Advent, these weeks leading to Christmas, with their invitation to enter into longing, is here again. Having appreciated this liturgical season for many years, I’m game. I have a handful of devotional books that usher me into the theme of longing and related practices. I like the...
This past spring, someone on Facebook put out an ask to borrow a video camera. I had a new one sitting in my closet, so I lent it, along with a tripod, microphones, and cables to the person in need. After awhile, I asked about the equipment, and the person said it was still being used...
David and I first met in 1997 as interns with the now defunct ministry Teen Mania. We became good friends, and, when the year ended, we both joined Bibleway Ministries in Hong Kong. Our six-month stint included leading teams from around the world into China, smuggling thousands of Bibles...
Honestly, evangelism was never something I felt comfortable with since it was not my gift and since I am not a natural salesman. Like most "nice-for-you" people, I don't like to shove the religious pill down anyone's throat and I don't like it when I am being coerced to change the...
“Know who you are.” My college World Civilizations professor said this was what she most remembers her father telling her as she went off to college. He wanted to remind her that her values and morals ought to guide her daily choices and her decisions about her future...
As a pastor’s daughter, I spent most of my childhood in compliant obedience, participating in all the church activities. When I was in high school, my Dad planted a Vietnamese church in Alameda. On the weekends, we would go to downtown Oakland and do outreach events and pass out...
I’ve never considered myself a meditative person. I’ve always been a fast-paced person, trying to get the most efficiency and productivity out of my day. Image credit: Geza Molnar / Pexels In the last few years, I have made a concerted effort to develop a morning...
Lord, why do I forget? Like all human beings, I am susceptible to aging and the loss of mental capacity, but I’m referring to forgetting God’s work in my life while remembering the lyrics to “Billy Jean” and a million other meaningless pieces of...
You know you’re burned out when you can’t even publicly acknowledge for a year that you’re burned out. This November marks one year since I stepped down from my role as worship coordinator at The River, bringing my three-and-a-half-year stint on staff to a...
It's hard being a parent, a spouse, a child, and a principal. I feel equipped and capable of assuming all of these roles individually. Just not all at the same time. Being an elementary school principal isn't the most technically demanding job in the world, but the social demands can...