Off with the Old, on with the New
The seasons are changing here where I live in Queensland, and so is my wardrobe. The days for cool summer tops, shorts and sundresses are over. I am pulling my winter clothes out of storage. How quickly I forget the clothes I own when I pack them away for a season. I always pull out clothes I completely forgot that I have. But, as much as I used to love these pieces, not all of them make it back to the closet for another season.
Continue ReadingHow Many Paraprofessionals Does It Take…
If there is one thing I despise more than training day at work, it’s virtual training day at work. My brain processes “being talked at” as life-draining, and “sitting still” as torture; so, combine that with a Disney-esque cadence and you will find me searching for mini-toothpicks to hold my eyes open.
Continue Reading“What is that to you?”
Often when I read the Bible, I come across a familiar passage. It might be that I’ve heard a sermon on it, or that it’s recorded in another place in the Bible where I’ve read it previously. I was reading through the Gospel of John during Lent. When I came to John’s final chapter, I read some verses that startled me, because they took me back to my childhood…
Continue ReadingOn Clichés and Suffering
Our culture seems to run on tropes, mottos and trite bromides. Cute household signs are one thing, but empty platitudes that fail the common-sense test are another. Many popular slogans offer nonsensical advice such as, “you can be anything you want to be” (anything?), “follow your bliss” (what if that’s heroin?), and “manifest it into existence” (try manifesting someone back from the dead). Here’s another: “God will never give me more than I can handle.” But…is that true?
Continue ReadingHope in Jesus
The Bible is clear that we who follow Christ have a duty to raise children in the way that they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Leading by example, teaching them how to love by loving them unconditionally, helping them serve others, sharing our faith with them through scripture, and praying with them. But in our news-saturated world, it’s common to hear about teens who are wayward or in mental health crisis, without a solid family for support, chronically breaking the law or worse, willfully hurting other students or adults. This is happening to kids in and out of church environments.
Continue ReadingOn Praise
When Christians talk about “The Good News,” we’re talking about the Gospel. An interesting thing about the Gospel is that it’s as much for people who have heard it a thousand times as for people who have never heard it explained even once.
Continue ReadingPositive Competition
Not always does this “honor” refer to honoring someone through kindness or help, but in many ways, such as showing honor by choosing to seek understanding instead of judging; showing patience when someone makes a mistake; offering forgiveness when hurt; apologizing first after an argument; commending people on their hard work when you notice it; standing up for others; paying attention to things others do behind the scenes and encouraging them in their efforts.
Continue ReadingWAIT!
The state highway department recently completed revisions to the major artery to which our street connects. The new left turn lanes and smooth paving are a real pleasure. But not a pleasure is the new timing of all the traffic lights along that site. We can wait as long as 2 minutes to get a green light to cross that road or turn onto it from our little street. Two minutes doesn’t seem like a big deal until you’re sitting at the red light with no cross traffic, and you still have to wait.
Continue ReadingWrath and Righteousness
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Continue ReadingPrayers for Pastors
God calls us, the people of His church to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NASB). When we pray, God says we will be heard. Whatever we ask for, it will be ours. Therefore, I ask that you humble yourselves to God and seek wisdom, guidance, protection, and courage for your pastor.
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