Though the Fig Tree Does Not Blossom
The prophet Habakkuk’s heart broke as he watched Babylon, the enemy of Israel, break the backs of God’s people by enslaving…
The Promise of Restoration
Paul and Silas could sing a broken hallelujah because they believed in the promises of God, one of which is the promise of…
The Promise of God’s Presence
Paul and Silas sang at midnight because they believed the promises of God. They believed His promises because God cannot…
Is God Really Sovereign?
“Is God really sovereign? Can I trust Him now…even in this?” The steady, virulent progress of the malignant brain tumor gave real urgency …
My Loss, My Gain
Let’s go back to that prison cell where Paul and Silas sang and praised God at midnight. What do you think they hoped to…
Do I Have a Purpose?
What is your purpose in life? Many of us think our purpose is to recapture the Garden of Eden and our pursuit of that goal starts…
Theology Driven Living
Christians sometimes offer false hope to struggling people because their theology is skewed. Browse a Christian bookstore and check…
Why Could Paul and Silas Sing?
As a young man, Dr. J. I. Packer said: “Theology is bad for one’s soul.” What? This from a world-renowned theologian? Instead of a…
Theology Fuels a Broken Hallelujah
Last week we took a quick look at Paul and Silas singing at midnight. Acts 16 tells their story. They were arrested under false pretenses; they were severely beaten, thrown into the inner prison…
A Contemporary Broken Hallelujah
Several years after Mark’s death God seared into our souls a vivid image of the privilege of corporate worship within our covenant community…
Wrestling that Leads to a Broken Hallelujah
Our son Mark’s death stripped away all religious pretenses. I wanted, no I needed to know that everything I had taught, everything I said…
Will You Sing at Midnight?
“I know what the title of your next book should be,” our friend said as she greeted us after church. She continued, “Read Acts 16 where Paul…
A Hopeless Mess
Leonard Cohen, author of A Broken Hallelujah was Jewish. For a time he also practiced Buddhism. He was not a professing Christian and there is a dark…
Pushing Hallelujah into the Mundane
How often I have pushed back against this command to give thanks in all things, especially in the middle of great darkness. Perhaps one reason I push back is…
A Broken Hallelujah
I was asked to teach a workshop on the topic of grief in the context of ONE Annapolis, a women’s regional conference sponsored by our denomination. As I thought about how…
When the Lights Go Out
It’s likely that I have never walked where you are walking, but I do know what shattered dreams and broken hearts are all about. My husband Chuck and I experienced…
A Proper Diagnosis
Even though I’ve faithfully stretched and exercised throughout my adult years, I have stiff muscles. Various stressors, both…
I Love to Tell the Story
I spent most of my 30-year career working as a carpet stylist for a large fiber producer. I followed color trends, made samples using the fibers we…