by Emily Wierenga | Aug 23, 2012 | belief, bible school, buddhism, christianity, church, doubt, faith, lying, missions, prodigal magazine, religion
I stopped believing the day I entered a Buddhist temple on a mission’s trip. I stopped believing when I saw the men taking off their shoes before they entered their holy place. When I witnessed their reverent bows, the intimacy with which they kissed the floor... by Emily Wierenga | Aug 21, 2012 | a deeper story, evil, God, good, pacifism, peace, war, warfare, weapons
“Not only am I a pacifist, I’m a militant pacifist.” (Einstein)A person I know says he’s a pacifist. He, the grandson of a man who fought in World War 2, and of another who fought in the navy, says that if someone were to threaten his family, he would not defend... by Emily Wierenga | Aug 18, 2012 | anorexia, eating disorder, healing, lullaby, minister's daughter, pastor's daughter, redemption, singing, song, wholeness
you know this. you know about my relationship with my dad growing up. how he was a wonderful pastor and sometimes an absentee father, how he read us bible stories and kissed us on the cheeks and home-schooled us in french and music yet didn’t really know how to... by Emily Wierenga | Aug 16, 2012 | beach, dedication, family, God, kayaking, pastor, son, summer, water
We’re kayaking, and water falls from our paddles forming circles in the water, hundreds of concentric circles expanding, like the lake is one large tree, and we are counting its ages. “See how they pass seamlessly through the waves and ripples?” Trent says. He’s... by Emily Wierenga | Aug 12, 2012 | a sweethaven summer, book, church, courtney walsh, giveaway, God, home, homesick, sweethaven homecoming
I’m not sure but that I don’t always feel a bit homesick. We’re in Ontario, right now, and me with two little boys crowded on my lap trying to find their way back to that safe place. We returned from BC one week ago, spent two nights in our own beds and then, gone...