Author Archives: Laura

About Laura

My name is Laura and I am on a journey, pondering the implications of God's glorious design of humanity and integrating every aspects of this design into a description of whole life health.

Death and Real Life: Eyes Wide Open

My first real memory of death is that of my beautiful green parakeet, Misha Monroe MacArthur, at the jaws of the family Dachshund. Other family pets had died before, but this was the first time my pet had died. I … Continue reading

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Can we counter the short-timer mentality in ministry?

What keeps a person in long-term ministry at a particular church? While the answer is no doubt complex, and probably out of our direct control, I suggest that a major influence is the nature of that person’s connection to the … Continue reading

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Stop Pursuing Spiritual Growth and Start Loving Christ!

In 2009, our church’s motto was, “Passionately pursuing spiritual growth in Christ.” For most of the year, I thought this was a very good motto. On the Sunday that my mind changed, I sat in my normal spot doing my … Continue reading

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Why this illogical silence?

connected by nature and design intertwined by life we, humanity one yet two some in Adam some in Christ some choosing separation some chosen for life we in Christ carry hope this story of suffering of sacrifice of unimaginable price … Continue reading

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Life Insists Upon Itself

I walk a lot. These things happen when you are a transit commuter. Heightened Sensitivity The past week or so, my sensitivity heightened by flowers emerging from sand bags, I have been noticing sundry plants growing in and through pavement. … Continue reading

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Becoming human: Face to face with God?

Thesis: We become more fully human by seeing our reflection in the face of God in the face of the other. Where do we see the face of God? The first place humans encounter the face of God is when … Continue reading

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Being Church: Connection, Participation, and Process

Consider: When do you see the body, building, and bride images in your local congregation? Church as Body Church as Building Church as Bride As church, are we a gathering of like-minded Christians? Are we a social club? Are we … Continue reading

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We bring ourselves with us to the dialogue

Christians are siblings in Christ and followers of Christ: we are one in him. Yet, there are barriers that make gathering difficult. We encounter these barriers when we gather with Christians from different cultures or traditions. We encounter them when … Continue reading

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The outcome of scholarship must not remain a pile of verbiage, however eloquent

In 2010, I completed the StrengthsFinder assessment tool. The results were enlightening, though not surprising (for me or those who know me–a testament to its usefulness): learner intellection input ideation strategic The thing about strengths is that what is designed … Continue reading

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Reading is so much more than lapping up goodness

Writing is thinking: I’ve hear it often and I agree, but what about reading? To ‘fess up a bit, I’ve too often and for too long treated reading as mere input. As I’ve moved along in my doctoral program, the … Continue reading

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