Stone Crossings

Stone Crossings Chapter 1 From Amazon’s Book Reviews: I n these pages L.L. Barkat shares her own painful, powerful story with us. Weaving in truth from Scripture, words from other writers and stories of people who’ve come alongside her in her journey, she shows us the unexpected ways and places she’s discovered grace: grace that has helped her open her heart to love, discover a way past fear, find freedom from shame. Her story will help you find the rock of God’s grace in the midst... Read Full Story

When I first began blogging nine months ago (sheesh, nine months already?), it was a very lonely experience. I had plenty to say, but I wasn’t sure how to say it and I really wasn’t sure who in the world would ever want to read it. I had a comment or two here and there, precious evidence that people were indeed out there somewhere. Still, I needed encouragement. I got that encouragement one day. It came disguised as L.L. Barkat. L.L. was one of the first regular readers I had, and her blog... Read Full Story

From L.L. Barkat , Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places Living in a fallen world and part of the fall ourselves, we all are in need of healing. In fact salvation itself in Scripture is likened to or called healing. This is to begin in Jesus for us now, but someday will be completed in the resurrection and consummation of all things in the new creation in Jesus. Then our healing will be complete. Until then however, L.L.'s chapter helps us understand that God takes even the... Read Full Story

from Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places We come to the final chapter in L.L. Barkat 's remarkable first book. This chapter is important for us all, even if more directly important for us post-fifty people and beyond. It speaks of growing older and approaching death in developmental terms, rather than in debilitating terms. Of course the writer to Ecclesiastes is right; there is an age when we do begin to fall apart or lose abilities we had before. The writer may be... Read Full Story

From Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places Through a social issues reading club started by L.L., which met at her house, L.L. and some friends began to enter into some of the hurt and wrong of the world. This opened up not only the stories of those who have been wronged and neglected. But made them aware of their own sense of responsibility and inadequacy in doing much about it. But this is where the climbing comes in. Quoting Karangathe, "a worker in Kenya's green belt... Read Full Story

Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places , by L.L. Barkat Forgiveness seems elusive. We can say we forgive someone and really mean it, but in our hearts we may not have. And if we haven't in our hearts, then Jesus says we haven't done so at all. L.L. shares her struggles in forgiving both her father and her grandmother. She found herself holding grudges against each of them, and as we read the story, we can understand why. How she came to really forgive them involved both... Read Full Story

from Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places L.L. points out that between life and death there is normally a semicolon and not merely a comma (different editions of Donne's poem, "Death Be Not Proud"). To leave this life is not something which naturally comes easy. Sometimes a lingering, severe illness facilitates a readiness to do so, and for others, old age makes one ready to go. But all that is against nature in God's original creation before the fall, particularly... Read Full Story

L.L. Barkat tagged me with a meme she invented herself. Here are the rules which she herself cheerfully broke: 1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively. 2. link back to the person who tagged you 3. link back to this parent post ( L.L. Barkat is not so much interested in generating links, but rather in tracking the meme so she can perhaps do a summary post later on that looks at patterns and interesting discoveries.) 4. tag a few friends or five... Read Full Story

From Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places Deb and I had the privilege of meeting L.L. Barkat. I remember her peering at us, and we at her. Both with questioning looks, like: are you the folks/person I'm/we're expecting to meet? At the end of a busy day, L.L. graciously met us where she was staying, and we had an hour together to get acquainted. But after reading L.L.'s book, I feel so much more acquainted. She knows what it means to be finding grace in hard and hidden... Read Full Story

We continue our journey with L.L. into her college days. Going to a Bible college she expected to grow her faith, but instead she found her faith slipping away. Fortunately for her she went to a professor who listened well, and helped her struggle through this crisis of faith, so that in the end she came out with a stronger faith. Important in healing her past and preparing her for her future. Doubt is often looked on with the gravest suspicion. When you consider the passage in James 1 you... Read Full Story