Why Do We Love Those Who Don't Love Us Back?
And so begins my February series of tough LOVE questions. February–an appropriate month for love questions, don’t you think? This series was inspired by a friend and coworker who initially suggested I pose this question for the blog: “If your house was burning, and you could only save one family member, who would it be?”…
Read MoreWhat Do People Say About You?
Once in college a friend asked if I would want to know what people say about me when I’m not around. My answer was an adamant “No.” If people said bad things about me, I didn’t care to know. The possibility people would say good things didn’t strike me then. Probably because, let’s face it…
Read MoreWhat Parts of My Childhood Faith Must I Leave Behind?
I stole this question. From this article in Relevant which was taken from Shauna Niequist’s book Bittersweet. It got me reminiscing about what it was like to be a Christian as a four year old, then a 14-year-old and how those pictures should look the same now, at age 24, and how they should be slightly—or…
Read MoreWhat Do You Know For Sure?
This question inspired the series. It was asked of me (and a few hundred others) by a pastor at the church I attend. He was quoting Gene Siskel, as in “Siskel & Ebert,” who asked this question at the end of each interview he conducted. He did not ask it in the context of the…
Read MoreAsking the Hard Questions: A New Blog Series
In November, I asked a difficult question on this blog: What if God did not do one more good thing for me? People liked it, people found it theologically unsound, people were challenged by it, some had already asked themselves this many times. It still evokes much thought and emotion in me to ponder. It’s…
Read More2011: A Year to be off Facebook and be Less Like Denmark
Watching one full season of The Bachelor and baking chocolate chip cookies at least once. These were my made-up resolutions when asked on New Year’s Eve what I would aspire to in the year 2011. Being the one with the video phone, I forced everyone at the party to answer this question truthfully but when…
Read MoreGive Me a Sign
How many times have I uttered that prayer? Don’t tell me. I’m embarrassed to know the total. I hope I’m not alone in this desperate and repetitive plea. Wouldn’t it be nice for the sign to literally appear? Even just once? I’m talking about walking down the street, asking God for a sign and tripping…
Read MoreI Fell Asleep
in the heat of an afternoon south Texas sun, on the balcony of my parents’ house, reclined on a patio chair. I was sitting in the same place I’ve retreated to for years. It’s my place to figure things out. Do you have one of those? When your thoughts won’t quit or you have a…
Read MoreIt Is a Far, Far Better Thing
Name that novel. I was reminded of this quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities when a co-worker of mine asked us for famous literary quotes for a work project. I kept thinking, “It is a far, far better thing…” and then couldn’t remember the rest. Nor could I remember where it came…
Read MoreThe Gap Year: Why Haven't We Caught On?
“I tapped the cold window with my index finger, ‘squashing’ dilapidated track-side farmhouses as my eyes focused then unfocused on each structure the slow train eased by. I leaned the side of my head against the glass watching my finger tap, tap, tap. There was a book in my bag, but I didn’t reach for…
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