having a massive effect on churches throughout North America and around the world. Even though minis
If one spends 23 years living and working with Navajo people in western New Mexico, as I did, one will come across stories that need to be told. A cross-cultural setting highlights the uncommon—even remarkable—events of people and places that those of us reared in the prevailing culture find it diff
We weren’t prepared. COVID-19 restrictions were just winding down, and we weren’t yet getting very many drop-in visitors at the church offices. Besides, it was spring break for school families, so we weren’t counting on seeing many people.But the doorbell rang—and we weren’t prepared for the way wha
My face burned as I tipped over the big blue garbage bin and crawled inside, laying a towel on the “floor” as I mopped up the spilled fruit and watermelon juice with paper towels.What was I doing inside a garbage can? Good question. I was at the end of renting a cottage on Lake Michigan and was clea
When a fellow Christian used his podcast to describe me and those who share my perspective regarding church life as so lukewarm that Jesus would vomit us out of his mouth, I felt tempted to respond with mutual insults and contempt. But then I heard Jesus calling me to rejoice!In the conclusion to th
Of all the special anniversaries and observances you are planning to commemorate this year, I’m guessing that not many of us have this one marked on our calendars: “Celebrate 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed.”But I invite you to spend a few moments doing just that.An Ancient and Unifying Stan
Having served in youth ministry for almost 20 years, I know one thing for certain: Nothing changes so rapidly as youth culture. Culture no longer shifts over a generation. It happens overnight.For those in youth ministry, one of the most exhausting challenges is staying relevant. A persistent fear i
Susan lamented all she had missed because of her estrangement from her children. She understood their reasons for cutting her out years ago when addiction fueled her choices. Yet now, after many years of sobriety, she was still unwelcome and cut off from her grandkids. While she has resigned herself