“Why are you still a Christian after so many bad things have happened to you?” a friend recently asked me. I spent a long time pondering her question. I think our culture has latched on to the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” message of Christianity and has forgotten that [...]

We were created to be in relationship by someone who longs for a relationship with each of us. But it can be hard to find friends–especially in new cities or amidst busy work schedules. Do you have friends in your life you can be honest with? Trust? Do you think living in community is important?

During my application process at Thomas Nelson, I took the Strengths Finder Test. I found out I am high on the “Achievement” end, but it also included a weakness of my type for “the tendency towards gnawing discontentment”. It was one of those, ‘are you reading my mail?’ moments. In effort to change, I started examining my perspective and attitude.  [...]

Engagement season is here. Fall weddings are beginning. Women in serious relationships are wondering, “will he ever propose?” and anxiously trying to bring up the “e question” casually. And singles are left wondering, “Will it ever be my turn?” “Will I ever meet the One?” I’ve been in your shoes. The fall of 2008 and 2009 I [...]

My Mandarin language study started off on the wrong foot, so to speak, when my teacher asked me if I had “some problem with your ear?”. Chinese is a tonal language, and well… I’m nearly tone-deaf (just listen to me sing). She insisted I couldn’t learn Chinese and suggested I try something easier like French or Spanish. [...]

“Perhaps strength doesn’t reside in having never been broken…but in the courage required to grow strong in the broken places.” Are you broken? Or had pain at some point in your life that felt like too much to bare? We’ve all been hurt — broken — at some point, in some way in our lives, [...]

This week started off perfectly. My friend Natalie who I wrote about here is staying with us for a week or so until she moves.  On Sunday night, we called some friends in China for the “Moon Festival” and I got to talk to my dear friend Doris. Nothing like starting off the week with [...]

What were you doing on September 11, 2001? Today, I don’t want to add any commentary to the noise surrounding the tragic day–but I wanted to briefly express my condolences to the families who lost loved ones 10 years ago. May you find peace amidst the horrible tragedy of terror filling our skies and taking [...]

Overcome your fear. I hear people use this phrase, but what does it really mean? My dad used to tell me I needed to overcome my fear of heights by going on a roller coaster. To date, I have only allowed roller coasters to take complete control of my body twice. Once, at Six Flags with my dad and [...]

 Did Mr. Right pass me by? Do my past sins exclude me from God’s best? I have several friends and acquaintances in their late twenties or early thirties who are asking these questions. Many of whom have just broken off relationships with the wrong guy, because they are following God and waiting for the right guy. [...]