This fall I read the book Renew Your Life by Kai Mark Nilsen. It was a book club selection—not a personal favorite, but one with stirring thoughts nonetheless. One of the book’s more thought-provoking themes was the idea of “the slow work of God.” After...
I don’t know about you, but my experiences with church community have been mixed. I didn’t grow up in the church, so my only real experience of it has been at The River. I’ve been part of the church for sixteen years, but I often feel like an outsider looking in...
I flopped into the familiar orange, speckled armchair in my spiritual director’s living room and grabbed the glass of water on the end table. There were already hints of the coming advent season in her décor. A candle sat next to a nativity scene painting mounted on a...
I was stumped the other day when a speaker at a Club Beyond staff conference asked, "Who was the highest-ranking living person in their military career?” As the Jeopardy music played in my head, I thought it might be Dwight D. Eisenhower or George Washington. They were highly...
Community is something that’s difficult to come by in Silicon Valley. My early years as a Christian, during which I spent a majority of my time on a tight college campus, were rooted in community. My closest friends were walking distance (or biking distance, in UC Davis...
"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." - Luke 23:34 If you're like me, whenever you've encountered this passage you've thought of loving others and forgiving your enemies. I can hear...
One of the clearest messages I absorbed growing up in North American culture was the importance of individualism: I as an individual have the power to make a difference wherever I go, in whatever capacity I choose. Our media is saturated with advertisement mantras like “The...
As October 12, 2015, quickly approaches, economic forecasts have been adjusted to include an upswing in the retail sector. This date marks the end of my yearlong clothing fast. On that date last year, I committed to abstain from all clothing purchases for a year. My husband cheered...
The topic of community has been a big discussion at The River this fall, and it reminds me of another time in my life when I was seeking community and friendship, and not finding it. Or so I thought. I was a young news reporter and newlywed living in a small town. My husband and I...
The Mediterranean culture focuses on community, family, and hospitality. The River’s recent study of Acts and the early church has leapt to life for us as a family because of our recent travels to the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey. The common theme that keeps jumping out is the...