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Remembering Brendan (3/24/1990-3/12/2011)
He was a preteen when we met; daring and feisty with a true dislike for being told what to do. As challenging as he may have been in those years I was married to his father, there was an endearing soft side that emerged when others were in need or he was helping with his littlest sister. I can still remember his smile, the way he could do almost anything he set his mind to, and how excited he was to get his driver’s license on his sixteenth birthday. He was generally messy, enjoyed junk food far more than any person should and would argue about the silliest things, yet…
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The Truth About Loneliness
One of the loneliest times recorded in all of human history is the day Jesus was put to death on a Roman cross at Calvary. “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” He cried, as darkness enveloped him, just before he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:46-50). Often we think of loneliness as something we experience only when we are alone, yet not everyone who is alone, feels lonely, and to the contrary, we may be surrounded by family and friends, yet at times still feel very isolated. The gospels record numerous times Jesus separated himself from others and went off alone to pray, yet there is no…
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The Way of Progressive Parenting
I’ve been mulling this piece over in my mind for months, but couldn’t quite get to the root of what was troubling me. It’s not that I’m so closed-minded to new ideas that I can’t accept anything beyond what I’ve always known. To the contrary, it has been through this openness that God has rid me of many selfish behaviors and reformed my mind to his truth. It is also through his provision that I finally gained clarity into what has been disturbing me in the newer philosophies on parenting, which are probably not so much newer, just more pervasive. We live in a culture where many believe the old…
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Feasting & Fasting-Part 4: Prayer and Fasting
It’s a little ironic that as I begin writing this last piece of our series, I am recently recovered from an unintended fast due to a GI virus. Thankfully these viruses are usually short-lived, and although I’m fitting in my “skinny pants” today, most of us survive these illnesses without any long term effects, including lasting weight loss. Of course fasting when you’re sick or for medical purposes is a completely different topic than what we’re discussing here, so let’s go to the Bible to begin our real discussion. To summarize the Biblical definition, fasting is a voluntary reduction or elimination of food or drink for a specific time and…
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Be My Valentine…
It was at the beginning of this month that I asked God for a word, and within a few moments “love” came to mind. I thanked God, acknowledging that it seemed very timely in this Valentine season and went on my way. Over the course of the days that followed, I’ve pondered this crazy thing called love and wondered what God wanted me to see beyond all the red and pink hearts and tantalizing chocolates decorating the shopping aisles. It wasn’t until yesterday that I began to understand that God wanted me to consider more fully the unconditional sincerity of his love. He wanted me to see what it means…
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What we learn from Martha
You may not have been fortunate enough to have a grandmother named Martha, like I did, but if you’ve spent enough time in church you’ve heard of Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus. They were friends and followers of Jesus who generously offered hospitality in his travels. During a particular visit recorded in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus was teaching a number of people in their home and Martha was apparently busy with preparations of some kind, possibly waiting on everyone, while her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him teach. Martha being slightly disgruntled at having to do all the work, interrupts Jesus to complain, and…
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Feasting & Fasting Part 3: Preparation for the Feast
We’ve finally made it to the main course and are ready to talk feasting. So at this point you’re probably hungry and wondering what there is to talk about. We all know “feasting” and need no instruction on the subject, right? Yet in our culture, where food is so much more than sustenance, I wonder do we really know feasting or is it just another day of eating? If we look to the Bible, feasting is always associated with a celebration or a holy day. It’s important to understand that although a celebration may include feasting, the feast isn’t usually the focus of the celebration. Some may come to a…
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Feasting & Fasting Part 2: The Provision Between
In part 1 we began our discussion by recognizing there is a natural provision of rations on the earth and there can be a supernatural provision as well, something incredibly different and capable of sustaining life beyond expectation. Like anything with God there is always a purpose when he intervenes in such an incredible way. Which is where we left off. If there is truly a purpose for everything God does, then what is the purpose of us having to eat to refuel? We know the need to eat is not something that entered the earth with sin because Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of the trees in…
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The Life of a Child
I’ll be the first to tell you living with three young children is challenging. They are constantly making demands, throw annoying tantrums and have difficulty listening when you tell them to do something. Then just when you think you’re at the end of your sanity and patience, you look into an obscure corner of a room and notice little toy soldiers surrounding a blue beast and suddenly your heart warms and you can’t help but smile and maybe tear up a little. The innocence of a child is priceless and to be cherished. Jesus even told us we must become as children to enter the kingdom of heaven. At that…
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Feasting & Fasting Part 1: The Introduction
Long before I took my first college course or got my first job, I was a dietitian. I have always loved food and started cooking and baking when I was just a kid. My grandfather also taught me about gardening, how to clean fish and allowed me to help as he milked cows and cared for the other farm animals. From a young age, I learned where food came from, how it was processed and how to make it pleasing to the palate. Becoming a dietitian deepened my understanding of the nutritional aspect of food, and later discovering my own food intolerance and allergy further broadened my education and gave…
