When you’re marching around the basement with a three-year-old you need a song. Not just any song . . . it needs to be a good one. So, our grandson turned to his grandpa, the music lover, not the music maker, to come up with a tune. Without skipping a beat (pun intended), Rev started singing…
I often struggle with the amped-up ugly interactions that are so prevalent in our current society. I’ve prayerfully asked God to help me look past my own agitation and choose my words here carefully. And I’d like to ask you a question… What’s most important? Popularity? Recognition? Your opinion? Your friend’s opinions? Or the truth? It’s hard to know…
“Do everything with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 Paul wrote these words as part of his final instructions in his first letter to the church in Corinth. The Greek word for love in this verse is “agape” . . . love that is: Unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born…
It’s so much more fun to talk about grace than obedience but once again the words of James make us squirm, and today he has all of us in the crosshairs. Most of us have experienced the devastating pain of cruel words and they seem to be especially hurtful when they come from someone close…
I’ve been blogging for more than 12 years, and I don’t remember ever receiving the kind of verbal attacks on my faith like I have in recent months. Technology has put a powerful weapon into the hands of social media and those who use it. Studies show that the vast majority of “chatter” on line…
Many of us are feeling sad and lonely this year. It’s been hard to wear masks and isolate ourselves from those we love and care about. I don’t think we ever imagined this virus would still be keeping us apart all these many months later. We’re being asked to forgo our traditional holiday celebrations and…
It’s almost that time of year again when families will gather together for the holidays. The time when personality clashes, opinions, behaviors, and attitudes put a strain on the relationship between parents and their adult children. We all want to have ongoing great relationships with our adult children but they don’t always happen easily. But…
For many of us in America, our Thanksgiving celebration is rich with traditions we enjoy with family and friends. We gather together and dine on must-have recipes that get gobbled up (pun not intended) way too quickly. What if we’re missing some of the best and most important parts of celebrating Thanksgiving out of hurried…
It’s been a weird season for friendships, hasn’t it? We’ve spent much less time with each other in person and our online relationships seem to be burdened by the overshadowing of divisive views and opinions being tossed in the air like confetti. It’s funny! Some friendships seem effortless and last a lifetime and others crash…
Self-righteousness is an attitude of moral superiority that is derived from the idea that a person’s beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those held by anyone who doesn’t hold to the same beliefs and attitudes. Or to say it more succinctly – self-righteousness says I’m right and therefore superior to anyone who…
On the list of things most of us wish Jesus hadn’t said … this would be at the top! But it’s right there in Matthew… “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:43–44 Love your enemies! Really?!…
I want to stop and celebrate the blessing of friends today. Not our list of Facebook friends with whom we share the edited versions of our stories but the close group of people who know our real stories … those stories we keep hidden away from most of the world. I want to celebrate the…
I found several definitions for gossip: Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. A rumor or report of an intimate nature. Conversations or reports about other people’s private lives that might be unkind, disapproving, or not true. And it’s everywhere, isn’t it? We…
I wish I’d read this quote years ago… “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” Anne Frank She certainly shared a lot of wisdom for her young age … and for someone who never lived long…
I had an AHA moment not too long ago … I realized Christians often get something wrong. At least, I know I occasionally get it wrong. What’s it? Obedience. We get obedience wrong when our motives are wrong. (Wait, don’t leave now. I promise, it’s a good thing to obey anyway but we’ll talk about…
I believe every couple believes their wedding day is just the first day of decades of marital bliss. They’ve found their soulmate … the person who “completes” them and they just know this is the start of their happily ever after. Then the honeymoon ends and reality hits. Paul wrote the following about marriage… Submit…
Let everything you do be done in love… 1 Corinthians 16:14 It’s hard to do everything in love, isn’t it? Today is the day we focus on love … romantic love, family love, and friend love. Eros — Romanic Love. Storge — Familial Love. Philia — Affectionate (Friend) Love. But that’s not the love Paul…
What’s the Golden Rule? The Dictionary defines it as: a basic principle that should always be followed to ensure success in general or in a particular activity. The Bible says it this way: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12 Jesus said, “This is the essence of what…
Nothing . . . absolutely nothing is ever accomplished through negativity! And yes, I said that negatively. It’s easy for us to see what’s wrong, isn’t it? It’s easy to make a list of flaws and faults we see in our neighbors, at church, at work, at our kid’s school, in our community and our…
Last week, I wrote about God’s desire for us to be happy. Not simply momentary pleasure but true and lasting happiness. Happiness that… Trusts God is greater than our circumstances. Knows our sins are forgiven. Comes from wisdom that is able to guide us and keep us safe. Gives the peace that comes from obedience….
It’s December 6th and for most of us our Christmas preparations are in full swing. Our calendars are full and our to-do lists are long. And we’re starting to wonder… How am I going to get everything done in less than three weeks? THREE WEEKS! Are you kidding? But before full-on panic sets in and I…
