Good morning... One friend says, "I am constantly surprised by time." Time drags. Time evaporates. Time stands still. Time sneaks up. I too am constantly surprised by time. Last night was no exception. Many of us, one hundred and thirty-nine to be exact, nestled into Northside's intimate, sacred chapel to experience an amazing Women's Lenten Communion Service. Karen Riddell [...]
Good morning...On 2.12.16, I read this interesting headline on national news. "Teenager steals Air Jordans in Craigslist robbery and has his arm severed in horrific accident." Since I am co-teaching Christian Active Parenting, a parenting program in which we discuss supporting children with encouragement, clear communication, and the expression of honest emotions as they learn life lessons through natural consequences, [...]
Good morning... I began this tradition last year and got such a great response. Through Northside Church, we create a Summertime Devotional based on everyone's favorite blog posts throughout the year. Last year on Valentine's Day, I asked you to identify your favorite of my morning messages, and your response was phenomenal. So, I am asking for your help [...]
Good morning... "One of you is a neat freak, and the other doesn’t worry much about a few socks on the floor here and there," explains the article emailed to me by a friend. "One of you is a saver; one is a spender. One is always on time; the other is much more relaxed about the clock. One [...]
Good morning... Two weeks from this morning, I would love you to be with me. Our church family is hosting a conference for the entire community. LOVE NO MATTER WHAT: A FAMILY CONFERENCE will be held at Northside Church from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on February 27th. Dr. Michael Popkin and I will give the keynote talks, before [...]
Good morning... The Henri Nouwen meditation from 2.9.16 teaches us the tangible meaning of one eleven-letter word. Nouwen writes: "Consolation is a beautiful word. It means "to be" (con-) "with the lonely one" (solus). To offer consolation is one of the most important ways to care. Life is so full of pain, sadness, and loneliness that we often wonder [...]
Good morning... Many related to yesterday's post, "Assembly required." Do we not all have moments when we feel disjointed, disconnect, disassembled, pulled apart by life's pressures, life's deadlines, life's have-to-s and musts? I remember a quote from Sue Bender's book Plain and Simple, "Between all the givens, there is freedom." Parting like the Red Sea my normal givens, God [...]
Good morning... I was woken by an weird image. Just like I did, you will probably crinkle up your nose and ask "What does this mean, God?" The image was fleeting. The image was anxiety provoking. The image was of a portable stadium seat (the padded kind used at sporting events) folded into pieces, disassembled, being held in a [...]
Good morning... "I haven't had a chance to tell you that I passed along to my sister Betty Skinner's story captured in The Hidden Life (complete with my notes and highlights). She divorced this year after over 30 years of marriage. In a recent letter (on paper, with a stamp and everything!) she said, 'I feel like you have [...]
Good morning… There are people in life who touch our soul and leave a mark, an imprint, a lasting impression. Unique. Authentic. A life changing original. One such dynamic person has shaped my life profoundly from the tattered pages of a beloved book, The Hidden Life: Revelations from a Holy Journey. Betty Walthour Skinner, born this very day ninety [...]
