Category: Christian
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Embrace Holy Interruptions & Be Gracious
This past Sunday, I had been asked to preach at a local Methodist church (due to my Lay Servant School training) while they transition to a new pastor. Fortunately, my own church meets early, and since the churches are in the same small town, I got to attend my church before giving the sermon at…
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I Gave Up Online Shopping for Lent This Year (Sort Of)
With Easter just in the review mirror, I’m admittedly relieved that the season of Lent has passed. This year, I attempted to give up online shopping. I didn’t completely fail, but I didn’t completely succeed, either. FYI, Lent is the six weeks leading up to Easter that symbolize the forty days Jesus spent in the…
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The Bible Can Justify Anything, So Weigh Scripture Against Scripture
You read that title right! So, how can we discern the heart and will of God–if His Word can be twisted to fit any narrative? Well, I won’t pretend for a moment to have all the answers–as if all the answers could be had. But looking at scripture as a whole is a good suggestion.…
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Is Christianity Superficial & Arbitrary?
Those who’ve read the Bible and/or had God set their hearts on fire for mission and ministry know the answer to this question. In case it wasn’t obvious…NO! But I have to remember that many people did not grow up in church (or didn’t grow up in a church that was actually passionate about meeting…
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We Need to Stop Apologizing
We often feel guilty for things we shouldn’t. The desire to please people feels almost instinctive for me, probably due to both nature and nurture. People like myself are hyperaware of the shifting moods around us; we sense tension in the air. We can tell from the subtlest change in vocal tone or body position…
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“The Perfect Gift” (a Christmas Poem) + a Proclamative Scripture Compilation
A couple weeks ago, I posted about gift giving during the holidays. It’s estimated that Americans waste billions of dollars on unwanted presents every year. I provided some tips for buying special gifts people will appreciate while also supporting local crafters, small businesses, and sustainable companies. Multiple family members asked me what to get each…
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What Is God Preparing ME For?
On the second Sunday of Advent, most of us heard sermons based off Mark 1:1-8 in which John prepares the way for Jesus. He beckons the Israelites to repent of their sins and receive a baptism by water, symbolically cleansing their spirits. Jesus would follow John and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Just as John…
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Are We Stepping Stones Or Stumbling Blocks?
I wrote this a few months ago as a “stand by” post, and it seems fitting to share as we await final tallies of American state and federal elections. Many of us feel passionately about who and what we support. Calls for unity sometimes feel tone deaf when they gloss over what’s at stake. So…
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John 15:1-8: Abiding in Jesus & Bearing Fruit
It’s been a while (too long, really) since I dove into a passage of scripture. Let’s discuss John 15:1-8 and why it’s important all the time but particularly now. The gardening imagery and symbolism gives us a lot to chew on–bearing fruit, being pruned, growth in general, abundance and vitality (the abundance of God’s grace…
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Who Are “the Orphan and the Widow” Today?
Throughout the Bible, God, Jesus, Psalmists, prophets, etc. refer to God’s compassion for the orphan and the widow. From a modern standpoint, one might wonder why these two constantly go hand-in-hand. Understanding what they represent helps us fathom God’s heart for the marginalized. In the patriarchial times when the Bible was written, a person without…
Retrospective Lily 