"We're moving to Peru, babe."I waited for the "Do what, now?" retort, but it never came."We are?" Alex said."Yes, I'm going to teach English there; you're going to oversee the mission teams and general projects."He didn't look the least bit surprised. I was a bit baffled, but then again, Alex has never been one to … Continue reading “Do What, Now?” Part 4: A Broken but Blessed Road [Mth 5-Day 8-Post 40]

“Unfortunately, no, we can’t, I’m sorry,” I replied. I had practiced that speech on the way to church that morning. I knew the pastor was going to ask us if we wanted to go on the Peru mission trip that summer. I just knew it.“We just had another couple cancel,” the pastor said. “They had already paid … Continue reading “Do What, Now?” Part 3: Mid-night Sessions with God [Mth 5-Day 3-Post 39]

In three years’ time, I had relocated to Georgia to attend a discipleship school, where on a Monday evening, October 6, 2003, the Vice President of a missions organization was teaching our class. At the conclusion, she invited the President of the ministry to speak about an upcoming short-term mission trip to San Juan de … Continue reading “Do What, Now?” Part 2: Mixed Messages [Mth 4-Day 28-Post 38]

“Do what, now?” is an expression I’d never heard until I moved to Georgia. It must be a Southern thing. For my fellow eyebrow-raising Northerners, this expression is often heard in response to a question or comment not completely or not correctly heard or understood. Where I come from, we prefer the blunt retort, “What?” … Continue reading “Do What, Now?” Part 1: An Unfavorable History [Mth 4-Day 27-Post 37]

It was just a regular seed. In a bowl with other seeds. And July 2nd was just like any ordinary day. Until that seed was planted on that day. In a Dixie cup. Yep. With just a little scoop of soil surrounding that seed, a plant was born. A week later it was just a … Continue reading Journey [Mth 4-Day 19-Post 36]

On the street with countless New Yorkers as the sun disappeared into falling ash—“Nicole Lovejoy” was running for her life.Amid the confusion, the frightened chaos, the screaming commotion, she had no choice but to flee in the opposite direction and pray that nothing worse was coming.She had been late for work that morning. So instead … Continue reading “Add to Your Faith, Goodness” Part 4 of 4 [Mth 4-Day 15-Post 35]

At 8 AM on September 11th, 2001, I sat in the ANTS Colby Chapel for the New Student Orientation “Call to Worship.” The Rev. Dr. Sharon Thornton, Professor of Pastoral Theology, welcomed all of us and began to share a story that united us, that had brought each of us to that very moment—a story … Continue reading “Add to Your Faith, Goodness” Part 3 [Mth 4-Day 12-Post 34]

Yes, I had grown up going to church with my family, done all the good-church-girl things. Yes, I started writing “Christian” poetry at age 14, which had been published multiple times. But no, I didn’t believe in God. Not until age 16, anyway. Even then, I had no idea what it meant to be a … Continue reading “Add to Your Faith, Goodness” Part 2 [Mth 4-Day 11-Post 33]

There was excitement in the air, a cheery 8 AM, as I began my workday like any other. On that fall morning like many before it, we could feel the anticipation of a new school year about to begin. We had all worked hard throughout the summer preparing for the incoming class and the return … Continue reading “Add to Your Faith, Goodness” Part 1 [Mth 4-Day 7-Post 32]

I am writing this post from the ER at Northside Hospital Forsyth. Alex very painfully pulled a muscle in his right thigh earlier this afternoon, bad enough to warrant this visit. I planned to write a basic “70 in 7” status update tonight; I am thankful that his injury isn’t any worse and that I … Continue reading Reality Sometimes Bites…Into the Wrong Food [Mth 4-Day 6-Post 31]