Deb Brammer has done it again. This sequel to “Broken Windows” follows the same vein of wholesome Christian fiction for young adults. I enjoyed the discussion beginning in chapter 10 about relative truth vs absolute truth, and real vs. fake conversion. Deb Brammer demonstrates her thorough understanding of far Eastern thought and the difficulties of cross-cultural communication. I especially love how normal Christian life* is woven into the story. ...
This is what I do every week. There are so many things that come my way that need to be tracked or worked on or engaged with. Generally, I’m an organized person even though I have four little saboteurs buzzing around me every day. But every year as my children grow older and they become more considerate and helpful around the house, my happy little list-making self is becoming more and more productive. So I just wanted to share with you something that has been a HUGE help to me in the last year. It...
In the political world and in our culture, there is a new term called the “snowflake” generation. It has become one of Collins Dictionary’s 2016 words of the year, and it means, “the young adults of the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations.”1 There is a wider connotation to mean that these are young people (teens through early adult-hood) who not only are offended easily, but seem to think it’s ok to melt down in a panic...
How to be a follower The humility and discipline of submitting to those over us has a subtle and unique power. It is not power over the leader, but power over self. Power over selfishness. To place my desires and perspective and opinions below that of another person (husband, parent, pastor, teacher, rules, etc.) is not only a freeing thing, but an empowering thing. Modern feminism, even “Christian” feminism, rebels against this. This militant...
America fought not just one war for independence; it fought two. The War of 1812 threatened to be the downfall of our fledgling nation, but John Quincy Adams and his wife, Louisa, were instrumental in raising her up from the ashes. Although the author used simile and metaphor much too much, I still enjoyed the journey through the Adams’s correspondence and diaries. Some of the important points of diplomacy and treaties were witnessed by John Q. Adams. ...
“Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). This Wednesday night, I happened to pull out the lesson about the Sower and the Seeds to teach to our Summit Bible Club because of the connection to harvest time (Matthew 13:3; Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5). Little did I know that I needed to hear the lesson as much as, probably more than, the kids needed it. The lesson was very simple, but so difficult to hear. ...
