Reflections and Responses

Olivia is terrified of the vacuum cleaner. She quivers when I bring it out of the closet. Her eyes enlarge, filled with terror, and she makes a pant-like sound that I only hear her make in response to the vacuum and (occasionally) strangers. (I am determined that her fear of the vacuum is not related to "stranger danger" - I'm choosing to feel confident in my housekeeping abilities and believe that her fear does not stem from unfamiliarity with the vacuum cleaner - ha.) She's also learning how to walk. It's been fascinating to watch this infant gradually develop the muscle and motor skills that will enable her to run across a yard one day. Eleven months ago, she couldn't even hold up her own head, much less walk. Our tiny house makes a circle, and she loves walking the same circular route through it multiple times a day, holding my hands. As Liv and I made our first round for the day through the house this morning, she found herself face to face with the l...

I'm in the process of transitioning off of staff at Passion City Church and Passion Conferences. I joined the team on August 23, 2010. I've spent 4.5 (stunningly) beautiful, stretching, awe-inspiring, humbling years of my life serving Jesus with some incredibly talented people who love Him. Together, we were able to be a part of things dreams are made of and see some things that I think I will still be processing years from now. I made this decision a while ago, but the transition won't be finalized until the end of this month. Last weekend while serving at Passion 2015, I couldn't sleep. It was crazy - I had been awake too many hours to count, and my alarm was going off in too few hours to count, but I was wide awake. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to turn on my lamp and make a list in my journal of all of the lessons I've learned while working there - spiritual lessons, professional lessons, and just life lessons - the stuff that comes with maturing. I ...