"You really are a wonder, Auggie. You are a wonder."

Doug McBride tells us about finding the gift of freedom in God's command to rest.

During this time of year when ‘Best Of’ lists are appearing, I thought I’d add to the Internet noise by sharing my favorite books of 2017. These are not books that were published in 2017. Rather they’re books I read this year, specifically the ones I've been thinking about as my favorites.

Retreat...waiting...rest...these are words we—as a church and as individuals—have a hard time with. What's it like spending a whole weekend embracing them?

Do you paint, draw, sculpt, write, photograph, compose, or do anything that involves creating? We hope you'll take part in this year's Art for Advent!

I was anxiously awaiting the first signs of fall as I always do when something struck me. Just as a distinct, vivid color appears when the trees strip themselves of their leaves, so is the vibrancy that’s born when the Lord strips us of these things our hearts are so sure we deserve. 

I came across this quote a few weeks ago. Perhaps you’ve seen it too: “Was it a bad day, or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?” As I write this I’m still not sure if I like or dislike the quote.

Since our family returned from sabbatical, I’ve been thinking about rest. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about what rest is and how we can make it a regular part of our lives.

“We can wait on the Lord not only because everything depends on Him, but because we have confidence that His goodness and glory will be displayed."

Liz Crim reflects on the digital noise that surrounds us all and what a retreat from that noise might reveal. We'll dig into ideas like this—and much more—at our next Christian Formation class, Friends or Followers: Lasting Friendship in a Fractured Age.

My sabbatical this summer was a gift from all of you: a gift to me, to my marriage, to my family, and to you.

"Friendship is born over time, not over one coffee date. It’s born through shared adversity, not just fun game nights."