Uncompromised

The Quiet Ache in the Crowd It’s been a while since we caught up, my last post was back on March 17! A lot has happened since then, as I spent the last few weeks in Brazil visiting family, wandering through vibrant markets, and soaking in the incredible specialty coffee and cafe culture of São Paulo. I'm still a big city girl in the heart, and I confess it was refreshing! I have so many beautiful stories and pictures to share from the trip, but we'll save the travel journal and the local cafe finds for a separate post soon. Getting back to the quiet reality of our everyday lives, though: we have never had more ways to reach across the globe, yet we have never felt so far away from the person sitting across the table. I was sitting in my favorite booth at a local cafe the other day, nursing a warm matcha latte, watching the room fill up with people. It’s a familiar scene, everyone together, yet remarkably alone. So many times, a person is surrounded by a crowd and still feels co...

Can We Talk About This? Why is it that believers can sometimes be so harsh with one another? Have you noticed that when a believer makes a mistake, it often feels like a little gang of “perfect” people comes after them with vengeance? This self-righteous response reveals a heart issue. Instead of being quick to extend grace, we become fixated on the faults of others while ignoring our own. Yet Scripture reminds us: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10). Many unchurched people I’ve spoken with have shared stories of being hurt or disappointed, often by fellow Christians. That pain is real, and I don’t dismiss it. At the same time, we know our ultimate hope isn’t in people but in Christ alone. You’ve probably seen the phrase, “If you left the church because of people, you were never there for Jesus.” While there’s some truth...