the idol factory “An idol is anything that is central in my life, anything that seems to be essential. Anything by which I live or depend.” D. M. Lloyd-Jones Theologian John Calvin said that the heart is a “perpetual factory of idols.” We are constantly looking for things to worship, and making the good things […]

When February 14th rolls around each year, chocolate hearts and fragrant flowers promise us a day full of warm and fuzzy feelings. Cheesy cards and red roses fill the stores, reminding us all that love is in the air (or at least it should be). And while a day spent eating candy and passing out […]

Western culture loves its buzzwords, and “balance” is one that’s been circulating for a while. We constantly lament the lack of balance in our lives, search for the right methods to secure it, envy others who seem to have it, celebrate when we manage to feel we’ve achieved it, and even make it the object […]

I often find myself drifting into contemplative states—ones in which I look back and replay certain parts of my life to analyze them all over again. They can be sweet, nostalgic trips into my past, but they can also take me back to seasons that do not feel worth reliving. Regardless of where my thoughts […]

three single women “What? You have three ladies living in your basement?! I bet you’re looking forward to the day you can have the whole house to yourself.…” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve received comments like this when we tell people we have three single women living in our home, and have […]