By Bill Ross There I was, in a remote Guatemalan village on the side of a mountain. We had just finished building a concrete cooking stove for a family. I stepped out of the house to allow the village women to come and see the new stove, and that’s when it happened. Thankfully, I didn’t … Continue reading Julia Estufa: Redemptive thoughts from Guatemala
By Laura Kreger From our friends at Advent Conspiracy: redistribution – n. reducing inequalities in the distribution of wealth Sounds like something on a monochromatic line graph. The kind in the corner of the economics textbook page that makes your eyes gloss overnot inspire you to join a conspiracy. Is this whole thing really a … Continue reading Advent Conspiracy: A glimmer of hope
By Melissa Sandel Last summer, the junior high students from our church decided to start a revolution. Rather than succumb to a typical, lazy summer, they decided to pursue a God-sized dream. They said they wanted to change the world. That’s an ambitious goal for a group of acne-prone kids who can’t drive. They started … Continue reading A Different Kind of Christmas: Hope from Junior High kids
By Karen Swank Bah, humbug. My relationship with Christmas has come through many stages over the years. It was my favorite holiday when I was a kid. I loved everything about the season, from the cookies to the tree and decorations to carols to family gatherings to Santa Claus himself. I liked the church Christmas … Continue reading Bah Humbug: Not all Scrooges are bad
By Jamie Tworkowski and Jeff Goins Jamie, what’s new at TWLOHA? Our friend Casey Calvert from (the band) Hawthorne Heights passed away two weeks ago, and it’s something that’s affected a lot of our friends, and thousands more who loved Casey’s music. Casey struggled with depression and was a huge supporter of TWLOHA, so it … Continue reading To Write Love on Her Arms: Checking in with Jamie Tworkowski
By Holly Pritchett Pennies, face up, are good luck. Slight good luck in our economy, but luck itself is a precious commodity akin to hope. Hope, whether valued at a cent or constructed as a rainbow, is one of only three things that actually remain. There was one such heads-up, hopeful penny on the corner … Continue reading Pennies Face Up: Hope still remains
By Andy Braner The time is on us. It’s another round of political grandstanding, and it seems every news outlet is obsessed with next year’s general election. Barack, Hillary, Huckabee, or Rudy; who will be the next leader of the free world? I was recently the keynote at a large convention with Christian school Administrators … Continue reading Politics and Religion: Don’t let someone else frame the debate
By Karen Swank the beautiful and terrible thing about Truth is the way it stands unbending regardless of any response to it no matter who believes it or not it is. no mountain of words tossed can bury it no emotion can eat it away no objection can alter its substance pretense believes itself bigger … Continue reading Accept: A poem about truth
By Aaron Bruner Each morning for the past week I roll over and hit my alarm clock about five times before actually getting up. I have these great aspirations of waking up, going running, getting a nice shower, and having a cup of tea while I start my “quiet time”. This has only happened about … Continue reading Biking Evangelist: What a real man looks like
By Victorina Peach He is her sun, Bright warmth And smiles. He is her sky, Open acceptance And trust. He is her river, Steadily flowing And constant. He is her fire, Glowing flame And passion. He is her star, Brightly guiding And serene. He is her world, Completely whole And encompassing. Victorina Peach is 18 … Continue reading He Is: A short poem