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Imperfecto

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Since moving to work full-time at Source of Light headquarters, a significant part of my initial training in the Publications Department included working with the various machines used in the printing process, not only to become comfortable operating them but also to learn basic troubleshooting for occasional issues or needed corrections. Part of this was to “catch” repeatedly for our big King press. Notice I did not say “use” or “run” the press - it would take months of focused training or even a lifelong career as a pressman to become proficient at that. Rather, catching in this case involves simply taking booklets off the line, making sure they are stacked straight (called “jogging” in the industry - notice how well I’ve done picking up terminology), and placing them neatly into a bin (or “cage”) to be processed further in future. I found this to be more taxing than I expected, not necessarily the physical aspect needed to perform the task but rather the mental focus to remember the
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Dare Family Update: Fall 2021

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“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9). When we first entered the journey to join Source of Light and begin raising support, we had certain ideas of how the process may or may not unfold. As we all know, life does not normally go as we anticipate. We find ourselves continually pivoting in the timing and details, though continuing in the general direction and path the Lord provided. While the enduring impact of the pandemic has made it difficult to follow our original plan of consistently visiting churches to raise support, the generosity and advance giving of our faithful partners has created a surplus in our ministry account. This, coupled with a change of ownership at my current job and the active housing market, has compelled us, as a firm step of faith, to pursue a move to GA and the campus at SLM headquarters. Will you pray for God's hand in this? As we daily follow the Lord’s leading, we trust that He will provide additional regu
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Sometimes You'll Burn the Bagels

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Motherhood is one of those things that has the power to make you feel on top of the world or like you are barely hanging on! One day you are teaching them to read . . . and the next they have no matching socks! Sometimes you turn the kitchen table into the coolest cookie cutout station or crafting workshop . . . other days there are still breakfast dishes sitting there when it's time for dinner. Cereal anyone?  Why am I writing all this? Because it is important to show grace - to others and to yourself. So many times there is competition among women. This shows up in two ways. We measure our greatness against our sister's weakness, which makes us feel better about ourselves, and we fail to be compassionate. Or we look longingly at that mama who has it all together, and we chide ourselves and criticize our efforts as "not enough." Neither of these is love. The truth is, comparison steals joy . . . and friendship.  If we are honest with ourselves, none of us could say t
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Lord, Will You at This Time?

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Many at the end of the year have felt like the proverbial child on Christmas morning or classic roadtrip ride. Is it time yet? Are we there yet? Is it time yet? As fast as last year went by, many of us are glad to see it go. Maybe the disappointments in its differences or delays, or for some the unexpected tragedies left in its wake, fill us anew and in a special way with a hope for this new year. Maybe - just maybe - it will be a period of change, redemption, fulfillment. One last-minute yet long-overdue commitment for me this calendar year is to read through the whole Bible, something I haven’t done in many years. I’m glad to have been recommended as a guide, The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (download the PDF and join me). [1]   One helpful feature of this plan is to have readings in different portions of Scripture, and thereby yesterday something in Acts 1 resonated with me that may with you.  Think of the disciples, having just gone through wave upon storm of tragedy
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Good Gifts

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As I sit here savoring the last sips of coffee post a relaxing Saturday brunch, I am reflecting on the overflowing gratitude in my heart for such simple joys. During the long weeks of a pandemic quarantine where Bruce has continued to work as normal and the girls and I are housebound, the weekend has become more precious than ever. In the days leading up to my scheduled C-section I focused on this weekend, where we'd be home all together just enjoying each other. Sometimes I'd let fear creep in. What if this weekend doesn't come for one of us? What if Bruce gets sick at work and cannot be at the delivery, or if something goes wrong during my surgery, or what if the baby has to stay in the hospital without us... Now, I know what is true. I know God is good and kind and always does right. But I also know that sometimes that doesn't look the way we want it. That knowledge filled me with doubt and anxiety, and I found it difficult to trust. A few days before my surgery I
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How to Behold

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Have you beheld His glory? Sometimes we forget what it means to; most times we forget to. The holidays near year’s end provide countless special moments and positive vibes like no other time: the magic of Christmas trees and light displays, the warmth of fireplaces and strangers’ greetings, the familiar traditions of cookies and decorations. There is something unique about this season, something all of us distinctly feel with both sights and sounds. One of our family customs is to read on Christmas morning the majestic prologue in the Gospel of John (John 1:1-19), where each year he reminds us of the central truth we could so easily miss: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (v. 14). We know that Jesus Christ came. But what is His glory? The word “glory” is such a common word in the Scriptures yet one we rarely take a moment to think through its meaning. What is most typical
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Introducing: Logistheca

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We have resources. They have needs. We need to get them what they need. We have the Word. God says to go. We must get the Word where it needs to go. While serving on a pastoral staff for several years, one of my greatest joys was interacting with our missionaries. One thing that began to burden my heart was a recurring need: useful, biblical resources. Of course, the missionaries or nationals knew best the needs and how to utilize materials, but they simply did not have them accessible to the language, let alone a means of producing the resources themselves. It was out of this growing angst, to get different people groups around the world the helps they desperately need, that the concept of Logistheca was born. Particularly in the West, in the English-speaking world, in America, we have an almost embarrassingly exorbitant wealth of Bibles, tools for researching them, and courses of study around and through their truths. Most of the rest of the world has less than a fraction
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