by Keeva Kase I am often amazed at the spiritual insight of my nearly four-year-old son. On a recent trip to the store, Ketch asked me, “Dad, what is most important in life?” This is not like the indefatigable “why?” after each level of explanation of reasons that a car needs gas or the sky … Continue reading
Author Archives: practicingfamilies2013
Seeing God – in Church of All Places!
~ By Miranda Grummon The reputations of Christians and the church isn’t exactly stellar in the secular world. Churches are closed-minded, they say. Homophobic. Judgmental. Hypocritical. Why on earth would someone want to be a part of a church community? Well…..what if, instead of only hearing the negative press, I could tell them about the love, … Continue reading
All Things
~by Julia Roller The other day I heard a young girl say that Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,” was her life verse. It’s a beautiful and meaningful verse, and I was smiling to myself about her choice … Continue reading
For the Love of Reading
~by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller Before becoming a mother I heard all the stories of how much I’d be reading to my children. How I’d be reading the same story night after night. How I’d have certain books memorized and possibly could recite them in my sleep. It sounded great at the time. How sweet and picture-perfect. … Continue reading
The Church and THE Church
by Donald Hanna I remember years ago, I was teaching a confirmation class at a church where I worked. Some of the kids in the class began talking about “the church.” They went on and on about how the church was close-minded, how it was judgmental, how it was hypocritical, and how it was homophobic. … Continue reading
Why ‘Good’?
by Cheri Tabel “Why is it called ‘Good Friday’?” my son asked on our walk the other night. My mouth opened, pausing, as I heard something in my head that was going to sound like a Christian commercial. My mind raced for the factual, Encylopedia-type answer. Finally, I landed on: “I don’t know.” It was … Continue reading
Lenten Stethoscopes: The Heartbeat of God
~ By Sara Wolbrecht For the season of Lent our church is holding central an image from the Celtic Christian tradition: John the Beloved. A most cherished image in the Celtic Christian world is the memory of John the Beloved leaning against Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13: 21, 23). It is said of … Continue reading
Blame it on the Law!
~by Kelly Pittman It has been a heck of a week so far…and it’s only Monday. Yeah. One of those weeks. I shouldn’t be surprised. My husband is traveling. You’ve no doubt heard of Murphy’s Law? Well this is Pittman’s Law of Parenting: when one parent leaves, everything hits the fan. Perhaps you have a … Continue reading
Still, They Show Me Grace
~by Corey Fields I can hear them in the next room. Are they wrestling? Maybe they’re jumping on the furniture again. Maybe they’re just trying to get my attention. I wouldn’t doubt it. It’s an all too familiar scene. I’m tucked away, staring at my computer again. Too much to do. Have to finish this … Continue reading
Messed Up Lent
~ by Joanna Harader We are one week into Lent and I’ve already messed it up. My first misstep occurred a few days before Ash Wednesday when my 12-year-old daughter suggested that she might give up dessert for Lent. Many thoughts ran through my head in that moment: “Wow, that’s amazing!” And, “Where did she … Continue reading
Practicing Families 