“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.” (John 10:14 MSG) Three years ago, my son and I moved to a goat farm. The goats (and chickens and pigs) belonged to my landlords, so we got all the benefits of living in a pastoral environment without any…
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Rom 12:18 NIV) Recently, I posted a tongue-in-cheek statement on Twitter. My satire landed well with those who got the reference. Those who didn’t, however, were another story. I expected some on the other side of the debate to…
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV) How do we handle the anxiety that grows between our expectations and our reality? My first memory of true anxiety occurred during my…
The past year has been quite a struggle in many ways, and I’d like to say I’ve learned a lot in the process. Truthfully, it’s probably too soon to tell. Between working from home full-time, dealing with the stress of the pandemic, processing my anxiety and past trauma in therapy, and ensuring the stock of…
In the tense uncertainty, I find myself groping for the familiar. Newly married, newly a mom, and newly relocated, I craved familiarity when, for the first time ever, I moved 600 miles away from where I grew up. I baked my sister’s tried-and-true chocolate chip cookies often, because the tantalizing smell would immediately transport me…
We’re heading back into fall, and we can expect to continue our coexistence with the novel coronavirus. Of course, we continue to pray and hope for treatments and a vaccine, but I’d like to explore what dependence on Christ looks like during this most unusual time. The Peace of Christ in the Community God’s Word…