Sometimes we’re so busy living in shame, beating ourselves up for our past, that we neglect to remember what God forgives. Can Jesus forgive you if you’ve had an abortion? Absolutely. Can Jesus forgive you if you’ve dabbled in drugs and alcohol and are now battling addiction? Without a doubt. Can Jesus forgive you if you’ve had an affair? Of …
by Tara Johnson Have you seen the “Stop It” sketch starring Bob Newhart? A friend recently showed it to me on Youtube and I confess, it left me in stitches. Let me give you the quick run-down: Bob Newhart is playing a therapist and a woman enters his office as a first time patient. He tells her he only charges …
There it was. The screaming. The wailing. The crying. Audible proof that my two girls had engaged in another battle of wills as they cleaned their room. I braced myself for the onslaught of “she said”s and “It’s all her faults”s as I climbed the stairs to their room. Sure enough, one was accused of pushing her work off on …
by Tara Johnson Push ups. Pull ups. Sit ups. Juice fasts. No carbs. All carbs. Cellulite. Lipsuction. Tummy tucks. Botox. Lunges. Slimming pants. Spanx. Colon cleanse. Burn, sweat and you’ll be ripped, finally attaining physical perfection and the fulfillment of your dreams. Sound familiar? Our culture is inundated with the strive for the perfect body. Whether it’s diets, workout …
by Tara Johnson We’ve looked at the ups and downs of PK life, as well as the lasting scars inflicted by cruel people in many churches. But don’t throw out your fish food yet. Some guppies have tried to swim through turbulent waters and floundered. Others have thrived, even in a tiny fish bowl with hundreds of eyes on them, …
by Tara Johnson I was surprised seeing all the hands raised in the room. A room filled with inmates. I was surprised but not shocked. When I asked the inmates at Tucker prison if there were any preacher’s kids in the audience, at least one sixth of those in attendance raised their hands, sheepish smiles ghosting their faces. From PK …
by Tara Johnson My car is stuck in second gear. True story. Actually, it’s my husband’s car but I had the distinct displeasure of driving ‘the turtle’, as I call it, yesterday while taking my middle child to Speech so my hubby could use our good vehicle for a short road trip. I’d totally forgotten his car had seen …
by Tara Johnson They see much. They hear more than you think. And all of it leaves an indelible impression on their young hearts. Who am I speaking of? I’m talking about the preacher’s kid. Speaking as a PK, I can tell you that being on the ministry front lines is a unique experience. You see it all: the good, …
Selfies. Everywhere I look. Some cute, some hideous. The whole selfie craze has become a cultural phenomenon. There are even thousands of websites and Youtube videos dedicated to teaching the art of taking a good selfie. We are a culture obsessed. Just this morning I googled selfie products and was astounded to find pages upon pages of links and products. …
You know the feeling. A cold, clenched stomach. Darkness. A pounding heart. All you want to do is hide. You beg the eyes fixed on you to disappear but they won’t. They gape and you wonder what they must think, how they must see you. You feel worthless. Exposed. I’m talking about shame. Is there a more miserable feeling? …