“Do you have cotton in your ears?” I remember my grandmother saying this whenever she thought we kids weren’t listening. Sometimes I feel that way with God – that He knows I’m missing most of what He says. Why? What Blocked Our Listening When We Were Kids? Think about what it was like as a … Continue reading What Blocks Your Hearing from God?
Adventures Blog
Big Reactions from Little Wounds
When I was a kid, I participated in the Girl Scouts. Our troop leader was amazing. She was a Catholic nun, but not stereotypical. In exchange for taking care of the Girl Scouts, she was allowed to have a van, camping equipment, and lots of other privileges. She was wild and crazy, and we all … Continue reading Big Reactions from Little Wounds
Letter Home from Yekaterinburg, Russia (Sept 1997) – Part 1
I recently found in my closet several handwritten letters that I sent to my mother during my time teaching in Russia. I sent many more, but these were all I could find. I will be posting these on my blog. I have retyped the letters but changed nothing. It's hard for a writer-editor not to … Continue reading Letter Home from Yekaterinburg, Russia (Sept 1997) – Part 1
Ever Notice All the Opposites in the Bible? (Learning to Recognize “Contrasts” in Inductive Bible Study)
If you are just beginning to explore Inductive Bible Study, you may want to start by reading my article, Inductive Bible Study: An Overview. And then come back and read this article on "Contrast." Looking for Major Structures in the Biblical Text One of the primary steps of Inductive Bible Study is the Survey. This … Continue reading Ever Notice All the Opposites in the Bible? (Learning to Recognize “Contrasts” in Inductive Bible Study)
Lectio Divina for Christian Writers
Lectio divina is a helpful practice for Christian writers - and for anyone who wants to grow in relationship with God. The term lectio divina means “divine reading.” This is where you engage the Bible spiritually - not with your mind, but with your spirit. While there is a time and place to engage your heart and mind … Continue reading Lectio Divina for Christian Writers
Psalm 23:1 in Hebrew: A Very Real Relationship with a Very Real God
This is one of my favorite verses in biblical Hebrew - Psalm 23:1: יְהוָה רֹעִי לאֹ אֶחְסָר (YHWH ro-’ee lo ekh-sar.) As a student of biblical Hebrew, it takes me several rounds of translation before arriving at smooth-sounding English. I love the first stage of this process, and I really don't ever want to lose … Continue reading Psalm 23:1 in Hebrew: A Very Real Relationship with a Very Real God
Praying for Students Entering College
If you feel called to pray for your community and/or your church, one of the best ways you can pray right now is for young people who are entering college. Our community prayer group is currently praying for: Students still in high school but starting dual enrollment classes in college this semester. College freshmen returning … Continue reading Praying for Students Entering College
A “Tail” of Two Rodents: Gauging My Progress with Trauma Healing
At Christmas, I was out of town spending time with family. When I returned home, I discovered a rodent had taken up residence in my apartment. Granted, I live over the garage of a log cabin on a wooded farm. Rodents happen. I get that. But now I had a rodent claiming squatter’s rights. It … Continue reading A “Tail” of Two Rodents: Gauging My Progress with Trauma Healing
Memories of Learning Russian with Rita
My favorite memories of living as an American in Russia in the late 1990s include the early evenings I spent in the kitchen, sharing in Russian conversation with Rita, the mother of the family I lived with. All these years later, I remember it like it was yesterday. Continue reading in new location. This article … Continue reading Memories of Learning Russian with Rita
The Writer’s Prayer Life
Prayer is a key part of the writing process. We should seek God regularly for what He would have us write. We need to begin and end our writing time and writing projects with prayer. We should remain prayerful as we write. Ideally every word we write should be bathed in prayer. But that’s just … Continue reading The Writer’s Prayer Life
Adventures with God 