Posts by Lisa Jansen

The Church, Race, & Jesus

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I grew up in a Pentecostal church where we clapped our hands, replied to pastor sermons with “amen” and “hallelujah,” shouting and speaking in tongues — far from the church I attend now. My current church home is 99.9% white...


Showing Up

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For half of my life, I was what you would call a “holiday Christian.” I was always searching for something, but I was searching in all the wrong places — until I finally stopped worrying what others would think. When...


What Does It Mean To Be Strong?

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Since my mother’s sudden death in 2017, people began to tell me I was “strong.” In the hospital the night she died, during the funeral, after I returned to school — “strong” was being tossed around as some sort of...


When Will Normal Show Up?

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I long for my friend, Normal, to show his face. I miss him. I am beginning to doubt he ever existed. Normal usually shows up in my psyche when life is humming along without challenge to my sense of safety....


Why Do Bad Things Happen?

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Why do bad things happen? When “bad” things happen (like death, natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) we, as human beings, tend to reflect on our current relationship (or absence of relationship) with God. We reflect on questions deep inside us: does...


turning pages of Bible

An Overview of the Bible

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The Bible can be intimidating to read for new and seasoned Christians. While it is the most popular book in the world, it’s also considered illegal and dangerous in some countries due to its power. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us...


Church at Home

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As our lives have changed over the past few months, both personally and professionally, so have our means of communication and connecting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully embracing the extra family time. But as a parent, adult and professional,...


The Push & Pull of Peace & Panic

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Anxiety has a way of unpacking its bags and moving into our lives unexpectedly and unannounced. Although it is often misunderstood and ever-changing, the truth is that we all struggle with anxiety in different forms and degrees.  In a season...