Category: Practical Theology
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When November Sucks / Angry at God
Read more: When November Sucks / Angry at GodThe last two months have been some of the most difficult since we moved to Scotland. It is difficult to articulate exactly how frustrating these times have been in a blog post without sounding as if I am depressed or complaining. Neither of these is the case, yet times have been difficult all the same….
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A Big Ol’ Fixer Upper
Read more: A Big Ol’ Fixer UpperConfession: I really like HGTV (the Home and Garden cable TV network, for the uninitiated). I adore the Gaineses on Fixer Upper. The Property Brothers and House Hunters are quite wonderful as well. I’ve spent a good amount of my winter break time drinking in these home renovation fantasies, and I’m starting to notice a…
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My F(f)ather’s Love
Read more: My F(f)ather’s Love“Your F(f)ather loves you very much.” These words have been ringing in my heart for the past week. The last few days I attended a Chinese Missions Convention in San Diego, where there were over 3,000 people ready to hear about the different ways God is working throughout the world. Although I’m Filipino (and actually…
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I’m Sorry, I Can’t Pray for You
Read more: I’m Sorry, I Can’t Pray for YouDear whoever you are church member, This past week you probably felt somewhat confused and hurt when I told you in no uncertain terms that I would not be able to commit to praying for you after you shared your struggles with me. Now, I did pray with you after we talked about your situation…
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A Letter for Pastors-in-Process
Read more: A Letter for Pastors-in-ProcessRecently, I heard about a young man interested in planting a church. He was from a large evangelical church in Orange County, CA. He asked to meet with the pastor of a medium size church in a nearby city that was already full of solid evangelical churches. This young man shared with the humble pastor…
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The Power of Dreaming
Read more: The Power of DreamingA few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending our church’s Global Church Conference, which was an opportunity for us to hear from the majority world. We had speakers from Egypt (Anne Zaki), Guatemala (Pablo Villeda), and the Philippines (Athena Gorospe). One session of the conference was a “question and answer” segment, where attendees…
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Knit Together
Read more: Knit TogetherWhen you’re learning how to knit, you need to learn to read a whole new language: K1, m1, p2, CO, k2tog. You learn to decipher charts and take something that looks good on paper and bring it to life. And you learn, through experience, that knitting takes time and requires a good deal of patience…
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Dys-lectio
Read more: Dys-lectioIn preparation for a spiritual retreat I, well, am currently taking as I write this, I read Discovering Lectio Divina: Bringing Scripture into Ordinary Life by James C. Wilhoit and Evan B. Howard (2012, Kindle edition). As I have been on this half-day retreat, praying and thinking back over my spiritual autobiography, I can see how…
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Retreating from Women’s Retreats
Read more: Retreating from Women’s RetreatsThis past weekend I went on a women’s retreat to Lake Arrowhead with my church, Redeemer Church in La Mirada. I have to admit, that I was a bit wary about writing this post on a women’s retreat, since my past few posts have been a series on Ruth, my last post was about Hello…
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2 Years In Scotland: The start of some reflections
Read more: 2 Years In Scotland: The start of some reflectionsNext week marks two years in Scotland for the Carroll family. It’s been a time of ups and downs and many changes in lifestyle while we have been here. The family is really settling in well and Aberdeen has become home (at least for now). When we left our boys were little ages 5, 7,…