When and How Much Should You Invest in People?
A question inspired by this weekend’s events in which I found myself in an unfamiliar setting with many unfamiliar faces. I volunteered at Young Life camp family weekend. My job along with several other girls about my age was to care for toddlers while their parents attended seminars and worship services. I was a last-minute…
Read MoreDoes Love Win?
Here I go. Watch me. I’m jumping onto the Love Wins Commentators Bandwagon. I have finished this media-frenzied, supposedly polarizing book and am now slyly inserting my review into a question-shaped post. And after I’ve said my peace, we can all stop talking about this whole Rob Bell/Love Wins thing. It is what they’ve all been saying:…
Read MoreAt What Age are You Grown Up?
Asking the hard questions has resulted in some heavy posts. See here, here, and here. We all need to take a deep breath, through the nose out through the mouth. Heavy posts are exhausting for the reader and the writer. I don’t want to be theological today or talk about heartache or God’s will for…
Read MoreIf He Didn't Want Us to Eat From the Tree, Why'd He Put It in the Garden?
My dad says I asked this question at age five. And look, I’m still asking it. And just the other night, I had a friend ask it–or a version of it–in our church small group and I thought, “Yep, still wondering about that one.” It’s a biggie. Like really huge. So huge that typically, we…
Read MoreIs It Ok to "Pray for Your Future Spouse"?
A question that’s been rolling around over the past three days. Probably because I was in two back-to-back weddings this weekend, both conveniently located on a ranch 30 minutes from my hometown. I forget how beautiful hay bales are. A lot goes into a wedding: save-the-dates, engagement photos, invitations, bridal showers, ribbon, centerpieces, daisies and…
Read MoreIs It Possible to Pray Too Much?
You don’t want to be around me in the midst of a big decision-making time. The effort I put into it would exhaust even an onlooker. For example, when I was trying to decide between two grad schools, I went back and forth so many times I was surprised the one I finally chose still…
Read More"Are We Human, Or Are We Dancers?"
The month of love questions is over, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see them go. Talking about love gets wearisome, so let’s talk about fate, and predestination, and God’s will, and free will. You can thank Matt Damon for the new series of questions, and you can thank The Killers for this week’s…
Read MoreDo You Love Yourself?
I’ve yet to address love of self in this series of difficult love questions for February. I’ve questioned why we love those that don’t love us back, asked what the role Jesus plays in my love life, and also wondered what to do when love leaves you. But I haven’t asked if you love you?…
Read MoreLove-Where Does It Go after a Break-up?
A certain character on a certain rerun of a certain TV show asked a puzzling question: “When you love someone, and you break up, where does the love go?” Thank you Carrie Bradshaw for the inspiration for this week’s post. At first, this question is a little absurd. Love can’t go anywhere, Carrie. It’s a…
Read MoreCan Jesus Really Be My Valentine?
It made me uncomfortable to even write that heading. But keeping in theme with this year’s blog series of difficult–or uncomfortable–questions and this month’s “love series,” I guess that’s how I should be feeling. I’m recalling a time my sister and her friends made t-shirts on Valentine’s Day when they were freshman in college. In iron-on…
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