Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

trauma

  • In the life and ministry of Rev. Rebecca Nickel, I see the fire of the Spirit and the love of Jesus. And I am grateful for it all.

  • The point isn’t to be good, it’s to do good. It seems both countercultural and yet so normal, doesn’t it? For those of us who grew up trying to be good, though, this is hard to swallow. We were rewarded for sitting still and following the rules; often being complimented for our behavior. Our benefit…

  • “I was in the 1200 building, which is where the shooting happened,” Brooke Harrison says. “And Alaina, Alyssa and Alex all died in my classroom and eight people total were shot in my classroom. Everyone that was around me where I decided to try to hide was either shot or killed.” Brooke Harrison and Lauren…

  • In Acts 1, the disciples take their first act after the Ascension: replace Judas. But the story of our lives shows that replacing him only papers over the trauma. Jesus taught them as much. Their work isn’t to forget their enemies, but to love them. Not to pretend the world is broken, but work to…

  • I didn’t think of him (maybe I did). More like I tried not to think of how small he once was. But his wasn’t the first I saw, the first, “chilling” she called it, I couldn’t take. It was of a boy on his back, shirt below his chin like when he shows his belly…