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...
The other day some River friends asked me to share about my history being on staff with the church. “It’s not pretty,” I warned them. When I joined The River’s staff team in the fall of 2004, my timing couldn’t have been worse. We were in a time of...
I love buffets. Whisper “all you can eat” across the room, and I’ll hear you and be ready to go. My favorite things in Las Vegas are the breakfast buffets where I can have as many pieces of bacon and crab legs as I want for $15. I love buffets because I can have a...
No one has ever mistaken me for an outdoorsy person. All the way back to my toddler days, I’ve largely had an aversion to being (or at least feeling) dirty, and the adventure of camping has pretty much no traction with me. I hold this in tension with the fact that I still...