Thank You!

Hey, friends! I know you just heard from me, but I wanted to pop in really quickly and give you an update. At the end of yesterday’s post about my commitment to the blog and its future, I invited you to join the community of readers who support the site financially with a monthly pledge. And last night, we hit a major milestone.

I’m proud to announce that, thanks to the support of some wonderful people, the blog is now completely self-sustaining!

This means that my family and I are no longer paying out of pocket to make this place a reality. The tools I use to write, publish, and host this blog are now fully funded by its supporters. That’s amazing! And I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you.

Getting the blog to a self-sustaining place is something I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I’ve always hoped that my writing was creating value in the world, but now I have concrete evidence that it’s true. Money isn’t everything, but when something you’ve poured your heart into starts bringing in as much as it takes out, that’s a pretty incredible feeling.

This development not only strengthens my resolve to make this site a priority; it also creates space for me to focus on new ways to make the blog even better, extend its reach, and branch out into new creative spheres. I think that one day, we’ll look back on this day as a turning point in the history of this place. And I couldn’t be more excited!

There’s still room for you on the support team! Keeping the site up and running is great, but your support also makes it possible for me explore ways to expand the blog and make it all it can possibly be. This project has always been my favorite “side hustle,” and the more support it receives, the more time I’m able to commit to it rather than to other projects.

If you’re interested in taking the next step in supporting the work I do here, check out the campaign and consider getting started with a monthly pledge of any amount. You’ll become part of a community that’s ensuring this blog reaches its fullest potential, and you’ll get in on some nice perks, too.

Thank you to everyone who has helped the blog get to this point, especially to my supporters, but also to anyone who’s ever taken the time to read an article on here. I wish I could express to you how much this place means to me. I am so grateful that you’re a part of it.

Exciting things are ahead, friends! So stick around, and we’ll get there together. I’ll talk to you again very soon!

Prioritizing

They say you can tell a person’s priorities by looking at two things: their calendar and their bank account. Basically, whatever someone is investing their time, money, energy, and attention into is what they care about the most. We can say all we want that something is important to us, but it’s only real when we show it by fully putting ourselves and our resources into that thing.

Far too often, though, we allow ourselves to become so distracted by the things we have to care about that we lose sight of the things we want to care about. When we aren’t disciplined about keeping our priorities straight, we end up allowing life to dictate them for us. And life rarely chooses the right things for us to care about on its own.

One thing I’ve always tried to do is periodically check in on where my priorities lie and how they match up with where I want them to be. This practice takes a lot of work and intentionality, and it’s not something I’ve perfected. But I’ve found it to be extremely helpful in ensuring that I’m investing my resources into the things that really matter to me.

That list has changed drastically over time. Not long ago (although it feels like it’s been a lifetime), my education was my number one priority. I spent just about every waking moment either in class, studying, or completing school assignments. Then I got a job—well, a couple jobs—and had to figure out how to balance my schoolwork with my work work. For a while after graduation, my focus was zeroed-in on my ministry until this pretty girl named Katherine showed up and turned my whole world upside down.

Now, I invest most of my resources into our little family, making sure we have everything we need to thrive and grow together. My work is still extremely important to me, too. Between my relationship with God, love for my family, and dedication to my job, my priority list is pretty full and my resource supply mostly tapped out.

But over the years and throughout all the changes, there’s always been one other item on my priority list that I just can’t give up: this blog. Sure, its position on the list has fluctuated over time. If you used the calendar-and-bank-account test to gauge my commitment to the blog over the eight years it’s been around, you’d get wildly different results. There have been times that it’s cost me nothing and taken up all of my free time, and other times I’ve put money into it without posting for months. And of course, I’ve gone through phases where I’ve neglected to invest much of anything into it at all.

I feel like the blog has been in a really good place the past couple of years, both in terms of quality and priority. I’ve actually managed to maintain a fairly regular posting schedule since 2017, even given all of the major life changes I’ve experienced in that time. It’s an incredible creative outlet for me, I’ve learned a lot through it, and I’m really proud of the stuff I’ve put out here.

But even now, I don’t always feel like I’m giving this space the time and energy it deserves given how it important it is to me. I truly see this blog as a way for me to have a positive impact on the world, and I hope you see it that way, too. I’ve put my heart into this site. And I want to make sure that I’m prioritizing it the way I should be.

