I am in the thick of exams at Vanderbilt Divinity School. For one of my classes I am writing a paper on the immanence (intimacy) and transcendence (beyondness) of God. Remarkable how God is at once near, as close as my heartbeat and as near as my breath, listening to
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Last week, I read an article, entitled, “Is bad news the only kind?” Professor Bruce Sacerdote from Dartmouth College noticed last year that all Covid-19 television coverage from FOX, CNN to PBS was overwhelmingly negative. Even when the news was hopeful, such as cases were on the decline, the news
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I have a friend who flips to the last page of every book on her shelf to make sure there is a redemptive ending before she commits to the story. Isn’t that what we all secretly desire—the chance to turn to the last page of our earthly story, or the
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If this year has taught us anything, it is how difficult, unpredictable, and downright scary it can be to be human. It has also taught us the remarkable capacity of love to more than see us through. We were never meant to manage this holy responsibility on our own. Jesus
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We just got a round-about in our neighborhood. My first experience of driving a roundabout was in graduate school in England. A friend invited me to her family home in the countryside outside of London. A roundabout is a traffic circle that offers several different directions to take. My first
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Lent has traditionally been a time for Christians to “give up” a pleasure such as chocolate or alcohol in a gesture of sacrifice and as a commitment to self-discipline. The small deprivation is meant to intentionally focus one’s attention on God. After this past year, I don’t think we can
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We all carry around some unnecessary invisible weight. Hurt, anger, disappointment, fear, bitterness, resentment, shame, worry, and despair are not only dangerously heavy but take up space meant for creativity, peace, and fun. What I can tell you from my own experience is that when a worry or fear or
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I humbly offer now a 6-week Lenten blog series called, GPS for the Soul. Every Monday I will deliver into your inbox “spiritual coordinates” to help guide you through Lent. We will rely on Jesus, his words and actions, as our map. Expect scripture where Jesus offers practical advice for
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Why can't we just love one another? God must hurt for us. For all the blessings, we continue to fall short on our Creator's only ask—to love. There is no judgment. God knows we will make mistakes, lose our courage, even fail miserably in our efforts. Still, love is our
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I arrive to Thanksgiving, 2020 in such a different place than this time last year. I'm feeling what I imagine marathoners must experience around mile 18, less pluck,—but ever determined to press on. We are in a tender season. Many of our "soul" anchors such as familial relationships, health, job
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