A Little Astray
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6 NIV) In this season of Advent, we often forget that this is a time of waiting. Jesus’ traditionally observed birthday hasn’t happened yet (it’s on December 25!), but everyone is already wishing each other a “Merry Christmas” and singing songs like “Joy to the World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” It’s still time to be preparing for such things. As far as the Christian calendar goes, we’re putting the...
read moreRejoice!
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 ESV) In church last Sunday, we went over the passage that includes this verse to finish our study in Philippians. Philippians 4:4 can be found on Christmas cards from forever, and Christmas is one of my favorite seasons. A time of laughter, good cheer, presents both given and received, family… and of course, celebrating the birth of the Messiah. It’s easy in that light to say “Rejoice!” But what does the word really mean? One can see a sort of root of “joy” in it, which...
read moreIf You Love One Another
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35 NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV) When I was in college, a friend of mine was on the receiving end of an extremely hurtful action by our church leadership, born of an obviously inaccurate interpretation of a few Bible verses. All our friends were...
read moreVeterans Day Musings
There will be… glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 2:10b NASB) Hand-lettered “SAVE” signs were placed on the left front row of folding chairs facing the large podium. On the stage raised four feet above the hall were a grand piano, a drum set, and spots for guitar and bass. When I arrived with Mom, she gestured towards a spot in the back. But, no, Trudy Vering, a former navy nurse, hurried over and ushered us to the front row, removing a chair smack in the center for Mom’s...
read moreAll Hallows’ Eve
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV 1984) In almost all Christian traditions, followers of Christ in heaven are called “saints.” While some traditions further canonize specific departed believers, earning them the title “Saint” (capital S), they acknowledge that there are...
read moreEmbracing a Different Nature
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) As I have been praying over our church and the Biblical Conversation Café series we have initiated to discuss controversial issues, I have been reflecting on some memories of friends and past acquaintances and the topic of same-sex relationships. Ever since college, I have known a number of people who identified themselves with the LGBTQ+ community, some of whom are good friends. I feel called to share...
read moreThy Word
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105 NIV) A couple of weeks ago, Keith spoke on really diving into the Word and making a conscious effort to be still and read for at least 15 minutes. I was sitting there nodding my head, thinking, “Check! Done!” After all, for the past three falls, I participated in an in-depth study of a section of the Bible complete with homework, discussion, and lectures. This is year is no different. But what struck me about Keith’s sermon was the part about the Bible being the only book...
read moreNeeding God
Therefore, my dear friends… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV) My small group in college used to joke that it hadn’t really been a Bible study if someone hadn’t said a little bit of heresy (to be corrected, of course). The one I remember most vividly was the time I said, “It’s so frustrating that no matter what I do, my [at the time totally hypothetical] kids are still going to need God!” I hardly know...
read moreThrough the Hard Times and the Good
…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity… (Philippians 4:11b-12a NASB) A discussion in our sister circle (ladies bible study) last week set me pondering. We were asking the question, “Do hard times draw us closer to God?” If God delights in blessing His children, surely He hasn’t constructed a universe where His kids can only enjoy Him when they’re suffering. But since our world is so marked with suffering, surely the blessings of...
read moreWorking Toward Glory
(I originally wrote this article while I was planning my wedding in 2008. I can’t believe it’s already been that long!) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV) Today, I was ready to elope. It took three months, or approximately 60% of the time we had to plan our wedding, but I finally reached the point where I seriously questioned whether all this work was worth it. Eloping would be cheaper, faster and less stressful. Yes, this is me taking...
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