A Decade of Precept-ing: Ten Years of Removing Obstacles and Building Relationships
It's my tenth anniversary of working full-time with Precept.
Can you believe it? I’ve worked with Precept for twenty-four years, as a counselor, trainer, and writer and now an entire decade as a full-time staff member. Time flies when you remove objections, obstacles, and barriers to understanding, helping people engage in a deeper relationship with God through His Word.
First, let's address the elephant in the room—Precept. If you're scratching your head, wondering what on earth it is, fear not! I'll enlighten you. Precept is a global organization dedicated to equipping individuals with tools to study the Bible deeply and meaningfully. We're all about digging into the Word, unraveling its mysteries, and applying its truths to our lives. It’s less about information and more about life transformation.
Over the past decade, I've had the privilege of wearing various hats within this incredible organization. From Director of Training to Director of Leader Development, then from VP of Leader Development to my current role as VP of Content and Media, it's been an exhilarating journey filled with growth, challenges, and countless "aha!" moments.
Two races well run: Harry Reeder and Tim Keller
Yesterday and today, the world lost two remarkable men of God who profoundly influenced my life: Pastor Harry Reeder and Pastor Tim Keller. Their passing has left my heart heavy, yet as a child of God, I find solace in the promise of resurrection. I want to honor their legacies and share how their teachings about Jesus, the gospel, and justice shaped my spiritual journey.
The Lord is With You
Things are a mess.
They’re like the headphones that came with your iPhone - the ones that keep getting wrapped up into a twisted ball.
Like it or not, you may have more in common with the knotted mess.
How did that happen?
How can the chords get so messed up in such a short amount of time? I’ll admit. I have Airpods. I am, however, the designated unraveler in our family regarding the earbud wires.
Often, I ask while unraveling, “How does this happen?”
Are you there, saint?
Active hope and passive love: a lens for 2020 and beyond
Congratulations
I started this post in December. It started with something like, "Congratulations, you've made it!" We made it through 2020. I never posted. Over the past ten months, most of my writing has been a personal processing rather than a public offering. I'm sure that the small band of followers of this blog understand because you, too, have been through some surreal terrain over the past ten months.
In April of 2020, we were a few weeks into the COVID-19 crisis. We realized the opportunity we had as Precept leaders in the United States to hold out hope
Hope?
Have you heard a lot about hope over the past few weeks?
Whether it is on the news where commentators say, “Hope is not a plan” or it is a casual conversation over zoom when someone says, “We hope for the best" there have been some interesting conversations about hope.
No matter what the situation through the history of the church, the people of God are people of hope. No matter the darkest night, the people of God shine forth the light of hope that can only be found in Jesus.
In the midst of chaos, we can find so many things to make us fearful and discouraged.
You are not alone
Oh, friends, what a strange day we find ourselves in right now.
Just a quick word.
I don’t have time to sit on the stump and think it through.
I don’t have time to edit or get feedback from my trusted few that desperately want me to continue to grow as a writer.
I’m spent.
You are too.
It’s been a long day (that has felt like four).
I’m working from the home schoolroom, surrounded by Latin declensions, a timeline of every event ever, and all the maps.
Weighty good and weighty hard decisions were made today.
Audaciously bold and broken prayers have been prayed over many a Zoom call today.
I don’t want to add to the noise for you.
I do want to share, however, how the Lord has encouraged me tonight.
Get off the hamster wheel
Are you as distracted as me?
Constant notifications.
Someone you follow on Twitter has posted something.
Someone in a Facebook Group you manage asked a question.
Someone on Instagram has liked your photo, responded to your story, or posted a life update.
Someone on SnapChat has asked you a question.
Someone LinkedIn has messaged you about that open job position.
The crafting of a Precept study
We’re asked all of the time, “How do you all write your studies?” Some joke around and say that they thought Kay Arthur, one of our founders, goes up on a mountain and then comes back down with a written Precept Upon Precept study. In a day and age, when there is so much content available through social media and blogging, you might be surprised at our process!
Check out this video
Elijah - How God Prepares a Prophet for Battle
On the afternoon of Day 1 of the Precept Holy Land Tour, we transitioned from Caesarea by the Sea to Mt. Carmel. Though it is only a forty-minute bus ride, the difference in terrain from the Mediterranean Sea to the Carmel range is significant. On top of one of the highest points on the western edge of Carmel is Stella Maris, a Catholic monastery which serves as a reminder of the epic battle that took place here.