As an author, I always hope my words will impact my readers. But sometimes this goal reverses. Sometimes I find myself changed by another writer’s work. For me, that writer is Anne Lamott. Several years ago, I was thrilled to attend a presentation by Anne Lamott. She was, as I expected, witty as well as …
To keep an open mind and fully underscore our value systems, I believe it is important to listen to both sides of an argument. Learn the merits of civil debate. As a writer, I research and analyze characters, settings, and the ever-changing plotlines of life. The power of the story. The current story we humans …
She reached out to touch my hand, her pudgy toddler fingers soft and warm. Dark brown Hispanic eyes twinkled with joy as we played peek-a-boo around her mother’s shoulder. I would have given her mother $20 to let me hold this precious daughter. But then maybe the spell of our game would have ended. We …
When we observe Holy Week, we often focus on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. But a spiritually important topic emerges on what I call ‘Silent Saturday.’ Imagine those early Jesus followers in the first century. Their champion had been brutally murdered by the Roman empire at the instigation of the Jewish religious leaders. …
Maybe it’s because I worked six years for a faith-based women’s center. Or maybe it’s because I have known so many incredible women with amazing giftings. Maybe it’s because we are in the middle of International Women’s Month. For whatever reason, the topic of valuing women is front and center. Growing up in a legalistic …
What is the difference between the pain of growing and the pain of suffering? Neither type of pain is comfortable and most of us try to avoid all pain. We want life to be struggle free, even if we have to ask the doctor for a prescription to ease our suffering. But is there a …
As a former athlete, I fully admit I still love watching sports. Of course, like most folks — I have my favorite teams. But I tend to cheer most during the college football and basketball seasons and for my team in the NFL. In fact, I am known as a ‘yeller.’ Not afraid to cheer …
Over the last few weeks, I have been digging into the Beatitudes—those written steps that lead into the Sermon on the Mount. Somewhere, I’ve heard them referred to as Beautiful Attitudes. I like that moniker. But I also think they give us some clues into how attitudes lead into behaviors. Perhaps my recent study comes …
As a creative person and the leader of a group of creative writers, I’m always seeing the creativity around me. One of the places I’ve noticed an unusual amount of creativity is within my church. The Pianist: She adds notes to basic chords, filling them out so that they resonate with the melody, yet create …
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we focus on gifts, decorations, activities, and family gatherings. Many denominations make Christmas the most ‘wonderful time of the year.’ Yet for Jesus followers, our focus should be that empty tomb. The Lenten season leads up to the hosannas of Palm Sunday, the tragedy of Good Friday, and …