When We Don’t Know What To Do
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? When Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah was faced with the threat of battle from the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites, he made an important decision as a leader. 2 Chronicles 20:3 states, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and […]
Invitation To Interior Freedom
Rebellion, resignation, or consent: The choice is yours. Have you considered your heart’s attitude toward the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis? Your response is the difference between simply surviving this season and knowing Jesus more intimately on the other side. Honesty in our emotions and attitudes is a critical first step in embracing God’s deeper […]
The Secret In Suffering
I keep waking up with the weight of the world pressing in, inciting my own prayers to heaven. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy on us all. These are difficult times. And while no person’s experience of sheltering in place is the same, it is disruptive for everyone. For some, quarantine is a long vacation […]
Be Gentle
One of the most surprising aspects of sheltering in place is that I experience little surprises almost every day. Some of them are delightful surprises – wood ducks swimming in my pond, how quickly my dog learns new tricks, my husband cleaning the kitchen after my cooking frenzy. But others are less delightful. I’m surprised […]
Funeral Planning During COVID-19
The following was written to provide guidance to anyone faced with the unique dynamics of gathering people to honor a loved one during this season in which social gathering is limited. Consider what may best serve two needs at different times. When we lose the earthly presence of a loved one, there are two things […]
An Illusion Of Control
The last few months of “sheltering in” due the COVID-19 pandemic have awakened all of us to the limitations inherent in being human. I’ve commented often in conversations with directees that I experience this season of limitations as more an opportunity than a crisis. What kind of opportunity, you ask? Many of the people I […]
Into The Desert: Consenting To What We Did Not Choose & Fighting The Right Enemy
[A Note From The Author: This is a chapter-length long-form essay. Brew a cup of tea.] The whole world has been led into the desert and we must confront the demons. While previous moments in history have taught Christians to be salt and light through darkness and plague, I fear we may still miss out […]
Neighboring In The Wake Of COVID-19 | A Conversation With Jay Pathak & Phil Strout
In this video, Phil Strout (National Director, Vineyard USA) has a conversation with Jay Pathak (Vineyard Pastor and Author of The Art Of Neighboring) on we can love our neighbors well in the wake of COVID-19.
Caring For Caregivers | A Conversation With Kris Miller & Phil Strout
In this video, Phil Strout (National Director, Vineyard USA) has a conversation with Kris Miller (Founder of Flourishing Leaders) on what it looks like to both lament the limits and embrace the gifts of this distinctive time.
Caring For Caregivers | A Conversation With Todd Hunter & Phil Strout
In this video, Phil Strout (National Director, Vineyard USA) has a conversation with Todd Hunter (Founding Bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, and Former National Director of Vineyard USA) on what it looks like to care for yourself while you’re caring for others. .
