I am grateful to report that I survived last Tuesday's colonoscopy, and to my husband's great disappointment, I didn't say anything too wacky when I was on the drugs. We had a wonderful gathering for Thanksgiving which included welcoming home my college daughter and also meeting my niece's...

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...

Our church welcomed back an old friend this weekend, as Tommy Walker and a small team of musicians came to lead us in worship. There was a time way back when Tommy came to Willow at least three times a year, but it's been awhile since he's joined us. It was a gift to hear some of his new music...

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...

Next week, Bill Hybels will be interviewing Bono for the Leadership Summit 2009. Last time this happened, I got to go along to Dublin - but this year that will not be possible. However, Bill asked me if there are any questions the artists would want him to ask Bono. We could possibly use those responses...

I'm still giving thanks for how God worked at our weekend services. We are in a series about Influence, and this weekend was focusing on the potential of the next generation to make a powerful difference - how God often uses young people to do his best work! In the middle of the opening worship run...

I went to see the first play of the season at Chicago's Goodman Theatre Wednesday night with a group of friends. Turn of the Century is a brand new musical crafted by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the team who created the wildly successful hit, Jersey Boys. Tommy Tune was the director, and the...

Today we begin a full conference week at Willow, with three distinct experiences. Nancy Ortberg and I will host an all day Gifted to Lead workshop today with over 475 women exploring the art of leading as a woman in the church. This will be our second time in the Chicago area with this subject matter...