Happy Wednesday! Last week I was in Stockholm, so I thought I'd make this Wednesday a list of things I love about Sweden. I hope ya enjoy! 1. Fika – If you don't know much about Swedish culture, get this–Swedes take a break every day to socialize, have a coffee, and eat a pastry. It's a priority in Swedish culture. Are you kidding?? We knew this already, but America is doing it wrong. This …
A Queen’s Gambit: God Isn’t Afraid of Women
This post is written by my friend and former seminary classmate, Zach Adams! Zach is a youth pastor, husband to Victory, and life-long learner. His main area of interest is Old Testament studies, specifically how land is portrayed in the OT. I'm thrilled to share his insightful words on Esther here. The book of Esther is about a young asparagus who slowly rises in life to become a powerful …
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What I Love Wednesday
Happy Wednesday! Here are 10 things I'm loving this week: 1. Armchair Expert – I feel like an evangelist for this podcast with the amount I talk about it. The episodes are interesting, deep, vulnerable, and funny with so many cool guests! 2. Friendship – In this challenging season, I'm so so grateful for all the friends who listen to me, care for me, send me encouraging messages, pursue me, …
The Somber Season of Lent
This week marks the beginning of Lent.¹ I appreciate how the church calendar embraces all the somber elements of Jesus's life and ours. It doesn't try to deny the realities of sadness, grief, or death, but it places them in a story that acknowledges them even as it provides hope. Hope arises from the places of darkness, because that's when we need it. That's the tension we hold. The somber …
What I Love Wednesday
1. Sunny days in Chicago — Intense winters mean midwesterners really embrace the sunny, warm days. I love to see everyone in my neighborhood out and about, feeling a bit lighter in anticipation of spring. I'm sure there's a sermon illustration in there somewhere. 2. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert — Every chapter is like taking a shot of creative courage. You can listen to a preview when she's a …
Mary Was Trustworthy
As I read Amy Peeler’s wonderful words in Women and the Gender of God, my eyes keep getting caught on this one: “trustworthy.” This word is used of God, but Dr. Peeler specifically uses it to describe Mary. She calls Mary a “trustworthy proclaimer” and “one who speaks truly about God.” I’ve had to pause at how simple yet stunning these words are. Especially when, over and over again, the …