I look outside to our back deck and see our table - the one we purchased for a high school graduation celebration and the one we gathered around on summer nights as mosquitoes swarmed - all covered up in a tarp to be protected for the onslaught of winter. It's a sad sight, just like the grey November...

When my husband proposed to me, let's just say I was underwhelmed. We had been dating about 10 months, and were hanging out at his house in the family room. He looked over at me and said, "So, you want to do it?" "Do what?" I inquired, totally uncertain what he had in mind. "You...

Yesterday morning as I stood in line to vote, I saw that my 19-year-old daughter had left me a cell phone message. "I just voted for the first time!" she declared with excitement. "And I'm proud to be an American." What stirring words to hear from a young person. I'm proud...

Saturday morning I drove my husband to O'Hare airport and gave him a big hug as he was departing for 12 days in Africa. Warren leads our global work in South Africa and Zambia, and periodically needs to meet with our partners and discern how we are doing with our church's investment in those...

For a short time this morning, I was oblivious to the date and the significance of the day. But as soon as my brain started working I remembered, yesterday was the 10th , my brother's birthday. Today was the 11 th - I remember. Like many of you I remember where I was on the morning of the 11 th ...

Last Friday I so enjoyed my time with about twenty worship/arts leaders at Discovery Church in Orlando. I was delighted that the day included a wide age range of leaders and people from several different kinds of churches. Together we talked about some of the challenges we face as leaders, and exchanged...

My two sons started back to school this week. And so did I! I am teaching ... well really leading. I have a team of 11 students. 11 creative students. We meet for 40 minutes, 5 days a week to create and plan chapel services for their high school peers. We seek to create a space where students can come...

Hard to believe the summer is almost over. These last three months have seemed to just fly by. My oldest is starting high school this year and my husband and I have kids in two different schools on very different schedules. This week, I've been running around trying to get all the school supplies...

We gathered outside the chapel patio on a gorgeous August night, releasing our helium balloons to the sky and proclaiming, "We love you, Donna!" That was the fitting conclusion to the remarkable funeral I attended last Thursday honoring the life of Donna Lagerquist . Those who have ever purchased...

We all love stories of people who have overcome obstacles and Jason, J-Mac McElwain is just one of those people. Some of you may have already seen the video posted below and know his story but it is worth seeing and hearing again. I recently read J-Mac’s book, The Game of My Life. It tells the story...