Posted: February 16, 2023
John, the son of Zechariah “went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (1) And so the crowds came—“priests and Levites from Jerusalem” (2) and “tax collectors who came to be baptized” (3) and “many of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (4) as well as “soldiers”
Continue Reading “The Good and Bad of It All”
Category: Blog
Posted: February 9, 2023
By nature, we look for comfort. We want the elite place with the optimal view next to our favorite people. The disciples James and John wanted that, too. They asked Jesus this favor: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (1) They wanted to be
Category: Blog
Posted: February 2, 2023
TRUE STORY: Of Mice and Men It’s a great story—Of Mice and Men, published in 1937 by John Steinbeck. The story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, as they travel around searching for work during the Great Depression era. The title of the book is taken from the poem “To a Mouse,” published in
Continue Reading “Of Mice and Men”
Category: Blog
Posted: January 26, 2023
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (1) What are we sowing exactly? Is it something physical like money, food, labor? Or is it something intangible like love, support, time? The answer? It doesn’t matter. Because the point is this: you get back
Continue Reading “Give a Little, Get a Little”
Category: Blog
Posted: January 19, 2023
Here’s what I know about prayers: God always answers them. Always. Some of you might disagree with me but here’s what I know about God: He is faithful. What some people call an unanswered prayer, I call a prayer answered in a way people do not want the prayer answered—in other words, God said No.
Continue Reading “Safe Prayers”
Category: Blog
Posted: January 12, 2023
Jesus told a parable about vineyard laborers (1) who were mad about getting paid the amount they had agreed to—you heard me right: they were mad about getting paid the amount they had agreed to 😦—and one point to the story is this: 1) Stop comparing what you have with what others have. But there
Continue Reading “Keeping Score”
Category: Blog
Posted: January 5, 2023
Once upon a time, a man—let’s call him Carl—was building a restaurant but needed some laborers to help with the construction of it. One morning, a little before 7 a.m. he went out looking for people to hire. He found many willing and they all agreed to work (7 to 6) for $200. Everyone was
Continue Reading “Fair Treatment”
Category: Blog
Posted: December 29, 2022
It’s that time again—where we resolve to be better people. We make our lists. We vow to change. It’s the starter conversation for many. So, I will go ahead and ask the question: What’s your New Year’s Resolution? But before you answer, let me caution . . . we generally do it all wrong. 😦
Continue Reading “Resolutions”
Category: Blog
Posted: December 22, 2022
Zacchaeus, that short, rich chief tax collector, “was seeking to see who Jesus was.” (1) I like little Zacch for that reason. Few people are doing that, you know—“seeking to see who Jesus [is].” Oh, many celebrate his birth during this season, but few truly seek to know who he is. But here’s the interesting
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Category: Blog
Posted: December 15, 2022
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing . . .” (1) And let’s just pause right there because the root word “bless” is mentioned three times already! The first blessed means “to speak well of,” to praise. Here Paul is praising
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Category: Blog
