When my husband told me that our sixteen year old had come out to him as transgender, I laughed. I thought it was some weird joke I didn’t understand. John may as well have said Sam was on a spaceship headed toward Jupiter. I was shocked and confused; it made no sense to me.
"Pastor Bob, if there is ever any way my story is able to help, I would love to save someone many unnecessary years of agony." Amanda's agony was a painful part of her past and a redemptive part of her future.
My friend Craig Silverson is a Canadian veteran of Afghanistan and a brother in the faith. I admire his courage. You can follow Craig on Twitter at @CraigSilverson.
You should have seen them. So well behaved. And their singing was heartfelt. In addition to a Hawk Nelson rendition, they created their own worship terminology - “Whoop! Whoop! Jesus cares!” A chapel for Kindergarten to Grade 4 students. It was my privilege to speak to the students at Ecole Broxton Park in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
A few days before she turned 61, Anne Lamott wrote down everything she knew for sure about life and writing. There's not a lot of certainty in life but Anne does a candid and humorous job of pointing out twelve of her "for sures."
My love for all things Anne Lamott started with her book, Traveling Mercies. She had me at the introduction. Anne’s candor, sense of humor and humility are irresistible. I am partial to people who exude hope.
Listening to the radio and playing records, alone, was his early escape from a dysfunctional family. Effects of divorce, emotional abuse and abandonment by his mother would surface later in his adult life and bring him to the edge of suicide.