The month of March was a difficult month to say the least. Literally on March 1st, I received a call that my aunt had passed away quite unexpectedly. And while we were dealing with the many details of this death…
Read MoreMy friend and fellow Immanuel member, Mike Midkiff posted this image on FB yesterday. It is a section of the Bible, Psalm 82, which speaks to the engagement of God’s people with the vulnerable of the world…
Read More“I am no scientist. I explore the neighborhood. An infant who has just learned to hold his head up has a frank and forthright way of gazing about him in bewilderment. He hasn’t the faintest clue where he is, and he aims to learn…
Read MoreA couple weekends ago, I took a trip back home to Gig Harbor to spend some quality time with my brother, Alec. A special bonus of my trip was visiting my mom’s 5th and 6th grade classroom.
Read MoreSometimes as a worship leader, it can feel like your role is to be a cheerleader. And not even a cheerleader for a good and mighty God, but for the church itself, propping people up every week...
Read MoreI learned something new this year during the Martin Luther King, Jr (MLK) observance: his views on racial and economic equality were not widely embraced by either the white or black church.
Read MoreLast week Rob brought an article to our staff meeting entitled, “Communion, a Counter-Monument,” which sparked discussion about the social reality that communion historically declared, and ought to still be declaring.
Read MoreI’ve struggled with the Old Testament for a long time. I never understood the passages where it seems like God is behind the killing of many people. Or when the psalmists would talk about getting revenge on their enemies…
Read MoreIn my role as executive minister of Serve Globally, people often ask me how I got into missions. I answer this question differently depending on who’s asking, but my response usually includes the following elements in some form.
Read MoreAs Christians, we’re given an alternative way to think about how we inhabit time. There are two kinds of time in the New Testament Greek. Chronos is time as we typically understand it, time as duration: this happens, then this, then this.
Read MoreThis was the second time I have attended the MLK rally and march here in Spokane. My daughter and I marched with other members of Immanuel. The decision to participate was sort of a no-brainer. We are a part of Immanuel, Immanuel values racial reconciliation and we were able to attend, so we joined in.
Read MoreAs a doula, my number one goal is to empower women. In the birthing room, I do not speak for them, I do not make decisions for them. If I’ve done my job well, both mother and partner are educated and prepared beforehand to ask questions, to know what could happen and to make decisions with confidence.
Read MoreThe other day my small group and I were reading John 5, which includes the story of a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Day-in, day-out he sits near a pool that many believed had healing powers, hoping that someday he might be first into the pool, which he hoped could heal him and free him.
Read MoreI recently read the book “Just Mercy- A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson. It is a book that opened my eyes. It is too easy to sit in my own comfort zone. This zone often includes my home, my family, my friends, my city, my church, my community, and the list could go on.
Read MorePatience, patience, patience. When it comes to pursuing goals, it is hard for me to be patient especially when I have this notion that running into any obstacles means that I have become a “failure” and that it will be harder to accomplish my goals. In the past two and a half years repeatedly I felt as if I was failing at school.
Read More“The angel Gabriel from Heaven came
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘Thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!’”
For a lot of people, the subject of Christmas music is a pretty sticky one.
Read MoreI have always been someone who questions my purpose.Most of the time, whether it was a volunteer position or a job, I would start to question what I was doing and start looking for something new and what I thought was “better” a little before I had been there 2 years. I felt that I wasn’t doing “enough.”
Read MoreOne person has stated that hospitality is resistance. In a world that caters to the rich, uber-gifted and best looking, true Biblical hospitality is a prophetic voice. When the larger empire disregards and dishonors certain persons, small acts of respect and welcome are powerful gestures of a greater Kingdom!
Read MoreSeveral years ago, I spent a summer working as an intern for a children’s ministry, helping with a summer Vacation Bible School program. During a daily session, one of the leaders was giving a message about fear, and asked kids to shout out some things that frightened them.
Read MoreEvery year on Thanksgiving I sit at a table with family and close friends and we declare things we are thankful for. I think this is a terrific exercise and we should incorporate more of this into our daily lives! I am thankful for my family, for my home, for my education, that I have regular meals, etc.
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