Tag: 1 John

Keep Focused

Does the word psychosomatic still have a negative connotation? It used to be that if someone accused you of having a psychosomatic illness, they meant it was "all in your head." In other words, change your thinking and your illness will disappear. But we know so much more now about the mind-body connection. The mind … Continue reading Keep Focused

Getting to Know You

If you want to get to know me but you only invite me to large group gatherings and never have time for a chat over a cuppa joe, you might describe me as awkward, or unfriendly, or cold. I hope I'm not truly awkward, unfriendly, or cold. However, as an introvert, large group settings are … Continue reading Getting to Know You

What’s the News?

A couple years ago, I decided I needed to curtail my practice of ending each day with the first fifteen minutes of the 10 pm newscast. For most of my adult life, I watched the news before bed. But gradually I realized that I wasn’t sleeping soundly, that images or issues from the news wound … Continue reading What’s the News?

Believe. Love.

Many years ago, in my first church job, I had the privilege of working in the front office. Which meant I was the 'face' of the office, handling all the various requests of both members and those who walked in off the street. Brenda, the mentally-absent and sweet homeless woman whom we often let sleep … Continue reading Believe. Love.

Live Lent (2018)

Mom Down! I've been sick for two weeks now. What began as a lousy cold--power through, Mom, as most moms do--and I thought I had and was mostly on the mend--became a painful ear infection and virus v2. Six days on antibiotics and I still have pain and no hearing on my left side. Bleh! Thankfully, … Continue reading Live Lent (2018)

More!

I am my mother's daughter. In some ways, I look like her. In so many others, I think like her or act like her. Even some of the ways I am not like her have been influenced by my relationship with her. I learned from her to share her vision for what is good and … Continue reading More!

Hold the Truth Tight

Conflict. Bleh. With so much conflict in the world, one could hope the church would be a conflict-free zone. Far from it. The Bible speaks clearly about the Church’s enemy who stirs up discord and strife. And if you’ve been around the Church for even some time, you’ve likely seen it. I’ve been involved in … Continue reading Hold the Truth Tight

What’s Your Name? 1 John 2:2-17

Naming our big dog wasn't difficult. We met her on a Wednesday and when we picked her up on Friday, our big kid declared: "Her name is Izzy." We all agreed. Naming our puppy? Not the same story. Oh for sure, C19 named him in seconds, but the rest of us took weeks to agree. We … Continue reading What’s Your Name? 1 John 2:2-17

Hope Has Come

Hope. What is it, even? Does it make any difference? I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight... But hope is more than wishing. Hope is expectancy, pregnant with anticipated reality. Hope gives us strength to muster on, to slog through the daily reality, harsh as it some days may be. … Continue reading Hope Has Come