Comparison. It kills. It kills inspiration, creativity, innovation. Constantly looking at someone else prevents me from living fully, celebrating my opportunities, resting in my reality. Read: John 21:20-23 As we look this week at What Would Jesus Say, my mind immediately went to this saying of Jesus. Too often we concern ourselves with the other …
The first time I encountered a ropes course was my first year of teaching in 2008. Every fall the high school students participated in a three day event designed to build community. Interterm, as it was called, offered a different activity each day. I chose to go with the students to the ropes course. A …
A decade or more ago there was a popular study entitled, “WWJD – What would Jesus Do?” It came complete with wrist bands, books, study guides – the complete deal. As a church we worked through the study in small groups, deliberately attentive to how we responded to difficult situations in daily life. Saturday my …
But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22 So Jesus said, “…I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught …
Welcome summer! I am glad you are here! A few years ago I attended a seminar that taught us to ask Jesus questions. I admit, it seemed a little strange to expect Jesus to answer my questions. After all, wasn’t my mind just primed to hear an answer based on the information I knew about …
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 …
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 …
I can’t help but think about family right now. As I scroll through Facebook, I see the well wishes to fathers and grandfathers and significant men from mothers, wives and daughters. Gratefulness for healthy families, silence when relationships are strained. We added a new granddaughter this week and I am so blessed watching my daughter …
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!” …