I heard Andrew Peterson perform a few weeks ago. The guy’s profound and thoughtful, and I ended up scribbling a bunch of notes on the back of a pew envelope because I wanted to remember all his nuggets of wisdom. He spoke of a season of suffering that he railed against at first. No one … More The Shape of Things * 10 Minute Devotional
Back in my college days I trained for a marathon. The day before the big race, I was nervous as all-get-out. Would I make it to the starting line on time in the crazy early-morning Chicago traffic? Would I embarrass myself by flaming out at mile twenty? Would I even be able to finish? One of … More A People Prepared * 10 Minute Devotional
Today I’m excited to welcome guest blogger Dana Herndon, writer at An Ordinary View, middle school teacher, and mother of three. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) This is one of my favorite verses. A simple, yet complex explanation of faith. Because that is how faith … More Faith, Parenting, and Faithful Parenting
(First and foremost, to my current congregants: Have no fear – I am not leaving! This is a post from last year about my former church in Wisconsin. K, on with the post…) If you’ve been going to church for any length of time, odds are you’ve had a pastor leave. Sometimes it’s for another … More When a Pastor Moves On
We live in a smallish space. 1200 square feet, to be exact. If you live in NYC, you may be thinking, “That’s enormous!” If you live anywhere else, you probably think that’s on the tinier side. A small space can be a challenge. For one thing, by the time it’s 6:30am my kids are READY TO GO (because … More 10 Tips for Small Space Living
UCC Pastor Lillian Daniel, co-author of An Odd and Wondrous Calling, wrote a Huffington Post piece that went viral a few years ago. In it she vented about her irritation with those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious.” Daniels writes: Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn’t interest me. There is nothing challenging about having … More Personal, not Private * 10 Minute Devotional
Holy Week’s a-comin’, friends. After basically missing the whole shebang last year due to a case of extremely overdue pregnant-itis, I’m stoked for this year. Holy Week, the high point in the church year that begins with Palm Sunday (April 9, this year) and ends on Easter Sunday (April 16), is the best. If the church had a Super … More 10 Ways to Enter Into Holy Week
A man stopped by my church a few months ago ago. We didn’t know him and he didn’t know us. He came in and simply said, “I’m a Christian and I don’t need anything from you except this: would you pray for me?” I offered to pray with him right then and there, but he said he … More Why Not Ask? * 10 Minute Devotional
Denise Levertov wrote a poem called “The Ache of Marriage.” When I studied it in college I wanted to throw it in the garbage. Marriage achy? Pfffft. Another example of a poet writing silly nonsense. Then I got married. That Levertov? She knew some things. Daryl finished his PhD this September. In many ways, his dissertation became a third … More The Ache of Marriage
Welcome to my friend Kristine Aragon-Bruce (hi, Kristine!). Kristine is a mom, a displaced West-Coaster, and a pastor in a PC(USA) church in Chicagoland. She has a killer sense 0f humor and writes from the heart. Enjoy her devotional! Isaiah 9:2 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a … More Silent Nights * Advent Devotional
Courtney B Ellis 