A Look At The Joy of Living in the Shadow
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ~Ps. 91.1-2 In our culture there is a negative aspect to living in someone’s shadow. We want...
Two Funerals And A Look At The Lessons Learned
I recently attended two funerals in 8 days. The back to back funerals couldn’t have been more different. The first was for an 87 year-old aunt who lived a full life and was adored by her family. She never missed a family gathering and had an adventurous spirit right...
Virtues: Putting On The Clothing Of Jesus
I know I’m not the first person to stand in my closet wondering what to wear. Some days it is easy and I have an outfit on in no time. Other days I seem to move from one piece of clothing to another with nothing quite satisfying the event, my mood, or my physical...
Jesus’ Unexpected Exchange For All Our Burdens
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11.28 The snow fell cold, heavy, and wet. The kind that is perfect for packing, but a lot of work to clear from driveways and sidewalks. Teenage boys would have had a mean...
What Happens When You Pay Attention?
Last winter, as a I drove along the fairly large lake I live near, I made sure to pay attention. I kept a keen eye out for a large bird. When I was growing up, this bird would have been a very unusual sight. Today it is becoming more and more common. As I looked out...
Trusting God In The Fog Of Uncertainty
Following God sometimes fells like walking in the fog. I don’t really have any sense of where I am going. To make matters worse, I can’t see anything to give me any objective means of determining which direction I should be moving. What I’ve learned is that in...
The Best Gift Of The Season
I have always loved the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy. There’s something about the tune, the words, and the sentiment that speaks to my soul. The song prompts me to ask what it would have been like to live during the very first Christmas, to have an inkling of who...
4 Ideas That Will Make You Appreciate Christmas More
I grew up in a fairly large extended family. My grandparents had five children and twenty grandchildren. Christmas was always a fun celebration with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course, my grandparents. Laughter, excitement and joy filled the day and spilled...
The Love Of God Is A Free Gift
Early on in my Christian life I learned the 1 John 4:7 and 8 song. This catchy tune and direct-quote-of-scripture lyrics stuck in my brain and played over and over. I can remember requesting that song when my small group leader brought his guitar so our group could...
No Religion – Really The Best Of All Possible Worlds?
We don’t have to look very far to see the devastating effects extreme religion and “holy wars” have had on the world. ISIS and Al-Qaeda are only the most recent examples of wars launched in the name of religious beliefs. John Adams briefly contemplated a world...