By Ruth Wilkinson I often come home from church smelling rather strongly of cigarette smoke. It’s always been this way at GTI, but more so since we stopped meeting in the big room (too cold in the winter) and moved for the season into a team member’s room. Smaller room, more concentrated smoke. I’ve always … Continue reading First Church of the Blue Haze
By Lorie Newman Repulsive. Dirty. Cast aside. Unwanted. Abandoned. All of these words describe the orphaned girl in the picture. I want to turn away as I look but I cant. I want to look away and pretend shes not there but I can’t. I want to look away and go back to ironing, cleaning, … Continue reading Does One Really Matter?
By Karen Swank So, have you saved anyone yet? The question is asked with a knowing smile and cynical edges around the eyes. It’s been aimed at me many times already in the three weeks I’ve been working at the shelter for abused women. It’s a companion to the “wisdom” that was passed along to … Continue reading Christian Service and Saving the World
By Jody Matheson Book Review Young Restless, Reformed: A journalist’s journey with the new Calvinists Before picking up Young, Restless, Reformed, I thought a Calvinist was someone who enjoyed Bill Wattersons Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The names Jonathan Edwards, John Piper, even John Calvin himself were people that I had not been exposed to … Continue reading Young, Restless, Reviewed: The new Calvinists
By Michael Shaul We are constantly slammed with the temptation of comfort. Not that comfort in and of itself is evil, but I am talking about the kind that keeps us from seeing and experiencing the pain found in the lives of those right outside our door. In the same way we insulate ourselves from … Continue reading Brokenness: Four Crutches and God’s Faithfulness
By Michael Shaul From the Dominican Republic: Dulce has a heart of gold, but it wasn’t always that way. Her two rough-neck granddaughters bore witness to her legacy of toughness. When we first got to know the little family of three, the little ones were the instigators of all kinds of trouble. Dulce’s response: harsh … Continue reading Planting and Harvesting Seeds
By Heather Fischer I’ve been thinking about family lately. Well, it’s kind of hard not to… I mean, that’s why I am here. I’ve been getting a lot of questions from people like, “Won’t it be weird bringing these kids into your family?” And, “What does your family think about all of this?” And, “What … Continue reading Myopia: Thoughts on family
By Mariah Secrest Be honest. Youve had the experience of being in the car, surfing the radio stations, and coming upon a song that you immediately identified as having a Christian sound before you even heard the lyrics. Unfortunately, much of the Christian music industry is categorized by a certain conformity of style. This assumed … Continue reading Voices in Culture: After Edmund Interview
By Heather Fischer I was so sick of myself. When did I become such a whiner? I spent so much ridiculous time obsessing over myself and my own level of happiness or contentment, and to be perfectly honest, it was getting old. I thought maybe I should write or grow a garden or paint (none … Continue reading Leaving Suburbia: Feeling sane for the first time
By Karen Swank Almost exactly a year ago, an aunt that I rarely see or talk to suddenly started leaving me phone messages and emails, saying she needed to talk to me about something important – a job opening that was tailor-made for me. What you have to know here is that I was not … Continue reading Conversations with God