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True diversity is complex. It's not just about skin color, gender, and sexual orientation. It's about thought and worldview. It involves a person's faith, education, occupation, income level, geography, political affiliation, life experience, and more. You can have 20 people at a table with mixed skin color, gender, and sexual orientation with the same thoughts… Continue reading Diversity →

scripture inspiration: John 13:1-17 To wash each other's feet daily is to serve each other in humility. To be conduits of the Living Water as we stoop low, offering cleansing and healing in our touch to wash away the dust and grime of daily life. In this way we bring holiness and love. To affirm… Continue reading Wash Feet Daily →

Reading: Luke 1:30-34 Gabriel's back at it, bringing messages straight from the presence of God. He's like, what's up Mary! You're going to be carry the most important baby to ever grace the face of this planet in your womb. He is the divine King - the One whose reign is forever and ever. The… Continue reading Advent Day 6: God Transcends Our Limitations →

Reading: Luke 1:25-29 God's interactions and blessings seem to cause disruptions in everyday life. A needy infant to be born to an old couple likely living a slow and peaceful life (full of uninterrupted sleep!). A mysterious pregnancy to one who is engaged, causing friction between her and her betrothed. Hardly what Mary expected prior… Continue reading Advent Day 5: A Literal Co-Laboring →

Reading: Luke 1:20-24 What strikes me brilliantly as I think of the things I read is the sheer ordinariness of the lives people are leading when God reaches in and speaks. How He weaves His divinity in with our humanity: how Jesus is the culmination of this divinity-humanity combo. People go about their work, their… Continue reading Advent Day 4: Divinity Woven into Humanity →

Reading: Luke 1:15-19 Key Takeaway: Identity, faith. Faith that what God says is true and that we are who God says we are; we will do what God lays out for us to do. My notes/observations: The angel speaks identity & proclaims anointing over this child to come, this answer to Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayers.… Continue reading Advent Day 3: Faith in What God Speaks and Assigns →

Reading: Luke 1:10-14 Key Takeaway: Even when we give up hope and stop praying for something, Father God perseveres and blesses at the right time. My notes/observations on the passage: A crowd gathered at the appointed time of sacrifice to worship. We need to gather together to pray and worship. An angel appeared suddenly, standing… Continue reading Advent Day 2: Abba Always Hopes, Always Perseveres →

Reading: Luke 1:5-9 Key Takeaway: Our prayers and worship are a sweet, fragrant offering to God, and we are so fortunate to be able to be in His presence without restriction. My notes/observations of the passage: In these times, God's people - the Jewish people - were under Roman rule. Zechariah & Elizabeth were both… Continue reading Advent Day 1: Our Hearts, the Altar – Our Prayers, The Sacrifice →

There's often an ache in my neck and shoulders, tension that sometimes extends into pain. I'm sure part of it is due to extended hours in front of a computer with lazy ergonomics. But at a deeper level, I feel I'm being weighed down by my yoke of performance in trying to meet my own… Continue reading Pleasant Rest, Easy to Bear →

"Church is not under attack. Christians are under a microscope. Are we who we say we are?" - Shannan Martin Is the Church, the global family of Christians, truly offering a different sort of lifestyle, or simply offering the lifestyle of the world with different messaging? If the Church is not under attack, why do… Continue reading Church: Are We Who We Say We Are? →