“I think I thrive under a lack of accountability.” ~Michael Scott, The Office Welcome to Accountability 101. Truth is a very valuable commodity. I think it’s safe to say it’s the most valuable commodity. That and love. And time. And hummus. Okay, maybe not hummus but that’s why I need accountability. I need people to tell me when I’m off track. I need encouragers who speak the truth so I won’t end up in a proverbial bubble of thoughts and philosophies. “Yes” men, or women Read More
Blog
What’s the Deal with the Christianese?
Something that cracks me up about believer lingo is the way some of us inadvertently slip into Christianese—you know, that unique way of speaking that identifies us as “Christian” to the outside world. The problem with Christianese is that it’s only understood by people within the same subculture. Much like consulting the Urban Dictionary to understand what on earth your teenager is talking about, Christianese can be downright confusing to new believers or those outside the group. When a friend of mine moved down south Read More
When Your Road is an Emmaus: What to Do in the Waiting
“A watched pot never boils.” The old adage has rolled around in my brain for the past few months as I’ve waited for something to happen. The “something” doesn’t really matter as far as this blog goes, but that “something” has been tormenting me, calling over and over. Why is waiting so hard? That dream that once seemed so certain seems frustratingly elusive at the moment. It’s as if God is keeping His hand on my shoulder as I survey the new landscape before me Read More
Am I a Wonder Junkie?
What is it about a car wreck that keeps us from looking away? No matter how busy our morning or crammed our schedules, when we see those flashing blue lights and watch the EMTs stooping to help pull a driver from their mangled car, we slam our brakes to get a better look. Is the person okay? Is the car totaled? Who else was involved? The more sensational the event, the worse the rubbernecking. Psychologists say the common practice of rubbernecking is human instinct–a wild Read More
When Fear Hides
Fear wears many masks. I used to think it was a one-dimensional kind of thing. A nail-biting, knee-knocking kind of reaction to anything that made me nervous or afraid. But fear that doesn’t warn us away from harm is not of God. It’s darkness. A tool of our enemy. And a smart enemy doesn’t announce his attack before he strikes. He sneaks in, making himself look harmless. Attractive…sometimes even like another person altogether. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I Read More
A Tale of Three Dogs: What it Means to Walk with God
I have three dogs that keep me hopping. All different breeds, all different ages. Their favorite thing each day is for me to walk them around our neighborhood. It’s not an easy task. Trying to keep three dogs in pace with varying temperaments and attitudes can be tricky, but God has taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with Him as I’ve wrestled my wild canines and herded them through our quiet streets. Brieanne is an 8 month old blue heeler and is Read More
Breaking Free from Stuttering: The Power of Limitations
“Slow of speech doesn’t mean slow of mind.” I stuttered as a child and I remember the frustration of a brain that was brimming with ideas and words, yet was burdened with a tongue that refused to obey. I would be desperately trying to share something with my mom or dad and my lips would stall. My parents patient admonition to “Slow down, sis” would force me to take a deep breath but it didn’t help the words flow any easier. The only thing that Read More
My Word for 2021
Most of us are ready to kiss 2020 goodbye. It’s been a marker of disease and death, upheaval and shock. Yet simply turning over the pages of a calendar doesn’t mean life magically rids itself of pain. No one but God knows what the next year holds which is why I’ve been so thoughtful about what word I’ll choose to meditate on during this upcoming year. After much prayer, I feel God leading me toward the word HOPE. Years ago, Steve Westbrook ingrained in my Read More
Is It Better “To Do” or “To Be”: How a Goal-Driven Person Seeks God
Not long ago, I finished up a beautiful study on the book of Hosea by Jennifer Rothschild. She challenged her readers to do something I love: to make a to-be list instead of a to-do list. I’m prolific at creating master to-do lists. They give me a sense of control, a sense of accomplishment and keep my cluttered mind from letting crucial jobs slip through the cracks of my faulty memory. (Correction: these things give me illusion of control, accomplishment and clearer brain function.) Despite Read More
Christmas Treasure: The True Eyewitness Testimony of Bethlehem Shepherds
One of the blessings, and sometimes headaches, of being a historical author is the amount of research I have to wade through each week. On occasion, a gem appears that is so rare, so astoundingly beautiful, that it makes the hours of sleeplessness worth every moment. Each Christmas I find particular joy in digging anew into the accounts of Jesus’ birth. I’ve studied Simeon, Anna, the outposts around Bethlehem, the innkeeper, Mary…the possibilities are endless. But this year, I was giddy to discover a letter Read More