I’ll be honest: It isn’t always easy doing what I do on here. Sometimes—most of the time—it’s really exciting and fun. But other times, I hit writer’s block, or I have a really busy week, or I’m just not in the best mental place to be sharing my thoughts with the world. And in those moments, creative energy isn’t enough to keep things moving. It takes more than drive to make something a priority; it takes discipline.

So I’m going to be making some changes to my schedule and my approach to writing in order to keep this blog a high priority in my life. Nothing major, just simple things like blocking out time for writing and trying to plan ahead on what I’ll be covering here. I think changes like these are the least of what this place, which means so much to me, deserves.

You probably won’t notice anything different on your end, at least not anytime soon. Just your regularly-scheduled blog posts every Tuesday afternoon, with the quality and thoughtfulness you’ve hopefully come to expect. Of course, I’ve got big ideas, and I’m always thinking through what I want this site to be, so you never know what the future might hold! But if you’re a fan of the blog, the good news is that it’s here to stay, and I’m doing everything I can to make it the best it can be.

And as always, I’m so appreciative of everyone who takes the time to read it. It means the world to me that there are people out there who find value in what I have to say. I mean this from the bottom of my heart: Thank you so much for reading.

If you’re interested in supporting the blog and doing your part to make it all it can be, there are a few ways you can do that. Reading is always appreciated, and if you like an article, you can share it on social media to help other people find it as well. And if you really want to go the extra mile, I have a page set up where you can support the site financially and make it possible for this blog to keep going for a long time to come.

My goal is to get this space to a point where it’s self-sustaining, and we’re well on our way. I’d love to have you onboard if you’re willing! Any amount makes a difference, and I’d be forever grateful if you’d consider it.

More than anything, though, I’m just so glad that you’re here. Never in a million years did I think that this little page I started when I was a teenager would have such an impact on my life and even touch the lives of others as well. I love this place, and I love the relationship we have through it. Thank you again for being here and for spending your time and attention on what I have to say. I hope to always make it worth your while.

That’s all I’ve got for this week, friends. Time to start planning out the next one. I hope you have a great week, and I’ll see you soon!

Bad News

Our family received an unfortunate update this week. Katherine’s stepmom, who just finished radiation treatment for cancer that was removed from her wrist early this year, found a new knot on her arm that turned out to be a tumor. After consulting with her doctor, it’s been decided that she’ll have to undergo another surgery followed by extended immunotherapy treatment. All this while she’s meant to be on the mend from her first surgery and round of radiation. To say that we’re disappointed would be an understatement.

We were hoping and praying that this battle would be over, that we’d all move on from it, and that it would soon become nothing more than memory. But now, we know that the battle rages on, and that’s not an easy thing to accept.

Simply put, it’s bad news. It’s not something any of us wanted to hear. But it’s the reality we have to face, and even though we’re not happy about it, we’re trying to deal with it in a healthy way.

These are a few truths I’m trying to keep in mind in the face of bad news. To be honest, I’m writing this post mainly for my own sake, but I hope that you’ll get something useful out of it, too.

Bad news does not change who God is.

It’s easy when things go wrong to immediately blame God or at least wonder why he would allow something like this to happen. Trying times can test one’s faith, sometimes even bringing it to a breaking point. But I’ve always taken comfort in knowing that even when my circumstances change, God never does.

He’s still who he’s always been, even when it’s hard for me to see.

The same loving, graceful, live-giving God who blessed me with good news all those times before is still with me now. He hasn’t turned his back on me or changed his mind about me. He loves me and wants the best for me, now and always. He’s still the same.

And because he’s still the same, he can still be relied upon. He is faithful. I can trust that he’s never going to abandon me and that no matter what I’m facing, I can always overcome it with him by my side.

I’ve addressed the question before of where God is in the midst of suffering, but it’s worth revisiting now. When we get bad news, often it feels like God has left us, maybe even that he’s acting against us in some way. But the truth is that when we’re suffering, God is right there with us.

He feels our pain. It breaks his heart, too. He takes no joy in the suffering of his beloved children. And when we’re in the midst of suffering from the brokenness of this world, he suffers right along with us. Because he loves us, and his love for us never changes.

Anything can have meaning.

