My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Three Heroes of 2019
My three heroes of 2019! I’m someone who really enjoys looking back on what has already happened and planning ahead for what is to come.
Speaking at the Festival of Faith & Writing
Years ago, I saw an ad in an issue of Books and Culture for something called the Festival of Faith & Writing. The name of
#26: Jesus Came from a Dysfunctional Family
Episode #26 — Jesus Came from a Dysfunctional Family: I’m sneaking in one more bonus episode of the podcast because I couldn’t resist and because
#25: Merry Christmas
Episode #25 — Merry Christmas: Our children will open presents today, and their joy at receiving gifts that they cannot buy for themselves will remind
#24: Birthday Party for Jesus
Episode #24 — Birthday Party for Jesus: Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to throw a birthday party for Jesus. As we approach the mayhem
#23: Light That Guides Us
Episode #23 — Light That Guides Us: Living with Jesus, living in the light, means we start to see the things that God hates in this
#22: Seeing the Darkness
Episode #22 — Seeing the Darkness: In today’s episode I talk about our options when we see the darkness inside our own lives, like a
#21: Darkness and Light
Episode #21 — Darkness and Light: The darkness of the human heart. We don’t like to talk about that darkness, not at Christmastime, and really
#20: Joy All Year Round
Episode #20 — Joy All Year Round: When I sing Christmas hymns to my children at night, I am naming something that runs deeper than
#19: Light in the Darkness
Episode #19 — Light in the Darkness: The light shines in the darkness. Today’s episode looks at how the glitz, parties, and gifts of the
#18: Not Prepared
Episode #18 — Not Prepared: I’m more or less ready for Christmas. But am I ready for Jesus? Not really. I’m not prepared for Jesus
#17: Ordinary Hard Stuff
Episode #17 — Ordinary Hard Stuff: Today’s reflection comes from a time when our kids were little, our cat was alive, and I was in
Teaching Students About Inclusion and Belonging
Teaching students about inclusion and belonging gives them a more expansive view of humanity. Because of advances in special education, many kids today are growing
#16: George Bailey and the Secret to Being Content {Part Two}
Episode #16 — George Bailey and the Secret to Being Content {Part Two}: Today’s episode is for all of us who think we need impressive
#15: George Bailey and the Secret to Being Content {Part One}
Episode #15 — George Bailey and the Secret to Being Content {Part One}: In today’s episode I give you a glimpse of when I was
#14: Love Hates
Episode #14 — Love Hates: In today’s episode, I look at Mary’s song and an uncomfortable truth about who God is. Yes, God is love.
#13: Being Elizabeth
Episode #13 — Being Elizabeth: What does it take for Mary to have hope? It takes God’s word, sure. But it also takes Elizabeth. It
#12: When Mary Says “Oh Crap” to God
Episode 12 — When Mary Says “Oh Crap” to God: In today’s episode I focus on Mary’s humanness. We know Mary was frightened. We know
#11: Shame and Glory
Episode #11: Shame and Glory — In the moment, which we now call “the Annunciation,” Mary said “yes” to both shame and glory, writes poet
#10: Anxiety and the Prince of Peace
EPISODE #10: Anxiety and the Prince of Peace —Mary had good reasons to be anxious. Anxiety comes up throughout the Bible, and over and over
Why We Need Both the Pastoral and the Prophetic
What’s the difference between pastors and prophets? For me, prophets conjure up images of bearded men of old, pronouncing doom upon society if we don’t
#9: Holy Questions
EPISODE #9: Holy Questions — A baby born of a virgin, a God who became a human being, a promise that the entire world will
#8: Hoping to Find Faith
EPISODE #8: Hoping to Find Faith —Today we look at Luke’s story of Jesus. We’re invited to enter this story with our questions, but also
#7: Waiting
EPISODE #7: Waiting—Advent involves the sorrowful expectation in the waiting that God will indeed bring good news by showing up in our messy, broken lives.
#6: Somber Exile
EPISODE #6: Somber Exile—There is nothing trite about this time of year. In today’s podcast we see that Advent is a time of sorrowful expectation,
In Their Own Words: Penny and William on Technology
In their own words! Penny and William have some things to say about children and families and technology. Most of our kids’ friends have some
#5: The Importance of Gifts
EPISODE #5: The Importance of Gifts —At times I want to protest the commercialization of Christmas. In today’s episode we talk about tinsel and tacky
#4: Other Religions at Christmastime
EPISODE #4: Other Religions at Christmastime—A simple statement from our son makes me realize I haven’t talked much about other religions with our children. Episode
#3: Prepare Him Room
EPISODE #3: Prepare Him Room—Today’s passage from Matthew 1:22-25 is about how Joseph and Mary prepared to welcome Jesus as their son, which reminds me
How We Think About Giving Money Away
Giving money away. What do we think about that? Over the last two decades, Peter and I have thought a lot about where to give
