Originally published September 21, 2010. Because Bebo Norman is my most-loved singer/songwriter, I’m sharing this article again. It was one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever done. Bebo is gracious, humble, and he uses music and word to cut to my heart. I’m sad he’s retired. By the way, don’t bother with any of the links because they’reContinue reading “Repost: Hitchhiking with Bebo Noroman”
Author Archives: Amy Sondova
Should I Leave My Church?
You are discouraged and possibly suffering from ministry burn-out. If you build a great ministry with the vision God has given you, they will come. And you realize you don’t even want to come anymore.
The Church We Leave Behind
Leaving a church under difficult circumstances, whether it is because of a difference of opinions, God’s call elsewhere, or other reasons, is heartbreaking. Even leaving one that wasn’t healthy for me anymore, has been one of the most painful and haunting experiences of my life.
Silenced Press Equals Fractured Freedom
“I’m not teaching you what to think; I’m teaching you how to think,” emphatically stated my professor in class after class. We got it—not what to think, how to think. His assignments—papers mostly—asked us to draw deep from the well of knowledge we gained and discover our own conclusions. In retrospect, it was one ofContinue reading “Silenced Press Equals Fractured Freedom”
When I’m Wordless
As a child, I remember stapling together notebook paper with simple ink drawings, probably of animals, doing some sort of merry little thing together. My sixth grade language arts teaching told me I had a gift. I thought orchestrating soap opera quality plots with my Barbie dolls and playing, “Let’s pretend…” was just what weContinue reading “When I’m Wordless”
In the Stretching Moments
For over three years, I’ve been walking on a broken foot. Every step towards something or away from something was taken on a foot that wasn’t healed. Because I didn’t know it was broken, I walked on it anyway. Often times, my foot would was sore and swollen. My podiatrist assured me I was fine,Continue reading “In the Stretching Moments”
Death Without a Funeral
God is telling me that it is time to move on. And like Abraham, like Moses, like so many who have gone before, I must follow where my God has called me. Whatever the reasons for leaving a church—any church—the main reason should and must always be a calling from God.
Me versus Mental Illness
Today is World Mental Health Day-a day to raise awareness for the monsters of mental illness we who suffer battle every single day. It doesn’t make me less than. Or crazy. (Most of the time.) It makes me cleave to God all the more because I desperately need Him to function with the appearance ofContinue reading “Me versus Mental Illness”
This is me
A year ago, my friend and I met over dinner to catch up. She told me about the man she had been dating for several months. As with all things Lizzie* it was a hilarious story that had that makings of a good rom-com movie. “Do you think he’s the one?” I asked. She shruggedContinue reading “This is me”
Bullying: It Never Stops
I’ll never forget his response. It’s one I’ve heard used by educators, parents, and adults everywhere when they talk about bullying. Dismissively, he said, “If you ignore them, they’ll stop.”
If you ignore them, they won’t stop.
She is Beloved 