running the treadmill

I’m not sure who invented the treadmill.  I imagine it was someone who decided that a rainy day wouldn’t stand in their way of a long jog.  Or maybe it was someone who wanted to go running, but didn’t appreciate the judgmental glances that were thrown their way when their out-of-shape body went shuffling down

discerning through frustration

I seem to be perpetually frustrated.  As I read back through my previous posts, I sound like the type of person I would not want to be around.  I hope I am not this way and that my frustration is only spilled throughout this blog because it is an outlet…a place where I can complain

changing of the guard

A whole year has passed since I last posted (well, I just cleared out my “drafts” folder and posted old, unfinished posts, but those don’t count as “real” posts!) and in many ways it feels like just yesterday.  Many lessons have been learned in this past year that might one day warrant a full explanation

hardest thing I’ve ever done

As we counted down the days to our move, it was very surreal to me.  It’s hard to imagine life after your everyday routine.  Hard to imagine not seeing the people you see so often.  We had grown especially close to some of the youth and families from Bethlehem and in many ways we truly

when community sours

We all long for acceptance.  We need to know that we are loved.  Beyond that, we need to be around others who validate us, give us some sense that the way we are doing life and the choices we’ve made have not made us less than human.  The Bible talks about community over and over,

weighing our desires

God’s will is such a hard thing to discern at times.  Other times it couldn’t be simpler.  For example, it is pretty easy to discern that God’s will is probably not that you should get addicted to drugs, kill your neighbor or run naked across a busy highway in the height of rushhour.  Some things we just

what kind of disciple are you?

When I hear the word disciple, I immediately think of the guys that Jesus chose as his followers.  Then I immediately think about people that are more religious than me, know more scripture than me, or are more Christian than me.  I may not be alone in feeling that I could never be labeled a

bittersweet sunday

Today I announced to my church of the past 4 years that I will leaving in 8 weeks.  In the split second of an unexpected announcement, one cannot filter their initial emotions.  Likewise, it is extremely difficult to deliver news that can potentially cause sadness and pain.  It was hard to see the kids faces

remaining silent

I’d never understood what it felt like to be in the minority.  When I heard stories of the Civil Rights Movement, I couldn’t understand why it was so hard for people to speak up for their convictions.  How hard could it be to take a stand and give others permission to follow your lead? It’s

constant discernment

We usually talk about discernment as the activity that precedes a journey.  We discern which direction God wants us to go, then we take off in that direction fully focused on what God has called us to do.  There is something good in the determination we show, but there is more to discernment than this.