Stephanie and husband Shomari in their Salvation Army shelter room. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Tillman She was six years old when her mother abandoned her and took off for Florida. She was 22 the Valentine’s Day when her drug dealer boyfriend dumped her and their newborn son on the couch while he left to play […]
Social Media: To Friend or Unfriend?
When did the postal service really get started? When was it feasible for an average someone to send a letter across town or country? I’m told that in America it was no later than 1639. How fun it must have been when Aunt Phyllis’ nephew, after traveling for days across the state for his once-every-two-years […]
What is the Sabbath?
I once participated in a heated discussion with my friend of another denomination about the Christian Sabbath. She insisted that the seventh day, meaning Saturday, is the Sabbath. She even had me count out the days, and I could not disagree with her. Thinking her point proved correct, I felt ashamed that I couldn’t put […]
Calling Him “Father”
Scripture reminds us time and time again that we are God’s children and he is our Father. Psalm 103:13 tells us, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” In 2 Corinthians 6:18, God promises, “I will be a Father to you, and you […]
IDENTIFY: Advice On Life, Faith & Relationships
I don’t hear God when I pray. Am I doing it wrong?
Dear Lindsey, I’ve been a Christian for a little while now, but I have to admit: I don’t really like to pray. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I have a hard time staying focused. Some people say they can hear or feel God talk to them, but I don’t feel […]
WHY JOIN A CHURCH?
On the meanings of church membership
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians have to be church members. Hebrews 10:24-25, verses that are often quoted in discussions of church attendance, does specifically tell us not to “[give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (NIV). That is a clear direction to gather regularly with other […]
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE PAINFULLY IMPERFECT
The word community was never disputed. When the church I was a part of was undergoing the process of changing their name, nearly every potential word or phrase was scrutinized and debated. There was even disagreement over whether the word church should be included in the new title. Yet, nobody ever questioned the inclusion of […]
THE BEAUTY OF COMMUNITY & THE BEAST OF ISOLATION
Have you ever felt like you wanted so much more than your provincial life has to offer? We are all searching for happiness and for significance in life. The feeling of happiness alone is not ultimately satisfying, as we know that it will fade or flee amidst our ever-changing circumstances. And why would we spend […]
THE LOST VIRTUE OF BEING THANKFUL
While I was in seminary, I lived with a very nice family in a very nice house rent free. Not only will I always be thankful for their kindness, generosity, and hospitality, I also learned a profound lesson about gratitude through my experience. On the face of it, the idea of gratitude seems a simple […]
MORE THAN POTS
Being God's Image Bearers
I’ve been living on my own for almost two years now, and one of the hardest yet rewarding things I’ve learned how to do is cook. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, I’ve evolved from cereal artistry to legitimate home cooked meals. Honestly, the hardest thing to learn was understanding when to use certain herbs and […]
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