Category: Ministries

Healing in Pine Ridge: Part One

Pine Ridge Sunset

On October 3rd, 2015 ten of us landed in the tiny airport of Rapid City, SD. Four more were making the long drive from Virginia to South Dakota, and our group of 14 would be spending the week working on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Who knew so much could happen in one week? This is part one. To read part two, click here. Why Pine Ridge? Five months ago I knew little about Pine Ridge Reservation or the Oglala Lakota that

Dear camp counselor

Dear camp counselor

Dear camp counselor, September is here. Backpacks are packed, pencils sharpened, and yellow school buses wait at the corner. Orange and brown leaves are starting to cover our yard and the sun is coming up later and going to bed sooner. Alas, summer is officially over. Despite the excitement and energy that surrounds a new school year, there is one bit of summer that lingers in our house; one topic that resurfaces at the dinner table, in the car, and at bed-time.

My burning bush

stage

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ And the Lord said to Samuel: ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.’” 1 Samuel 3:10-11 A dear friend used to tell me “sometimes God gently pokes you with a stick and sometimes he has to knock you over the head with a 2×4.”

One year and counting…

Happy first birthday

One year. A lot can happen in one year. On June 26th, 2014 I took a deep breath and officially launched Neither Height Nor Depth. Not sure at the time what it would turn into, who would read it, or exactly why the Lord was calling me to do this, I took the leap of faith and, wow! What a ride the past 12 months have been. Firstly, I want to thank everyone who took the time to read, comment and

Gift well this Christmas

gift well

  Have you been staring at your Christmas shopping list thinking “I don’t know what to buy Aunt Ida…she is so hard to shop for!” Or, “what in the world do I get Grandpa Joe, he has everything!!” Or maybe you’re just thinking, “if I give my husband one more tie he might divorce me.” In the endless aisles of big box stores selling the same ol’ stuff, why not think outside of the (big) box and give gifts that

It's not about jewelry

Noonday

Dear friends, I’d like to ask you to bear with me as I stray from my normal blog content. This one might appear to be a bit self-serving as I’m going to ask you for something at the end. But first, I want to tell you a story. I want to tell you about Emebet. Emebet is Ethiopian and HIV positive. She did not know she had the disease until her husband died from it several years ago. Like many Ethiopians with

I am a writer

She Speaks Conference

“Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” – Ephesians 3:20 I pulled into an open space in the large parking lot, turned off the ignition,  took a deep breath and let it out slowly. As I got out of my car and started to walk toward the doors

There's just something really special about Caroline

camp friends

For most people, referencing home or where they “grew-up” means a house or maybe even a town or neighborhood where they lived as a child. For me, going home to where I “grew-up” means going to an unassuming, but beautiful place hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains called Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. I was a camper there for 7 summers when I was a child. I met my dearest friend there; I met the Holy Spirit there.  I learned how to paddle a canoe,