• Faith

    A Prayer for 2019

    I know what you’re thinking, “It’s nine days into the month and she’s just getting around to offering a prayer for the new year?” Well, I’ve been a bit busy. Moving, unpacking, visiting family and friends, holiday gatherings, unpacking more, preparing to travel again, re-packing, starting a blog, etc. Lots going on here. This sabbatical thing is harder than it looks. Especially for people who are wired like me. Anyway, I hope this prayer breaths fresh life into you today. God of wisdom we surrender this year to you. Before the foundations of the world, you knew us and called us by name. Every hair on our head is numbered…

  • Faith

    What is Shalom?

    Shalom is a Hebrew term that is rich in history and meaning. In its simplest form, it means peace, prosperity, harmony, wholeness, completeness, tranquility and welfare. However, in the Old Testament it assumed an interconnectedness between people, nature, and God. In the book Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, author Cornelius Plantinga described the Old Testament concept of shalom: The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and…