Waiting With Hope
“He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children.” (Psalm 113:9 The Message) (This article was co-written with Nicole Starr.) We have been trying for five years to conceive a child. Doctors have told us that while we each have little issues, for the most part, we are normal people and ought to be able to have children. This has given us much hope and frustration, since month after month, we find ourselves unable to announce that we are finally expecting a child. Lent is a season where we find ourselves becoming more introspective—whether through making...
Read More‘Tis the Season of New Beginnings
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2, NKJV) When I reflect upon my journey to Christ, I realize that it truly did begin with the holiday season. December was always fun for me as a young child growing up in an agnostic home. There was the vacation from school, the fancy arrays of colored lights and decorations adorning the neighborhoods and businesses of Seattle, the sweet treats, the presents, and often a getaway to sunny Phoenix to visit my grandparents. And of...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Big Picture
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) By nature I tend to have a very narrow range of focus at a given time. I take a slow and careful approach to many things, trying to analyze details and figure out a structure. I am usually absorbed in understanding process when making plans and trying to accomplish tasks, before I consider the implications. Generally put, it often takes longer than it should for me to grasp the “big picture”, clueing in to how...
Read MoreThe Child Within
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15) In some ways, I still have a childish nature about me, and it can show quite often. When Nicole and I went to the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Fair in Bonney Lake a couple of weekends ago, I decided that the perfect souvenir was a red dragon hat. I felt I just had to wear it everywhere the rest of the day, without any other type of costume. I looked pretty ridiculous, but I thought it was cool. I was having a great time, and nothing and no one could deter...
Read MoreConfronting Change
“Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.” (1 Corinthians 7:17) My life is in a chaotic state right now, with ongoing changes around and ahead of me. Nicole and I are slowly unpacking and organizing things in our new house, a process which will take considerable time and effort. Until the last boxes and bags are unpacked, room layouts will be constantly changing as we figure out where to put things and how to rearrange the furniture, and it won’t quite seem like home or even comfortable...
Read MoreA Test of Faith: Patience
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:25) Much of life can be a waiting game. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have to endure periods of trial and uncertainty, and it is far from easy. The hardest part about it is that we usually have no control over whatever issues are dragging themselves out over hours, days, even months or more at a time, lest we risk unintended and unpleasant results. I have needed a lot of patience to get through many aspects of my life. Learning new physical skills can be very slow and difficult for me because of my...
Read MoreSome Thoughts on Prayer
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) As I have come to see over the course of my lifetime, the whole experience of God is shaped by prayer. But what exactly does that mean? I believe there are countless ways to answer that question, but there is a constant danger that we can all too easily focus too heavily or exclusively on one meaning or facet of prayer, thus limiting...
Read MoreA Time to Refocus on Jesus
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him … But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” (Luke 10:38, 40) I know I’m not alone when I confess that I have some serious issues when it comes to focus. For me, it can be one of two things. I’m either easily distracted by something that steers me away from what I’m doing for significant periods of time (start talking about Seattle sports or turn on a game and see what happens!), or I can focus too heavily on specific elements of a task at...
Read MoreLove Is A Battlefield
“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” (Romans 15:30) I often find inspiration and revelation in unusual places. Lines from movies or songs can suddenly allow me to make a connection or bring on a realization I had not come by before. Whether or not the writers intended it, their words carry unexpected deep meaning. Sometimes it happens when I first hear them; other times I might remember something unexpectedly. I had one of these experiences recently when the second part of a refrain from the 80s...
Read MoreGod’s Dependents
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:15-16) When you start at any job, you fill out a certain amount of paperwork, which must always include the W-4 form. This form is used to determine the amount of income tax that is withheld from your paycheck, which largely depends on how many withholding allowances you claim. For some, it’s a no-brainer, a quick formality that is probably forgotten until a future tax return produces unexpected results. Others may follow the step-by-step...
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