Cave Dripped

Cave Dripped

baptism by cave dripMy husband and I were walking through the majestic underground caverns in Carlsbad New Mexico, when I felt a drop. One drop, out of an infinite number, which over time formed the features of that stunning cave.

My husband was jealous! He didn’t receive the special “cave anointing.” A baptism by water of sorts. We laughed.

Baptism by water dripsThen we came to the “Rock of Ages,” one of the most notable columns in the cave. In days of old, rangers invited tourists to sing the old hymn by the same name at the base of the column, reminding themselves like the psalmist… “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?”[i]

It’s inconceivable how many drips it took to form such a tower of rock. And even more mind-boggling that mineralized water could form something so solid, so immovable, so massive!

Cave drips start a lengthy process of formation. When the cool water of baptism touches our foreheads, something also begins. Continue reading

Arranged Faith

Arranged Faith

As a new mother, my friend frets about bullies on the playground. “What did you worry about when you were raising kids?” she asked.

I thought for a minute. Sexual predators…an unstable future…my fragile marriage. I had had many concerns. But then it came to me. “How to raise our kids spiritually without making them feel cornered.”

402b05ce-2496-4d4e-aa70-5a7276aa5b53Did you grow up in a Christian family, attend church, say grace, and go to Christmas Eve services? Maybe it was more intense—daily devotions, memorizing Scripture, bedtime prayers, and high standards. Maybe you went to a Christian school or were given a purity ring. If you’ve felt a deep obligation to embrace your parents’ faith, I am writing to you.

Does it feel like an arranged marriage?

MarriageA & E produced a shocking new reality show called, “Marriage At First Sight.” If you haven’t stumbled on any episodes, it’s about 3 men and 3 women who agree to legally marry a complete stranger. Experts in the field of psychology match the husband and wife pairs through in-depth assessments, but each couple meets for the first time on their wedding day.

Sounds disastrous, right? A show you can’t help but watch. And that’s what producers are banking on…a reality series with train-wreck potential.Continue reading