A group of people can come into your life and change it. This post is for those people. You are dear to me. You’re an answer to a prayer I prayed two years before we met: “Deepen the right friendships, Lord. Lead me to the people who are or will be part of my close community. Amen.“ ******* I’m not …
When We Invite People In
Over the summer, I had a conversation with someone I knew well in college. She was my suite-mate for two years and we shared more than one friend group by being in the same organizations. We met for coffee and reminisced about the college days and what is going on now. It was fascinating to hear her comments of who …
Bringing New into Now
Recently a friend and I talked and thought about the past year. We saw a common theme in our lives. We had watched God work through unexpected storms. There are times I call the storms “mountains” because it can feel impossible to climb the obstacle in front of us. Can we make it over the mountain? Do we have the …
The Last Season
Slowly I am catching up to the fact that we are in a new season. Fall. When temperatures go down and calendars fill up. New routines are set. No matter what, every season signals a transition. Maybe you’re…back on the school schedule. Starting a new job. Building new friendships. Looking for community. Sometimes we are slow to accept a transition. …
To the Church that Includes
Dear Church, Please don’t be distracted by disability or afraid to approach. Look at me. See me as a person. I want to belong for who I am. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen. Back in the fall, I was away for a month. I had never really left the Church of my childhood. After college, I came back to the …
One Word, One Theme for 2018
Before the new year arrived, I started pondering, “what should my new word be: Fullness…Trust…Faith…Impossible?” All these words felt important to me, things I pray, themes I hope to see in my life. One day last month, it finally became clear — FAITH. The verse popped off the page: “…for truly, I say to you, if you have faith like …
Revisiting 2017: the Top Seven Posts
I’ve been thinking about all the things that happened in 2017. My one word was fill. As we begin a new year, I can definitely say that 2017 was a year… Filled with lots of moments. Full of impossible things. And the prayer I invited you to pray with me was answered. How was it full of impossible things? I have so many examples, …
Perfectly Abnormal, an interview with Chris Morris
1. Tell us a little about yourself. I’ve been married to my wife Barbara now for almost as long as I lived the unmarried life, and every year is an adventure. Together, we’re raising four kids, three boys and our daughter who’s epileptic and high-functioning autistic. Plus, I have my own seizure disorder. So, it doesn’t often feel like we …
Turning Points: The Way to Hope + Dream, part two
Last month, I gave an early morning chapel talk to a group of middle and high school students. I shared part of my story and walked them through the idea that hope gets attached to our dreams. And those dreams are often connected to the turning points in life. In the talk, I answered the questions: What is the right …
Turning Points: The Way to Hope + Dream, part one
What is the proper way to hope? How do we carry our dreams and keep the right kind of hope alive? I have times where I put my hope in the wrong place. My unfulfilled dreams become heavy and my heart quickly grows discontent. I am no longer loving my right now. I am not embracing where God has me or fully seeing what He …