I’ve never bought into the idea that everything happens for a reason. I don’t believe that God intends for us to suffer the way we do, and I don’t think he brings it about for some greater purpose. Suffering of this kind is the result of the world’s fallen state and not part of a divine plan. There isn’t some mysterious lesson behind all of the bad things that we go through.

But that doesn’t mean that those things can’t have meaning. I believe that they can. I just think that we have to make the meaning rather than waiting for it to find us.

Bad news is awful, and the suffering that accompanies it is worse. But nothing is beyond redemption, at least not in my book. I’m not saying that it makes things any better. I’m not even necessarily saying that the good will outweigh the bad. But even in the worst of circumstances, we can find a way to make our suffering mean something.

Maybe it helps us be more compassionate towards others in their own suffering. Maybe it brings us closer to those we love. Maybe it enriches our faith through our utter reliance on God. Whatever it is, there can be meaning in the chaos, but only if we create it. So when I find myself facing bad news, I try not to become so blinded by it that I can’t see opportunities for meaning-making in the midst of it.

Your community is your rock.

Sunday morning, our church took time out of the worship service to come together and pray for Katherine’s stepmom. We gathered around her and prayed individually that God would heal her and see her through the difficult road ahead. It was a powerful, emotional moment, and I am so thankful for it.

Everyone there felt the love and support the church was extending to our family. It was touching, it was encouraging, and it was just what we needed. In the midst of hard times, having a support network of people who truly care is such an important thing.

Each and every one of us is loved more deeply and more profoundly than we could ever know by those around us. When hard times come, it’s an opportunity to look around and realize just how many people are invested in us. We can’t lose sight of that, because some days, it may be the thing that gets us through.

Someone out there is rooting for you. You are not alone. People care about what you’re going through. It’s true, even when we don’t feel it, and we don’t have to be afraid to rely on that.

Outlook is everything.

I’ve been consistently impressed by the attitude Katherine’s stepmom has maintained throughout this entire ordeal. She’s stayed positive, pleasant, and hopeful despite everything she’s going through. It’s inspiring to me, and it convicts me to practice the same optimism in my own life.

The right attitude can turn an impossible situation into one that can be managed. It can take the most miserable of days and make it bearable. It can turn defeat into hope and maybe even help that hope one day become victory.

We can’t control the things that life throws at us, but we can control how we react to them. I’m not saying there isn’t a place for anger, for sadness, and for mourning when bad news comes. But ultimately, when life gets hard, we have to face it with a positive attitude, or we risk becoming overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all.

In psychology, we study a phenomenon known as the self-fulfilling prophecy. Basically, if a person believes that a situation is going to turn out a certain way, they will subconsciously do what it takes to make their prediction a reality. This can be either positive or negative, and it applies in every scenario imaginable.

If you believe that you will fail at something, you probably will. Not because you can’t succeed, but because you’ll sabotage yourself through your own expectations. Alternatively, if you go into a situation—even a hard one—believing that you will overcome it, your chances of actually doing so increase substantially.

The right attitude can mean the difference between getting through a tough time and becoming swallowed up by. I don’t know about you, but I’m choosing to take my chances with positivity.

These are the simple truths I’m trying to remind myself of right now. I’ve found that internalizing them and living them out in my daily life has really helped me get through difficult times in the past, and I trust that they’ll help me get through this phase, too.

I hope that you’ve found them helpful as well! Whether you’re dealing with some bad news now or even if things are going smoothly for you, these are truths that I think we can all benefit from. If any of them stuck out to you or made you think, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out in the comments, my contact page, or on social media.

One last thing: If you’re the praying type, please say a prayer for Katherine’s stepmom and our family. It’s going to be a long road ahead, but we know that God and our community will see us through. We’re thankful for each and every person who’s reached out, checked in, and offered their support. It means the world.

Thanks for reading, friends! I’ll see you next week.

Puerto Rico

Hey, friends! I’ve just returned from a mission trip with my church to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. It was a wonderful trip, and I thought that instead of doing a full-on blog post this week, I might just tell you a bit about the trip.

After Hurricane Maria ravaged the island two years ago, a member of our church found out that our denomination had a church that was affected by the storm. He reached out to see how they were doing, and that’s how we met Pastor José and the Iglesias Bautista Libre in Buenas Aguas, Puerto Rico.

