Love, Lent, and Learning to Live

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and I had intended to write something about the theological significance or whatever. But, why reinvent the wheel? Google it. Instead, this post will probably be more personal than theological-- which is typically the standard for me anyway. So, as I've been reflecting on life, here are my thoughts, and my …

Losing Faith but Finding God

Before I started seminary, I was warned, by good-intentioned people, that I would probably question my faith. I was told this was okay, because it happened to almost everyone, and I would more than likely find God again, even if it wasn't until after graduation. Losing my faith in God was made to sound like …

An Overwhelming, Open Letter

I was going to finish my blog about God using unexpected people to do unexpected things tonight. But I couldn’t. I was going to write about how I struggled today because I missed home so much more than I ever have before even though I’ve been gone way less time than I have before. But, …

Adventure into the Unknown

I am approximately 8 days away from embarking on the craziest, scariest, most exciting, most challenging, most satisfying adventure of my life. And I have been reflecting on how I got here, what my greatest fears are, and what my greatest hopes are. My greatest fear is the unknown-- missing out on all the known …

Not Today, Satan

I have heard it said that God gives the hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. And while I am pretty convinced it holds little water theologically, I do know that the enemy does fight. He fights hard and he fights dirty. But I also know that God is the strongest soldier anyone could ever ask …

Living a Life of Invisibility

I've spent most, if not all, of my life feeling like I was invisible. Not like nobody-can-see-me-like-I'm-a-ghost type invisible. More like the type of invisible where you're in a room full of people and everyone is talking around, about, or even to you, but no one is talking with you. The kind of invisible where …

God is Good…

...all the time. Sometimes, when I think about God I get overwhelmed. Like, my mind literally cannot comprehend how great, awesome, and unbelievably good He is. When I think about the crucifixion, I am moved to tears. When I think about how small and insignificant we are in comparison to how grand and great God …

Shoe Boxes of Memories

I have these shoe boxes in my room, probably four or five of them, filled with memories from throughout my life. I started collecting mostly, but not completely, various important papers, in probably fourth or fifth grade, and I have gotten quite the collection over the years. I have everything from plane boarding passes, to …

A Brazilian Languages

Apparently this whole Brazil trip is going to be a lot like my Kenya trip when it comes to blog titles. So, be prepared for a Brazilian series of overdone puns. #sorrynotsorry Anyway, this post is actually a link to my post on the group's trip blog. I wanted to post it here too because …

A Brazilian Homes

Yesterday, I wrote a post about the once in a lifetime opportunity I've been given to go to Brazil. And today, I had my first day in this wonderful place. If you didn't read my last post, or in case you forgot, I'll mention again that, oftentimes recently, I've been feeling restless. And sometimes, I feel so …