Small groups made a huge impact in my faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I believe that small groups are one of the best ways we disciple each other. (2013: Joint fellowship of two of my small groups in the Philippines) Earlier in my life, I led small groups in my church back in…
Grandmother’s Faith
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. —2 Timothy 1:5 My maternal grandmother was born in the Depression. This fact has affected her entire life. She’s a saver of food and coupons. She taught…
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going…
“We need to keep this conversation going.” I think that was my favorite comment that I overheard at our kickoff for this summer’s Listening Lab at FUMC Hurst this past Sunday. It highlights so much of what I hoped for in helping to plan this opportunity for connecting. We need to keep this conversation going…
Thank You Notes
My mother made me write Thank You notes when I was young. As I recall, I wrote really big because I didn’t always know what to say besides, “Dear _________, thank you for the ________. I love it and it will really come in handy.” At that time, the notes I wrote were all about…
The day I met a Piñata
I was out with friends for dinner on Cinco de Mayo and a woman showed up fully dressed as a piñata. At first I giggled at the extreme nature of her outfit, and then I marveled in her joy. I decided to approach the woman and I said, “I love your festive outfit. I love…
Statistics, Facts, and Faith
“The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is shrinking.” That headline caught my attention as I was scrolling through the newsfeed on the NPR website earlier this week. The story was based on the latest results of a study by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). As with similar type surveys, the reported…
Where Did You See God Today?
This is a staple mission trip question. It’s also one of my favorite questions. I ask myself this question frequently, but especially when I’m not in a great head space. These past few weeks have been on the chaotic side of things. In the middle of it all, I asked myself to look and see…
How Can We Pray for You Today?
Our Rooted young adult men’s small group meets every Wednesday, 6:45PM at Starbucks in Precinct Line, Hurst. We would always start our conversation talking about how our week went and even sharing our highs and lows, then we dive into our discussion using our small group material. Last week, we started using the Upper Room…
Prayer for a Gray Day
I wholeheartedly believe that Jesus meets us where we are on our journey of life and faith – coming alongside us just like he did with the disciples walking along the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, to listen and share (Luke 24:13-35). And I wholeheartedly believe that God wants to hear our questions and…
I Suck at Chess
I have great memories of my dad teaching me to play chess when I was 7-8 years old. I’m pretty sure he let me win way more than I deserved to. I distinctly remember the way he’d ask, “Are you sure you want to do that?” I’d already have removed my hand from the piece,…
New Year’s Day for Women in the Congo
Presbyterian women in the Congo were prohibited from preaching in the church, but they could do it in their own gatherings. In 1990, the General Assembly (equivalent of the Methodist General Conference) agreed to set aside New Year’s Day for women or in the Tshiluba language “Dituku dia bamamu.” Since then, this day has become…
Missing Colors
When traveling around to different parts of the world, I love to visit churches. I’ve been lucky to have seen all kinds, from tiny, unadorned chapels to massive, majestic basilicas. I always wonder about the people who worship in these spaces regularly. Do they see the amazing beauty and uniqueness of their home worship space?…
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