At our latest installment of Supper Club, us ladies sat around the table laughing, talking and sharing life. This once-a-month gathering is one of those times you want to slow time down and savor it. We marveled at how much childhood has changed from when we were kids until now over Korean barbeque and coffee. We discussed how our mothers had only the temptation to keep with the Jones' (if they were in fact next door) rather than hundreds of Jones' on newsfeeds. We laughed about how we've all seen pictures of our Facebook friend with clean and perfectly coifed hair with smiling children on her third outing of the week, while we feel worse about sitting at home still in pajamas with unbrushed teeth and no plans, and it's not Saturday. C.S. Lewis said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What? You too? I thought I was the only one." 

It started with chopsticks and coasters then quickly expanded to include corkboard hot pads. My little man found has taken to dwumming. Any song in our house now has a little extra percussion whether by chopsticks, pens, or the little palms of his hands. He was recently upgraded to a practice pad and his own set of kid-size drumsticks by our friend Dewwick who was kind enough to also throw in some lessons. The smile on my little man's face was bigger than every Christmas morning combined.

Derrick’s teaching strategy aimed higher than simply rudiments. He started out with the goal to instill a love for music in my son. His little hands have already drummed along to jazz and rock among other things. Derrick’s reasoning is that without a glimpse of the bigger picture he will lack the motivation to learn, practice and master the rudiments. 

Too often, we approach Bible study with only a rudiment mentality. It’s necessary and you should do it. The rudiments have become primary principles instead of building blocks of music.

Happy Easter my dear friends. It truly is the MOST wonderful time of the year!

By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been brought from death to life and what we celebrate this Sunday is what made it all possible. I pray that the gospel is more alive to you this Easter than ever before. 

Here are a few of my favorite Easter encouragements I've happened upon this blessed season that I want to share with you on my first ever Friday Favourites... 

Are you still there?

Have you ever felt a little offended when Netflix asked you this? Of course I'm still here. Are you implying I shouldn't still be here? Are you suggesting I should be doing something more productive with my life? I was extremely busy finishing the entire series of Gilmore Girls in only a couple of short months.

In her new book, Nothing to Prove, Jennie Allen (one of my new favourites and founder of IF Gathering), describes my Netflix phenomena as numbing out. 

Perhaps like me, you communicate in attempt to connect with and correct people, or change circumstances you most desire. But often these attemps fall flat.

What if we took our words to vertical conversation, before we went horizontal? What if we talked to God before we talked to others? What if we allowed Him to filter our emotions, fears, feelings and responses through His truth before uttering a word?

Because here's the thing: Talking gets it out, but prayer gets it done.

We used to sing this simple song in church. Perhaps you remember it?

Brokenness, brokenness, is what I long for. Brokenness is what I need. Brokenness, brokenness, is what you want for me, O Lord, O Lord. So take my heart and form it, take my mind transform it, take my willl conform it, to yours, to yours, O Lord. 

I say 'used to' only because I can't remember the last time I heard it sung. Broken isn't the bullseye the world tells us to aim for. 

Perhaps that is our problem.