The Heart of Servanthood
When I handed the seven-year-old boy a book, he said, “Really? I get to keep this? You mean forever? This is the best!” I have the privilege of volunteering with an organization called Books for Keeps, which allows children to pick out 12 free books. When you hand a child a book and hear that child say, “This is my first book!” or “Really? I can keep it? I’ve never kept a book!” you experience a joyous high. They call us volunteers, but we should have to pay for the experience!
Reflections from a One: Learning to Live in Grace
It’s exhausting to know me.
I talk really fast; I’m constantly doing too much. Every cause is my cause. I want to know your pain, listen to your pain, and then come up with a solution. I am hypercritical of every situation, and I focus most of that criticism on myself. As my husband says, “You’re exhausting!”
I am a One on the Enneagram, often called “the Perfectionist.” As The Enneagram Institute website explains, Ones are “conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong.” When we are healthy, we are committed to living a life that is both ethical and devoted to service. Healthy Ones are also responsible and can offer grace both to themselves and others when something is not perfect. Ones are committed to making the world a better place.
Little Black Dress Initiative
Over the past couple years, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Little Black Dress Initiative, also known as LBDI. LBDI was started by the Junior League of London in 2014. It is a social media campaign to raise awareness and money for women living in poverty. Women participate by wearing the same little black dress every day and post pictures on their different social media outlets throughout the week.
Choosing Joy
It seems like everybody is angry today. There are plenty things in the world that we should be angry or sad about, such as school shootings, terrorist, politicians that don’t do anything and racist systems that make the world unfair.
However, some of the issues that are starting twitter rages are a bit ridiculous. I just can’t get my head around why Christ Pratt praying for a friend with a heart condition is a problem. It appears that almost any tweet, Facebook post, comment or picture can send people into a violent rage.
What is Our Role?
I got into my car, flipped the radio on, and my heart sank. Once again, reports of a school shooting filled my car. As I mulled over my different emotions – grief, anger, numbness – I began to wonder, what is my role?
I know my role as a mom: to protect my daughter. I know my role as American: to vote and advocate for a better America. But as a Christian what is my role?
How do we as Christians navigate a world of politics? How do we know what to say, when scripture doesn’t mention the different topics that we are debating on the national stage?
Jesus is Not Your BFF
I am a best friend gal. I love my best friends—my tribe of women! One of the many reasons I loved being in a sorority and on sports teams is that they gave me more time to hang out with my best friends. (And yes, I have plural best friends.)
For me, being a best friend means I will always have your back and I will love you no matter what. I will be there for you through anything, even if that means picking you up at a random dumpster after a night full of regrets. And my friends would do the same for me. My best friends inspire me, encourage me, challenge me, and make me a better person. I feel like I can tell them anything. To me, being best friends is the best!
But Jesus is not my best friend.
The 11-Letter Bad Word
Evangelical has become a bad word.
The word brings terror to those who remember the fire and brimstone words that pushed them into the margins. It brings images of hateful peoples screaming judgments to anyone who doesn't fall into their normative understanding of a Christian life. The white evangelical church at best has ignored the nationalism and bigotry that clings to its congregations, and at worst has fostered hate and systematic racism. Evangelical is a term so fraught with negative stereotypes that those of us that identify as evangelical are often ashamed of the word itself or ashamed of others evangelicals.
Becoming Generous People
It’s funny to me how Jesus can get to the heart of our true sin issues with just a couple of words. Like all InterVarsity staff, my husband and I are generous with our money, when we want to be. I give to organizations that I want to give to with joy and gladness. I give to our church because I believe in the ministry.
Thankful for an Invitation
I’m glad President Trump made derogatory comments about Haiti, El Salvador and African countries. His comments are a line in the sand that forces Christians to take a stand. God is clear about is command to love all people. When he made man and woman, he said that he “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” All people – from all countries – are made in God’s image. When we chose to denigrate God’s people, we are choosing to denigrate God.
Taking Risks
You go to stand before your chapter. Your knees are shaking as you announce your chapter Bible study, inviting your entire pledge class to join you. It’s a huge risk. But you do it anyway.
Why should we try things that are huge risks? Why should we risk failure? Taking risks allows us to learn to trust God. If we only do things that are safe, we never have to actually trust God, because we can get by by relying on our own ability.