Their story was tragic. José had grown up in Puerto Rico but was attending theological school on the mainland when he volunteered to go back to the island as a missionary for the denomination. He started the church in Aguas Bueans and over the next few years grew it into a thriving, self-sustaining community. Life was good; then Maria hit.

When the storm was over, José’s home had been destroyed, and the church building was in ruin. Most of his congregation had lost everything, and they left the island to start over stateside. The church basically had to start over, this time without the financial support of our denomination’s missions program.

Over the past couple of years, José has rebuilt the church community from the bottom up. They’ve been meeting in members’ homes and in a tent that they erected on the church grounds. But they haven’t been able to meet in their sanctuary because it didn’t have a roof. So they’ve been making due with what they have.

Last month, a church from South Carolina came and put a new roof on the building, allowing the church to finally resume worship indoors. Though their sanctuary was bare and without a bathroom, they were happy to have a permanent home for their church again.

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That’s where we came in. A group of 38 people from our church flew down to the island and spent the last week working on the building and reaching out to the community alongside the church. We brought a group that ranged from teenagers to senior citizens, construction professionals to people who have no idea how to use a hammer (👋🏼), and everything in between. We spent the week getting to know the church members, hearing their stories, and joining together in helping them continue to get back on their feet.

The construction crew worked all week, transforming their bare sanctuary into a beautiful worship space. They built a stage, a sound booth, a bathroom, and even an office for Pastor José. Thanks to their efforts, the church now has an inviting space to worship and bring visitors, and they couldn’t be more proud of it.

While they were plugging away, the outreach group was canvassing the community promoting a huge carnival we put on Thursday night. We offered inflatables, games, prizes, and free food for everyone who showed up. When the big night came, we weren’t sure what to expect, but the response was overwhelming. Families came out in droves, there were kids everywhere, and the community was so excited to have something like this to bring them all together.

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We engaged in some other outreach, too. A small team went out and painted the house of a church member who had been affected by the storm. Our children’s pastor brought a dozen ukuleles, and a group gave lessons to local children every day. Now, the church has their very own ukulele band! And on Tuesday night, we went into an impoverished neighborhood in Caguas and cooked a meal for the people there, singing praise songs as we handed out each plate.

My favorite part of the week, though, was probably Wednesday night, when our group got together with the church for a worship service. Pastor José shared his heart for his church, the ukulele band performed the songs they’d learned, and our pastor preached a message (translated into Spanish, of course) about having passion for God and for his work. It was a truly holy time as God’s people from both Arkansas and Puerto Rico came together in worship, and I’m so thankful I got to be a part of it.

Once all the work was done, we got to have a little fun, too. We went to a gigantic zip line park on Friday, and everyone had a great time. After a little bit of shopping and sightseeing, we were headed home. Everyone made it back safely in time to get a few hours of sleep before church on Sunday morning, and we all came back with hearts full of joy and love for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.

I am so happy that my church decided to step out, try something new, and reach out to our friends in need. There were so many barriers that could have come between us, like distance and language, but when we chose to come together, none of that mattered. We were just brothers and sisters coming together to do God’s work, and I believe that he blessed it.

The church in Puerto Rico had some new faces this past Sunday morning, people from the community who had heard about them through the carnival. And those of us who had gone came back to our own church with a deeper understanding of the reach of God’s love all over the world. Our little trip to Puerto Rico was an incredible experience for everyone involved. I’m so thankful I got to go, and I can’t wait until I get a chance to see the island again.

Dios es bueno. God is good. God bless Puerto Rico. Thanks for reading, friends.

Winter

Our little family has a new addition! A couple of weeks ago, Katherine and I adopted a beautiful dog named Winter. She’s a two-year-old Great Pyrenees mix, and she’s awesome. We couldn’t be more excited to bring her into our home.

A pet has always been part of our plan. Katherine’s more of a dog person, and I have no preference on the dogs-versus-cats debate, so we decided long ago that once we got married, settled into our house, and built a fence in our back yard, we’d start thinking about adopting a dog.

Once the fence went up, thinking quickly became looking. Our search for the perfect pet was on. Katherine kept up with every dog listed on Facebook, and we spent our lunch breaks visiting animals at the local humane society and animal control kennel. Each time, we’d leave thinking, “That one was great, but not the one for us.”

