Blog

It's just days away. I count my years by the 18th of January rather than the 1st, and I'm within a week of my third traumaversary. I'll be adventuring with…

I've been reading this super interesting biography of Pocahontas written by a Native American woman that tells the story in a Native narrative form as opposed to a European one.…

I'm wracked with insecurities. I'm hugely insecure. It's a real problem sometimes. I'm not insecure about my nerdiness or my personality because I certainly wouldn't stand a chance working with…

John is my favorite Gospel. The Evangelist's annunciation of the birth of Jesus literarily parallels the opening of Genesis, and I can't help but get excited about the Word becoming…

Three years ago this week, I sat in the Lutheran church in town surrounded by native German speakers, unable to understand a word, and overwhelmed with emotion as I realized I…

You may not have heard me say it, but I love my job. Welcome to those of you who haven't heard that before; you are clearly new.  I had a…

"Smiling is my favorite." Actually, no, full disclosure, I think laughing is my favorite. Every semester my students ask me if they are my favorite. Like every good teacher, I tell…

Growing up, I always loved the laid back feel of Thanksgiving day. From my mom's perspective, I think there was a lot more stress, but for me, the holiday meant…

"Hold your left arm out like walking on a tight rope." Cindy held my right arm secure as she instructed me and I took timid steps forwards. This week we…

I want to be known for one thing, and one thing only: my love for Jesus. My Jesus has blessed me with the opportunity to live overseas and teach third…

I'm about to start watching V for Vendetta as I do every November 5th, and the oft quoted refrain "Remember, remember..." generally reminds people of violence and government overthrow and…

I did a lot this week, but there didn't seem to be much to tie it all together at the weekend. I've spent most of today thinking about how I…

I gave my students a work period for their quarter project that's due next week, and although I assigned this project three weeks ago and had previously given a work…

I love my job. I won’t ever do anything to jeopardize my teaching position because it provides me with the unique opportunity to speak truth into the lives of teenagers…

I have a pain in my butt - literally. It's been there for a week now.  Last Sunday, I went for a walk after a nice refreshing sleep-in overdue from that…

As I was reflecting on my week and wondering what to write, I noticed my physical recovery was overshadowed by some emotional drama. So naturally, I did something almost stupid…

I spoke in chapel yesterday, and my talk covered a lot about how the body of Christ has come around me in a beautiful way in my ongoing recovery and…

Over the last two days, summer has disappeared, and fall has officially taken over in Kandern. I've always been partial to the rainy weather growing up, but it still presents…

One of my theology professors wrote a book with his son in which the son wrote that his father had nurtured in him "a Christian crush on all things Jewish." Props…