RECENT POSTS
S6 E9 | Spiritual Timekeeping in a New Year with James K. A. Smith
Do you feel like there isn’t enough time or wish you could just get a better hold on time? This episode is a chance to
Love Entered In
When I don’t understand someone, and when I can’t get them to understand me, I tend to move away. I judge and worry and retreat.
God Enters Into the Messiness of a Broken World
The family of God is a family with sex scandals and petty infighting and alcoholism and abuse. With disease and suffering and betrayal. With rejection
Jesus Came From a Dysfunctional Family Too
Jesus came from a dysfunctional family. I wrote those words for the first time a few years ago, and I remind myself of them every
Christianity Today | From Holistic Health to a Holistic Gospel
Wellness is a buzzword, and it’s a buzzword I kind of appreciate. I like expanding our notion of health beyond medication. It’s important to be
On Pointe, Step by Determined Step
Penny performed on pointe in the Nutcracker this past weekend (video below). And maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal or something to write
Why Do We Know So Much About Mary?
Why do we know so much about Mary, the mother of Jesus? Why do we still have a record of this young, poor, Jewish woman
In Good Time
One of my biggest spiritual struggles is with time. There are times when I treat time as a god. As if I can appease time
Santa Can Be Tough For Kids With Disabilities
Penny and I stood in front of Town Hall last Saturday night, listening to Marilee and her school choir singing Carol of the Bells. Then
S6 E8 | Christmas, When Church Lets You Down with Bekah McNeel
It’s Christmastime! But how do we celebrate Christmas when consumerism and church hurt bring complicated feelings to this season? Journalist Bekah McNeel talks with
The Infinite Became Finite
I read an essay about math (of all things!) in the New Yorker a few months ago that made me all the more grateful for
December Introductions
It is time for another introduction! If you are new around here, welcome, and please know that I love getting to know who you are
What People Are Saying About To Be Made Well Groups
One of the great gifts of being a writer whose words go out to places near and far is hearing from the people in those
Am I Willing to Be Interrupted by God’s Work of Love in the World?
Jesus’ birth was only noticed by the outsiders. The Magi, non-Israelite foreigners who worshiped a distant god, nevertheless paid attention to the star in the
Why I Am Neither Conservative Nor Progressive
Conservatism in one sphere can lead to progressivism in another. To be more specific, theological conservatism can lead to social and political progressivism. Last week,
God’s Boundless Love
Wider than my arms can reach. Those are the words I used to say to our kids to describe how big our love was for
Two-Word Family Check-In
Lately, I’ve been sending a text once each week to our whole family to check in on how everyone is doing. I used to just
3 Things to Watch This Weekend
Here are 3 things to watch this weekend. We had an unexpected family movie weekend, where we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding and then Wakanda Forever
I Have a Gift for You: Movements of Healing Guide
DOWNLOAD FREE GUIDE Honesty, humility, and hope. These are the three movements of healing we see again and again in the gospel stories of healing.
Big News for the Becker Family
Big news for the Becker family today! Many of you have watched and read and listened as our family has grown up over the years,
S6 E7 | The Cost of Control with Sharon Hodde Miller
How does control lead to anxiety? How can we let go of the illusion of control and entrust our lives to God? Pastor and author