Then we met Winter. Katherine spotted her on a Facebook group for residents of our town, and I immediately recognized the owner as someone I’d gone to high school with. So I reached out and asked if we could get together that weekend. The next morning, we nervously drove to the park to meet this potential pet.

From the moment we met her, Winter was our dog. She was friendly and sweet, but not overly excited or in our faces. She calmly went for a walk with Katherine while I chatted with the owner about her history and health. And when I leaned down to pet her, she sat calmly at my feet. It was a great first meeting.

I was comfortable with Winter from the start, and that’s not something I can say about many animals. I’ve only ever formed a bond with one dog before—my childhood pet Wrinkles, who passed away years ago—and I usually find them to be overwhelming. But with Winter, it was different; we just clicked. And even when she leaned up and licked my face, I didn’t want to throw up. That’s when I knew I wanted to adopt her.

Katherine was surprised when I looked up and said, “Do you want to take her home?” Our plan was to meet Winter and then leave and have a discussion before making any decisions. But even though she was shocked, Katherine knew that it was the right call. So she stammered back, “You mean today?“ to which I responded, “Yes! Do you want to bring her home with us right now?” She agreed, and Winter became part of our family right then and there.

Her transition into our house was relatively smooth. There were a few minor bumps, as you’d expect, but nothing huge. She really has made this place her home, which I am thrilled about. She’s comfortable here, she knows she’s safe, and she seems to be really happy. The fact that we can provide that for her brings a sense of fulfillment I definitely wasn’t expecting.

To be honest, I was very nervous about adopting a dog. This whole process has brought out insecurities in me that I didn’t know I had. I was scared to adopt a pet because I was afraid I wouldn’t bond with them. I’ve never been a big animal person, and I didn’t want that to negatively affect them. I felt inadequate to care for, nurture, and (when necessary) discipline another living thing. I was afraid of failing, and it became very apparent throughout our pet-finding process.

But through talks with Katherine, I came to terms with my fears. I realized I wasn’t doing this alone. She assured me that this was something we were going to take on together and that if I needed time to learn how to be a pet owner, that would be OK. Her encouragement helped me get to a healthy place mentally so that I was ready when we finally met Winter.

And of course, all of my fears were unfounded. Having a pet has been the most natural thing in the world for us, and I’m not sure how I couldn’t see that before. Katherine and I make a great team, working together to ensure that Winter is healthy, happy, and engaged. I love taking her out in the mornings when I get up, and when I see Katherine and Winter cuddled up together before bedtime, my heart feels fuller than it ever has before.

I’m learning a lot, too. Pet ownership really does teach you about unconditional love. I’ve never met anyone whose only goal in life is to be near me, but it seems that all Winter needs to be happy is our presence. Even when I’m not having the best day or when I’m feeling down on myself, she’s always there happy to see me, and that joy is contagious.

Everyone who’s come over to meet Winter has told us the same thing: She’s perfect for you. And that couldn’t be more true. Winter has the exact personality we were looking for in a dog: calm, but loving. She doesn’t have a single aggressive bone in her body. And her favorite pastime is lounging around the house, same as ours! She’s the perfect fit, and I’m so glad we found her.

All those people who warn that, “Having a pet is a lot of work,” aren’t lying, but what they forget to mention is that it’s totally, totally worth it. Between the walking and the feeding and cleaning and the grooming, there’s so much love. Having Winter in our home is so natural that I can’t imagine it being any other way.

I never thought I’d be the type of person to say this, but I love my dog! She’s made my life significantly better just by being in it. She’s already taught me so much and helped me face some things I didn’t even know were there. Having her around has brought me more joy and fulfillment than I ever thought a pet could, and for that I am so thankful.

Thanks for letting me gush about Winter for a whole blog post. If you ever get to meet her, you’ll understand why. She’s awesome, and even the pictures don’t do justice to just how cute she is.

I’d love to hear stories of how your pets have impacted you if you’re willing to share them. I’m still new to this whole pet ownership thing, but I think I’m getting the hang of it, and I’d be happy to talk more about it if you would. Just let me know in the comments or on social. Until next week, friends, stay safe, and give your loved ones–human and pet alike—lots of love!