Good morning... After a long, laboring string of rainy dark days, the sun peaked out to pierce the pane of our living room window. As I nestle into the corner of our couch, I close my eyes and turn my face directly into the sun. Intense light penetrates me. Illuminating warmth soothes my cheeks. My baking brain surrenders [...]
Good morning... Tonight is a night I have been looking forward to for a long time. At Northside Church we are hosting an important ninety minutes. ****** Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Human Sexuality Presented by Dr. Kendall Soulen, Candler School of Theology Sunday, January 26 | 5:00–6:30PM | Watson Faith & Arts Center, Northside Church, 2799 Northside Dr [...]
Good morning... "You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all, a lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest," says Psalm 61:3-5 in the Message translation. "You’ve always taken me seriously, God, made me welcome among those who know and love you." Morning by morning, we curl up on [...]
Good morning... In my quiet time of prayer I think about our Jewish friends who witnessed the stabbing of hatred in the safety of their rabbi's home, the shock of Sunday morning worshippers fired upon by a gunman in the sacredness of their small sanctuary, and the complex grief of the family and friends of those misguided men [...]
Good morning... Praying aloud in front of a crowd, Jesus said to our Father: "Now I'm returning to you. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing so my people can experience my joy completed in them" (John 17:13, MSG). It is an incredible thing to think the joy we experience in our everyday lives is actually the [...]
Good morning... "Breathe into the glory of this day," her voice set the table for our verbal feast. "Cold is coming. Thanksgiving is approaching. At harvest we gather love to share." Then she read aloud a blessing to begin our sacred hour. "Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue," her voice soothed [...]
Good morning... "Life is all about practicing for heaven," says Richard Rohr (Falling Upward, 101). "We practice by choosing union freely - ahead of time - and now. Heaven is the state of union both here and later. As now, so will it be then." In my mind God translates this quote into a three word directive: "BE ONE [...]
Good morning... When tragedy steals life, I feel drawn to lean in, to reach out, to lift prayers, so I emailed an old friend whose son goes to The University of South Carolina. Over our string of emails, these phrases stood out. She wrote, "Sadly it’s true." "It’s been a difficult and devastating week for the boys...a lot [...]
Good morning... We are designed to live in oneness with the intimate and immense God of our universe. In our posts this week, we have traveled through everyday choices. If the will of God is the way of life, will we get all wrapped up in it? Monday: One of you shared: “I became convinced years ago that that [...]
Good morning... The old wooden pews were nicely filled. After saying "Hello" to a handful of friendly, familiar faces, I was escorted to the front of the church, to a velvety antique chair just behind the pulpit. "Oh no," my heart sank. I thought I would be non-conspicuously sitting with the church family until it was my time [...]
