I joined an online book club this fall. It started with one of those random e-mails that sometimes come to my inbox. But this one actually caught my attention. Spend the year reading classics and contemporary contributions in the arena of spiritual formation… Interesting. For...
Have you ever had thoughts like these? If I get a raise, I’ll be happy. If I find a girlfriend, my life will be complete. If my kids do what I ask the first time, I’ll be content. If my parents buy me the new iPhone 6, I’ll never ask for anything else...
In March of last year, when I first came to San José as a fresh Servant Partners[1] prospect, I remember asking one of the directors, Andy Singleterry, a question that troubles me to this day: “As a well-educated white male, how do you see your place in the ministry in the...
While in the Honda car lot nine years ago, my husband told me that if we got the GPS navigation system with the minivan, he believed it would save our marriage. OK, for the sake of our marriage, the investment was worth it. Once we got the GPS, it became apparent that the only way the...
It was a long drive, so I put the tape my friend gave me into my cassette player and started listening to the story of Vietnam POW Jerry Coffee. (Oh, wait. I guess I just dated myself. LOL.) I first heard his story on that road trip. I recently reheard it, and though my life is now...
“But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” – Luke 18:16 (NIV) The faith of our youth is important to the church and its future. It will be up to these...
Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,all the remnant of the people of Israel,you whom I have upheld since your birth,and have carried since you were born.Even to your old age and gray hairsI am he, I am he who will sustain you.I have made you and I will carry you;I will sustain you...
My husband has been laid off five times in the past fifteen years: in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2012, and now 2014. Each time I felt devastated, scared, and had a difficult time trusting in God and others. We have experienced hardships such as not being able to pay rent, not...
People frequently ask me how I got involved with leading worship. I can guess the thought process in their heads: “Marie, you have a doctorate in clinical psychology. Why are you doing this? This has nothing to do with your field.” The truth is that I believe my journey...
A little over a month ago, I did something that felt unusual and unnerving, especially for a workaholic like myself. I took a Sabbath. No, not one of those yearlong ones during which I’d don a robe and check into a monastery. Just a half-day one. Having recently wrapped up a...