Today, I’m raising my voice for black lives—here is why I haven’t before and why I do now. Let’s start with personality. Some students think I’m an enneagram 8, the Challenger. I’m not. I’m a 1, the Reformer (I prefer “Reformer” to “Perfectionist” because I like to deny my ugly truth). Since I’m a strong, bold, teacher, my students think…
Does the Bible allow Christian women to have authority? Our patriarchal culture, our fathers and mothers, and our churches have often told us no. But what, in fact does the Bible say? Should we shrink back and silence ourselves, or does God allow us to break the silence? I tell a story in my Redbud post, and then I ask…
Piper’s comments that women shouldn’t teach at seminary have been everywhere, it seems. As a seminary adjunct and co-coordinator of seminary chapels, I’ve felt no real urge to respond, surprisingly. I’m used to ideas like his and perhaps I’ve become numb. I find my time is often better spent just doing my job and being faithful. A simple, yet powerful response…
It was a cold early morning in 1993 when I got on the bus leaving my college campus. I was excited. I had paid money to go on this trip, and we were about to March for Life, as so many did yesterday. We filled that coach bus for what we thought was a really good and clear-cut cause and…
As I do most Advent seasons, I think about Mary, and meditate on Luke 1-2, where we find her story in detail. This year, I noticed something I’d missed before—Luke begins his gospel with 3 heroines and only one hero. In fact, the very beginning shows the doubt of Zechariah, a would-be hero who fails. First, the angel comes to…
I’ve completed 38 of 40 weeks, so the birth/life-giving process is understandably high in my mind. I want to write of how I gave physical birth two years ago, but relate it to how we give life to so many things—projects, inventions, programs, more. . . and the world would be better if we told our stories. I waited a…
MOMMYGUILT Yes, I think it should be one word. And yes, I think it should be all CAPS. Because sometimes it feels monolithic and threatens to take over. Before I pushed a child into this world, I felt guilt every now and then, but NOW, NOW a slight action or inaction can bring about a physical pang of MOMMYGUILT. I…
Being silenced is terrible. I know too many who have been silenced by experiences that have taken their voice; some were not allowed to tell their story of abuse, others’ stories were stifled or not believed, and still others were silenced in different ways. And that silencing affects all uses of their voice. In order to regain the use of…
The purity culture of my youth tells me that the best love story is the one where I marry the first man I ever date. To my chagrin, I have a messy break-up with that athletic high school boy that I loved. Will I forever have second best? My sister meets a man in college, dates and marries him. As…
When I’m depressed, angry, and ready to quit, I get this little red book out. Sometimes I have to get it out every day for months; other times, months pass without needing it. It’s my gratefulness journal. It was inspired by Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts (here’s her website). I read the book and bought this moleskin journal. My gratefulness…