Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
Christmas is just days away; the season of expectant waiting is coming to an end for this year. The culmination of Advent, the Incarnation of God into human form, bursts forth in songs of wonder, adoration, and joy. The first coming of Jesus we celebrate with gifts, food, and family visits that include a trip… Continue reading Still, Advent
Thoughts about Advent and Incarnation Part one The coming of the Promise. Fulfillment of prophecy in a mystery of yes and not yet. A baby born of a virgin on a not-so-silent night who grew up and changed the world, even to the marking of the calendar days. BC (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini)… Continue reading The Greatest Grace
Real talk here. Total transparency. I am writing about the need for grace, but I'm not always good about extending it. Fast food chaos When I'm not writing I work at a fast food restaurant. It's a perfect side gig: I love my teammates, the managers are fantastic (and patient), the hours are flexible, and… Continue reading Let’s talk about grace in real life
I heard a song for the first time the other day and was moved by the message and the music. I appreciated the nod to old familiar hymns woven through. Mostly, though, I was struck by the focus on the blood of Jesus as the master key of salvation. We don't sing about the blood… Continue reading Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Theme: The Second Coming of Jesus: It's gonna be big and you'd better be ready. Context: Jesus had just pronounced woes on the religious leaders and lamented over Jerusalem. From the Temple, Jesus and his followers walked to the Mount of Olives, about 1 ¼ miles away. As they left the city, the disciples admired… Continue reading Matthew 24 group discussion questions
The Olivet Discourse Part 1 Context Jesus had just pronounced woes on the religious leaders and lamented over Jerusalem. He began with the temple, in all its glory and beauty. The temple was the centerpiece of Jerusalem, the center of Jewish culture, and the symbol of the Jewish God. TheTemple was built between 537 BCE… Continue reading Matthew 24 My Teaching Notes
I grew up in an American Baptist church, and I spent 17 years at a large church in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). I left the SBC church because I wanted a smaller and more multi-ethnic congregation, not because I had any issues. But the events of the last several months make me sad on… Continue reading I have thoughts.
Started a new job at UPS today. And after a decade of getting exhausted, hurt, and having bad boundaries in church work, I never expected to be this happy to be a cog in a machine12:42 PM · Sep 21, 2021 I read this tweet the other day and it made me reflect on the… Continue reading The saddest tweet
We live in strange and awful times. Wars abroad, divisions at home, a global pandemic in its second year, and more vitriol spewed on social media than pictures of kittens and bad puns combined. People are quick to speak, slow to listen, and adept at jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information. And that's just… Continue reading Where is your identity found?
Resting is hard for many of us, especially those of us who grew up in a community where work was prized above almost anything else. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise..." Productivity, even in ministry, becomes an idol, but it is an acceptable one. We take pride in how… Continue reading The gift of rest
Defaulting to Grace 