A Tale of Two Franklins
Some thoughts about our response to infidelity from someone who has had an affair.
Category: Forgiveness
No Condemnation
Some days I am the Pharisee, some days I am the crowd, but often, I am the woman, waiting to be condemned.
Proving Repentance
One by one, we gathered in the mountains, robbed of cell service and internet access. Our differences were easy to spot. Different ages, different professions, different races. We had the coffee drinkers and the tea drinkers. Those who worked with the elderly and those who worked with children. Women married for years, women in much […]
Embracing Shame
At some point in the past year, I became addicted to shame. I’ve neve been a huge fan of the Jonathan Edwards ideology where I am no more than a spider that God is dangling over the fires of hell. I shake my head at statements like, “God hates you.” Constantly examining my life to […]
Casting Cares and Laying Down Burdens
I was sitting on an old towel covering up the sticks and leaves of the woods seminar at Creation ’88. The mosquitos were out in full force as we took shelter from the late June sun under the trees. The speaker was telling a story about how he and his dad went bar hopping and spent […]
Cankles and Fragile Joy
It’s just 9:30 in the morning, and I can already tell that by the time I get home tonight after teaching, my ankles are going to disappear into my calves. They’re not swollen yet, but it’s coming. Because when you’re thisclose to forty and you’re thisclose to delivering your fifth child, you just know these […]
Finding Permission to Look for the Helpers
“My mother would say to me,‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.” ~Fred Rogers Following […]
Me, Derek Webb, and the long path of repentance
It seems that all my bridges have been burned But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart But the welcome I receive with every start ~Mumford & Sons, Roll Away Your Stone A few weeks ago, singers Derek Webb and Sarah McCracken […]
The Pope, World Vision, and Watering Down the Gospel
A few weeks ago, Pope Francis suggested that there should be further study on the issue of marriage equality in the Catholic church. Just a few days ago, Richard Stearns announced that World Vision would be allowing married, gay Christians to work openly for their organization. One might think that these are fairly benign actions. […]
Redemption Only Through Failure?
Jesus, Jesus, there are those that say they love you But they have treated me so goddamn mean And I know you said ‘forgive them for they know not what they do’ But sometimes I think they do And I think about you If all the heathens burn in hell, do all their children burn […]
knitting soul 