Gladden The Heart

Yesterday morning Tim, Riley, Brady, and I walked to Cornerstone, our new school. Some people from our community were there painting and doing repairs and we thought we might be able to jump in and help out for a little while. Soon after arriving, Tim and I realized we needed to get our children away [...]

My friend recently posted some thoughts on her blog about her and her husband’s decision to send their daughter to Cornerstone School.
In March I wrote a bit here about education and how Tim and I were mostly sure we would be sending Riley and Brady to Cornerstone for the upcoming school year. It became official [...]

because I want to know and be known. I believe all voices should be heard. I have opinions I want to express and gifts and talents that have been given to me for the benefit of others in my family, my work, and my community. When women are squelched, we all suffer.

“Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained, hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired.”–Erik Erikson

The “Blog Posts Brewing Within” Version:
1) Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and the importance of balancing online community with real life community. For some of us it’s easy to throw our thoughts about faith, politics, and the economy out on the internets. Are we also making space in our lives to discuss these issues with others over [...]

My neighbor also posted about Woodlawn United Methodist Church this week.
She included some links to the church’s website that has pictures of the building, sanctuary, and stained glass windows.
Thanks, Lisa, for letting me know about your beautiful blog.

I am passionate about the city for many reasons. I long for redemption, restoration, and revitalization, but my love for this place is not dependent on those things. Loving my neighborhood requires the ability to see beauty in the midst of brokenness.
Many can’t bear the thought of moving into the Woodlawn side of Crestwood because [...]

The coming of the Spirit of Jesus into the world…
“It is the celebration of God breaking through the boundaries of time and space and opening the whole world for the re-creating power of love. Pentecost is freedom, freedom of the Spirit to blow where it wants.
Without Pentecost the Christ-event–the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus–remains [...]

The “Parenting” version:
1. My children don’t need me to be a perfect mom. When I fail them and disappoint them, it is a good reminder for all of us that they need Jesus to be their Jesus.
2. Loving my kids well will oftentimes look very different from how parenting is portrayed in our culture, the [...]

On this Ascension Sunday, I’m thinking about the rhythms of feasting and fasting and working and resting…
“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”
From The Book of Common Prayer…
O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto [...]