City Life Starter

Background: We are going through a series on the values of our church. In order to help us think about these values, our City Life Houston Starter Team will answer questions related to each specific value. Let’s see how they do!

Authenticity

Tell us something that you are working through in your faith right now?

I’ve been realizing lately that one of the areas God is stretching me in is how I love the people closest to me. I’m someone who loves deeply. I’ve kept lifelong friendships since elementary school, and when you’re in my circle, you’re truly in my circle. But I’ve also learned that in loving my friends and family, I can slip into being an overprotective controller – someone who tries to shield others from risks, challenges, or uncertainty, and sometimes in ways that unintentionally limit their independence or their ability to walk through life’s difficulties with God.

I don’t do it on purpose. It’s just how I’m wired: if I love you, I want to protect you from harm. The bright side of that is that it makes me a strong advocate. But the shadow side is that I can start acting as though it’s my job to prevent suffering – almost stepping into a role that belongs only to God.

Lately, I’ve been working on stepping back and letting God be God. It feels impossible but I know he is working on me. That means allowing the people I love to face their own challenges, even when it’s painful to watch. I’m learning that my calling isn’t to control outcomes but to be present, to support, and to pray. It’s a slow, intentional surrender – trusting that God is at work in their lives just as He is in mine.

Generosity

When has someone’s generosity toward you or how you have been generous towards another changed how you see God?

This ties directly into my tendency to be an overprotective controller. Recently, I overstepped with one of my close friends, and I genuinely felt awful about it. In the moment, I believed I was protecting them. But looking back, I realized I had crossed a boundary. My desire to shield them from harm had slipped into trying to manage what wasn’t mine to manage.

The next day, I knew I needed to apologize. When I did, they forgave me immediately. I cried reading their message: “Bebe, I know you love me and you’re always looking out for my best interest. Your intent was good.” That level of grace felt like a gift straight from God. It reminded me that I am deeply loved even in my imperfections, and it encouraged me to keep growing in how I love others without trying to control their path.

Excellence

(2 parts) What is one verse that has inspired your walk with God this year? Now, write the shortest reflection and application you can possibly do with the verse stated above.

As the writer of the longest starter in history, I feel personally targeted by this question, but I’ll answer it anyway! I’ve been meditating on Colossians 3 for years now, especially verse 11. Ever since COVID, the world has felt increasingly divisive, and whenever that heaviness starts to get to me, I come back to Paul’s words:

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

Reflection: We are one in Christ. This verse reminds me that the labels, categories, and divisions we cling to don’t hold ultimate weight in the kingdom of God. Christ Himself is our unity.

Application: As Christians, we are called to seek unity and reconciliation wherever division tries to take root. Our witness is strengthened when we choose connection over separation, grace over hostility, and Christ-centered identity over worldly categories.

Creativity

Write a paragraph using the words, City, Life, and Houston, but that makes no mention of the church.

Haiku:

City lights hum low.

Life unfolds in the sweltering heat,

Houston breathes its song.

Diversity

(2 part Question) Given that we have a diverse church as well as a diverse writing team, what stands out to you most about being a part of this team? Why should someone read what we write compared to other Christian blogs?

What stands out most to me about being part of this writing team is how differently each of us approaches Scripture. We come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, and that diversity shows up beautifully in the way we engage with the Word. It’s incredible to watch one verse take on so many shapes depending on who is reflecting on it. Each perspective adds depth, nuance, and richness that I could never arrive at on my own.

That’s why someone should read what we write. We’re not offering a single voice or a single lens; we’re offering a tapestry of perspectives rooted in the same truth. Our diversity doesn’t dilute Scripture, it illuminates it.

In short, we don’t just write about the Word, we reveal how the Word lives and breathes differently in each of us, and how those differences strengthen the whole.

Boldness

I’m not afraid to answer these 6 questions…

1) What’s something about your faith you used to be embarrassed to admit, but aren’t anymore?

I used to feel embarrassed that I didn’t understand the doctrine of election. When I finally gained the courage to ask about it, I realized it’s a challenging topic for many people. That honesty opened the door for deeper learning and reminded me that wrestling with Scripture is part of growing in faith.

2) The one area of weakness in your writing?

Writing does not come naturally to me. I’m an extremely toxic writer because I rewrite everything multiple times, then read it aloud, and rewrite it again. Eventually I have to force myself to stop. A friend suggested using a closed language model like Notebook LM to find alternative wording. I tried it, disagreed with its suggestions, and then it got overly agreeable and told me my original sentence was great. So apparently, I’m even toxic with AI.

3) Your favorite pizza topping is…?

The truffle mushroom topping at Jupiter Pizza and Waffle in Sugar Land.

4) What was the last thing you watched on your TV before answering this question?

Smerconish—a great Saturday morning show with independent thinking.

5) You write the best when…(place and time?)

When there is complete silence and no one around.

6) If you had to choose a place to live outside of Houston, where would it be? (Has to be within the U.S.)

Kona, Hawaii—a magical place that gets into your soul. Orcas Island, Washington is my second choice.