When James and I got married, I made it very clear that we wouldnotbe joining a community group. We did lots of churchy activities, so I didn't see a particular need for joining a forced group of People Who Meet on Wednesdays to sit around in a circle and yammer about the Bible and our feelings. After all, we had more important things to do, like "focus on our marriage" an...

It's amazing how much romance dominates our collective psyches: from holidays to movies, music, clothing just about everything, every aspect of our culture obsesses about the idea that people fall in love and live happily ever after. It's powerful, potent stuff, and it's hard not to let your heart get swept up in it. I remember it wasn't even the second week of sixth grad...

When I was 12 turning 13 I had a real identity crisis. Although I know that puberty was an identity crisis all of it's own that's not the subject I'll cover here. When I was growing up in Texas, I was a "smart" kid. I built my identity on it. Being the first one done on quizzes and tests was just part of my MO. Often I would turn around, put my arm on the desk of the kid b...

A seminary professor of mine recently posted onFacebook"Grace comes with strings attached." It was a statement that caused me to really think. I read some of the angry comments beneath the post reacting in horror. Charged statements assuming that the professor meant that salvation is earned as opposed to a gift.I don't think he meant it like that. What he meant is that wh...

I've known many single parents in my life; this was the first time I really felt like I caught a glimpse of the struggles they go through. This past Sunday, my two-week old daughter Joanna (JoJo from here on out) was admitted into the hospital with RSV, a respiratory infection that in infants like JoJo can actually be pretty dangerous. The inflammation to the respiratory s...

My first memory of America was my fourth birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. God bless America. Even as an immigrant, I typically don't feel like an outsider. Honestly, sometimes I forget that I'm Korean. Not that I suddenly think I'm white I just don't think about it. I do remember, though, when my legal status was thrown in my face like a bucket of ice water: waiting for...

UPDATE 2/12/2017:Hey guys! Our Valentine's Day event is now full! Unfortunately our space limits us to a certain number of families, but I'm excited for the future when we can have more opportunities like this. Keep an eye out, and if you have any suggestions, just let us know! I still remember my first Valentine's Day date with Brandee. It was back when we were still stu...

This morning, I was attending a Bible study down in East Austin, listening to the discussion about a passage in the book of John. John 9, the healing of man born blind. The story is a familiar one for many of us: Jesus and his disciples were walking through town when they encountered a man who was blind from birth. The disciples turned to Jesus and asked, "teacher, who si...

When I was in college at West Point, my dad would often come and visit me. I remember being 20 years old on one of those visits and asking my dad about my major. At the time, I really had no desire to be in the Army, I just wanted a major that would make me money. And my Dad gave me advice that for some reason I still remember. He said, "Your undergrad doesn't matter, so d...