Some of the most egregious hurt and harm comes from those inside the church. Pastors harm people, elder boards harm people, church people harm other church people and their leaders. I am not alone in having been a recipient of this, and now some of the people who are dearest to me are receiving actions … Continue reading Is This How We Treat Jesus’ Bride?: Confession Before Communion at His Table
Writings
I’m Just Loving Jo
I don't often use this place to write personal posts, but this one is some (at times disconnected) ramblings that are personal. I think so many of us grieve and lose throughout the course of our lifetimes, that it feels fitting to write about grief. The week of Christmas 2023, my cat was diagnosed with … Continue reading I’m Just Loving Jo
Where Is God when Your Brain Fails You?
A month ago, I caught Covid. And a month ago, Covid-brain became part of my life. I know I am not the only one who has felt sturdy when my mind is stable and strong. For those of us who have known otherwise, we have been desperately thankful for the years of a healthy mind. … Continue reading Where Is God when Your Brain Fails You?
“Your Brain on Art” and Other Musings
I'm halfway through this fascinating, intellectually-stimulating book called Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, and decided it was too good to wait until the end to write about this book and a few little thoughts on art in general. First, a few quotes to help encourage you to read this book for … Continue reading “Your Brain on Art” and Other Musings
They Have Been Beautiful
Yesterday was the four year anniversary of the weekend I moved up here. That Sunday in 2018 was one of the saddest, grayest days of my life. And I'm not sure I've ever felt the degree of aloneness I felt that afternoon as my dad and brothers drove back "home" and I walked to the … Continue reading They Have Been Beautiful
The Lord is in this Place
For the past ten weeks, I have been listening to a song by Elevation Worship—pretty much non-stop. The words in “Hear Again” have been the cry of my heart, as I watch one mess and one heartbreak after another engulf our world, our cities, my church. (It is from that song, that I have taken … Continue reading The Lord is in this Place
Communion is for Pandemics and Ever After
This is my body given for you…remember me. This is my blood poured out for you…remember me.—Luke 22:19–20 (paraphrase) Plastic crinkles and tears—harsh sounds in the stillness. None of us imagined that we’d one day be partaking of the Lord’s Supper from individually-packaged plastic cups. That we’d be pulling masks down to eat and drink. … Continue reading Communion is for Pandemics and Ever After
Pressed but Not Crushed
In September 2016, I took a mission trip to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. As this was a trip with the Christian Veterinary Mission, it was centered on animals. One of the things I most remember was the use of the chute for large animal procedures—painful procedures. Ranch assistants would drive the animal into … Continue reading Pressed but Not Crushed
On Fear and Decisions and Living
“Fear works both ways, keeping you from doing things you might want to do and convincing you that you have to do things you don’t want to do.” Emily P. Freeman (The Next Right Thing) For some people, quarantine has brought up dozens of fears—and that surprises them. But for many more of us, I … Continue reading On Fear and Decisions and Living
Take it All and Go to Jesus
For the majority of my first year up here, there was one story in Scripture that I held onto more than any other. I’d like to say it was this story that prepared me for the quarantine season we are in, but actually, it was those early months up here that did that. In Matthew … Continue reading Take it All and Go to Jesus
Down Here Looking Up 