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Jen Bradbury
Dec 28 · 5 min read

God with us

In the doctor’s office, when Hope writhed in pain,
God was with us.

Through Hope’s pediatrician, who called ahead to the ER to pave the way,
God was with us.

In the emergency room, when we waited for answers,
God was with us.

Through the Linus...

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#children #grief #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Dec 22 · 5 min read

Review: Defiant by Kelley Nikondeha

Filed in Book Review

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Kelley Nikondeha speak a couple of times, first at the women’s’ retreat she mentions often in Defiant, and more recently at Evolving Faith. Having heard Kelley in person and experienced first-hand her heart for the...

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#hope #justice #scripture #books

Jen Bradbury
Dec 21 · 5 min read

Review: All the Colors of Christmas by Matthew Paul Turner

Filed in Book Review

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m a fan of Matthew Paul Turner’s children’s books. Matthew's most recent book, All the Colors of Christmas did not disappoint. 

All The Colors Of Christmas

There are four reasons I loved this book:

1. It rhymes…...

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#books

Jen Bradbury
Dec 18 · 5 min read

Review: Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel

Filed in Book Review

I’m type A.

I have an engineering degree.

I’m also an introvert.

All of these things contribute to the ways in which I overanalyze EVERYTHING. (And I do mean everything!) Why make a decision in 5 minutes when you can take 5 weeks?

My desire to...

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#introvert #books

Jen Bradbury
Dec 16 · 5 min read

Receive the gift

I’m a fan of lists. Always have been, always will be.

I even have a Christmas spreadsheet tracking what gifts we’ve purchased, what gifts we still need to buy, etc. In the days and weeks leading up to Christmas, I unhealthily obsess over my list,...

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#student leadership #parenting #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Dec 14 · 5 min read

The outsourcing of faith formation

I am extraordinarily thankful for the work I get to do with young people.

Even so, I wholeheartedly believe that the primary spiritual influencer in a young person’s life is their parents. As Kenda Creasy Dean says in Almost Christian, “When it...

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#Missions #faith formation #youth ministry #parents #parenting #communication #marriage #children

Jen Bradbury
Nov 04 · 5 min read

The morning after: Why I'm weeping on this post-election day

This morning, I’ve been thinking a lot about the story of the Walk to Emmaus, which Luke tells at the end of his Gospel. The line I find most compelling in this story is when two disciples tell Jesus (whom they do not yet recognize) about Jesus'...

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#politics #hope

Jen Bradbury
Oct 20 · 5 min read

Rwanda, missions, & saving our neighborhoods

Twice, I’ve had the privilege of leading mission trips to Rwanda. On both occasions, well-meaning people commented, “How great that you’re going to save the Rwandans!” or “It’s so awesome that you’re bringing God to Rwanda!”

How disappointed those...

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#politics #Rwanda #diversity #racism #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Oct 02 · 5 min read

What teens need from their youth ministries right now

Yesterday, my student leaders and I were talking about a chapter from Bob Goff’s Everybody Always and wrestling with how we can spread hope & courage within our ministry – now, during a time when we’re meeting virtually, in a season when...

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#student leadership #books #hope #brave #Pandemic #youth ministry #scripture #church

Jen Bradbury
Sep 01 · 5 min read

Social distancing, masks, & caring for one another

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. – 1 Corinthians 12:26

I’ve been thinking about these words of Paul a lot lately, as COVID continues to spread throughout our country...

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#parents #student leadership #Pandemic #youth ministry

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Latest Posts

  • God with us
  • Review: Defiant by Kelley Nikondeha
  • Review: All the Colors of Christmas by Matthew Paul Turner
  • Review: Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel
  • Receive the gift
  • The outsourcing of faith formation
  • The morning after: Why I'm weeping on this post-election day
  • Rwanda, missions, & saving our neighborhoods
  • What teens need from their youth ministries right now
  • Social distancing, masks, & caring for one another

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