This morning I walked my kids up the street to school and almost needed a sweatshirt. What a glorious feeling after a parched summer. Sure, this is Chicago so it will be 90 on Sunday but for one brief moment today I could feel Fall heading my way and my little soul lifted a bit.  …

Church attendance in the US is on a downslope. As a churchgoing gal I hear reports and see the squirms of pastors and friends who recognize that folks just don’t wake up on a Sunday morning the way they once did. Researchers like George Barna point out that while church growth happens, in most cases …

I’m not great with transitions. I like to act all proud and adventuresome as if nothing rattles me, as if shifting friendships, locations, jobs, schools is nothing to fret over. But really, I noticed our mail carrier is different this week and I am sort of sad. Pick your cliche, phrase it however you want, …

So this weekend I am living in a biosphere. Really. A huge dome with trees and birds, plants and alligators. A river and waterfall, even a sailboat. An enormous resort in Florida where I am attending a convention. We checked into the hotel today and waltzed up to our 9th floor room where a balcony …