Read: John 7:3-5 I wonder what the expectation for the oldest child was in a Jewish family. In one resource it said, “Sons, especially the firstborn, were the guarantee of lineage and the promise of maintaining family holdings.”* Jesus’ announcement to his family that he was leaving the business and going into ministry was likely …
Out of the Chaos
Inspiration for living outside of the chaos.
Jesus was the first child to Joseph and Mary. He wasn’t, of course, Joseph’s biological son. Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, Joseph took Mary as his wife and raised Jesus as raised his own son. He was known in the neighborhood as a son of Joseph. After Jesus, Joseph and Mary had other …
She’s here! And she is perfect! Born Friday evening, weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. The wait is over. We talked about her for so long, preparing her big sister for her arrival. And yet when she came, it was different than Finley expected. She didn’t know what to think that …
I invite you to join me online today as I preach at Maple City Chapel in Goshen, Indiana. We will continue our series on the Bible – how it came to us and how to read it for all it is worth. Our topic today is “How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth!” …
Read: Psalm 139:12-16 The fourth, and final pane, is the area we don’t know and others don’t know either. This is an exciting place! Here is all our untapped potential, skills, dreams, abilities, possibility! I love the reading today because it reminds me that, although I don’t know, I have a Creator God who does …
One more thought on blind spots. Yesterday I suggested one strategy to discovering our blind spots is asking someone we know and trust to help us. In this way, we become aware of those habits that do not serve us well. But what if you are the one noticing a blind spot in another? What …
The third pane of the Johari window is blind spots. Obviously, we can’t detect our own blinds spots simply because we are, well…blind to them. There is something we can do to grow in this area. Recently, I presented an idea I had to my sister. She noticed at one point I got highly emotional. …
Consider the Johari window I wrote about yesterday. The open area is the place we wear our best selves. Perhaps a bit like the mannequins in a window display. We put the best outfit there with the correct accessories and hope it attracts others. The hidden area is the place we store the aspects of …
I think I know a lot about myself. You know…my weaknesses, strengths, hang ups, prejudices. I’m self-aware. At least I think so. And then something happens and I am surprised that I am not as aware as I thought. The other day I was chatting with my daughter about exercise and she surprised me. I …
Today…an opportunity to gather in community with other like-minded folks. Sometimes I wonder if it’s really that important and then I attend our worship service and have a spectacular time. To be honest, the best times are when I step out of my little world and take an interest in others. Here is something to …
Out of the Chaos 