Something occurred to me yesterday, as I was trying to salvage our beaten-up outdoor nativity scene . . . this feels familiar. Yes, familiar in that we have done this before, but also that this lighted Christmas representation is now looking like an accurate representation of my own faith. In that moment, it was a […]
Tag Archives: love
Giving Blind Spots a Second Thought
You never noticed it before. Maybe you’ve been looking at this thing or this person for years. Suddenly, someone points out a detail that you missed . . . something obvious, like a symbol hidden (in plain sight) in a logo, how a particular mannerism reminds you of someone. And now you can’t unsee it. […]
I Met A Very Dangerous Person
Turns out, authentic love is deadly to fear and bias – it puts certitude and apathy in danger. And I met someone dangerous (in the best possible way). From the very beginning, Reverend Karen Safstrom had a big impact on me. I had never been part of a church that allowed women to preach, so […]
God is love. But is love God?
As I continue to “work out” my salvation (Phil. 2:12), I am constantly pestered with thoughts that plague me until I give them attention. There’s a question I’ve been chewing on for a couple of years, and various interactions and life circumstances have made it more immediate and relevant for me. I don’t want to throw […]
The Blessing Of Uncertainty
My Dad, Dale Riddle, recently brought up a powerful experience that I felt compelled to share. Occasionally, God provides moments of clarity (which can also be moments that are perplexing and unsettling) that are immediately pivotal. We can no longer travel down the same road and are set on a different course (much like the […]
Best Kept Secret
“Secretly incredible people just do things.” (from Love Does by Bob Goff) Last Sunday, as we were rehearsing music for worship team, my friend and I had a “moment.” Our worship pastor was working out some details with the musicians (which usually means I can zone out for a minute because I don’t understand musician […]
Truth vs. Certainty
Is “certainty” (being “right,” without doubt) the enemy of love? I feel like I have been wrestling with this question a lot lately. Seems like whether it is politics, religion, education, etc., everyone has a strong opinion and is certain that they are “right.” It would be beautiful to see people trying to compromise for […]
Flawed and Beautiful – Thoughts on the Church
I love the church. It can be flawed and messy, but I am grateful that I have also experienced beauty that keeps me coming back and softens my heart. As a kid, church was like a second home to me. My Dad was a pastor until I was four years old and then he and […]
Posts that led to a blog: Book Notes (Torn) – Beautiful Reminder
Now that all the kids are in school a few hours a week, I have the luxury of reading again! Woohoo! Just finished “Present Perfect” by Gregory Boyd (simple but challenging) and also “The Reason I Jump” by Naoki Higashida (absolutely wonderful – written by a 13 year old boy with autism) and I’m in […]