Why So Soon ?

We have two golden retrievers, and they love sharing slices of mandarin oranges with my dad (or is it the other way around?)  They recognize the bag when it enters the house with the rest of the groceries, and they get excited just like it’s a bag of dog treats. However, if the bag has a squishy orange in it, or if the bowl of oranges sits a little too long, the taste turns. If dad doesn’t like an orange, he will toss all the pieces to the dogs, but even they usually refuse to eat the…

When Dreams Don’t Come True

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue; and the dreams that you dare to
dream really do come true.” So sings Dorothy longingly in The Wizard of Oz. In
a world of heart-crushing disappointments everyone longs for a life with “a happy
ending.”
It is a uniquely human thing to dream dreams – to be able to imagine the ideal
and long for it. And God, far from discouraging our longings, has put a vision of
the future in our hearts which is free of suffering and sin, a life of unending joy
and peace (Rev…

Identity

In a close self-examination I find that I feel the most anxious, angry or depressed
when my identity is challenged. As I reflect on my own ravenous consumption of
the apparent gifts of my efforts, I find at times that the vent of my aggressive
defense of who I am, was actually a war against the reminder of who I should be.
This can at times find its way to a self-righteous scourging toward the challenger,
who in retrospect, may have been designed to change me for the better.
One of the things I find fascinating when doing Old Testament…

Powder, Purpose, and Presence:
Spiritual Lessons from Snow Skiing

Snow skiing is one of the most exhilarating experiences one can have. The beauty
of fresh snow, quiet forests, and the thrill of weaving between pines creates a kind
of adventure that feels almost spiritual. But beyond the physical rush of snow
skiing, tree skiing offers another level of opportunity to reflect on deeper truths,
and lessons that mirror the walk of faith and the principles found in Scripture. As
we move through the trees, navigate obstacles, and take in the beauty of God’s
creation, we can learn something about perseverance, focus,…

New Every Morning

One of the most emotion-packed passages in all the Bible is Jeremiah’s extended
dirge found in the book of Lamentations. There he pours out his heart lamenting
the tragedy of Jerusalem’s total destruction, brought on by Israel’s rebellion
against Jehovah.
However, in the midst of His intense grief, the prophet pauses to observe:
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s
lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never
fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
( Lam 3:21-23 )
Based on this text Thomas Chisholm wrote a wonderful hymn, entitled…

Honoring Perspective

A voice, one that trails away across the silent ebb and flow of waves rolling in and
out. A call penetrating through the tumultuous waves and howling winds pushing
us forward. A whisper, quietly questioning if we are ready to step out in this new
walk. Souls around us question. A soul within us stirs. This world, His creation,
beckons that there is work to be done. Motivations come in various ways, at the
most unexpected of times. This world is full of possibilities, and a healthy soul
wishes to plant the seed and reap His abundance.
For Christians,…

The great actor Charles Laughton had been invited to a family dinner in London. During the evening, the host asked everyone present to recite a favorite poem or passage. When it was Laughton’s turn, he skillfully recited Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”). Everyone applauded his performance, and the process continued.

The last person to be called on was an adored elderly aunt who had dozed off in a corner and missed Laughton’s recitation. Someone gently woke her, explained what was going on, and asked her to…

The Good News

When I offer a public prayer, I will sometimes pray “Thank you, God, for Jesus
and for what he has done, what he’s doing, and what he’s going to do”. It’s safe
to say that someone new to Christianity who hears that prayer may ask what does
he mean by that? This is a great question. And for those who do not know Christ .
. . it is a matter of life and death.
As Christians we believe that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection are the
backbone of our faith and central in God’s plan for humanity.…

Mentorship: Passing the Faith Forward

When Paul wrote to Titus, he gave a pattern that has kept the Lord’s church
strong for generations: “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-
controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise
are to teach what is good, and so train the young women.” (Titus 2:2-6)
That short passage is more than good advice; it’s a blueprint for how God
designed His people to grow. The Lord could have chosen any system to preserve
the faith, but He chose mentorship. Older Christians guiding younger ones.
Experienced hands teaching by word,…

Last year, a social media post on the “X” (formerly Twitter) account of Sesame Street’s beloved character Elmo unexpectedly went viral.

The post was simple and innocent: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” But it elicited thousands of depressing responses — what some mental health professionals refer to as a “trauma dump.” A few examples:

“Not feeling too tickled about life right now, Elmo.”

“Elmo, I’m suffering from existential dread over here.”

“Elmo, my man, you been to the grocery…

Like a Fish Out of Water

The phrase “like a fish out of water” needs little explanation if you’ve ever actually
seen a fish out of water. What was a few moments before the definition of grace
and beauty suddenly becomes a wriggling, flopping, creature bent on chaos.
Now imagine seeing a fish swimming along in a clear mountain stream, living his
best fish life. Then someone comes along and snatches him out of the water,
tosses him onto the grass, and declares him, “Free from the bondage of water!!!”
Keep that image in mind for just a few minutes.
We…

In John chapter 3 (part of our Bible reading for this week), some disciples of John the Baptist come to him to report that Jesus is baptizing people — “and all are coming to Him” (verse 26). It was starting to look as though Jesus would make more disciples than John (see John 4:1), and some of John’s followers and friends found it troubling.

But John wasn’t troubled. His mission from God was to prepare the way for the Messiah. “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from…

…the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21, NASB).

Once when I referred to this passage to show the role of baptism in God’s plan of salvation, a friend of mine objected. He…