Election Day 2020 has come and gone. I’m writing on November 4, the day after the election, and millions of mail-in ballots are still being counted, leaving the results of the presidential election undecided. We are in a liminal moment, waiting, feeling unsettled, or as one humorist quipped, “It’s like the entire nation is onContinue reading “What Christians need to do as we wait for the election results – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 3”
Author Archives: joelkime
How a unique surgery helped me know what to do after voting – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 2
An acquaintance of Michelle and mine recently had a terrible accident at his work. He is a contractor and was operating a cement mixer, got his hands caught in there, and the machine did serious damage to both hands. One hand was far worse than the other, and for that hand surgeons are attempting aContinue reading “How a unique surgery helped me know what to do after voting – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 2”
I voted…now what? – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 1
Our country is divided. It is not just division about who we are going to vote for. Our division goes far deeper than that. We are deeply divided about what we think is best for the country. Interestingly, what I have noticed is that both of the major political parties believe they are promoting whatContinue reading “I voted…now what? – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 1”
If we don’t have to be perfect, then what should we strive for? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 5
What is the right way to live? It’s a big question with many possible answers. We have arrived at the final proverb in Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, proverbs in which the Teacher has been helping us make sense of our perplexing world. I said in the previous post that the Teacher would answer the question, “If weContinue reading “If we don’t have to be perfect, then what should we strive for? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 5”
You don’t have to be perfect! – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 4
Do you feel you need to be perfect? Do you look around your life, find it is less than perfect and feel like a failure? You’re not alone. For many of us, life feels like this, even if a little bit. And I’m right there with you. I see various ways my house or propertyContinue reading “You don’t have to be perfect! – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 4”
How to escape the traps of gossip and seduction – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 3
It’s probably very familiar: you overhear a co-worker in the break room talking about you, or you peek over a family member’s shoulder and read their text messages, or the church grapevine gets back to you. Through one of these, you learn something negative someone said about us. You are embarrassed, hurt, and angry. TheContinue reading “How to escape the traps of gossip and seduction – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 3”
How the open Bible in our church sanctuary sets off my struggle with perfectionism – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 2
In our church sanctuary, we display a large open Bible on the communion table located on the back wall of the stage. Can anyone read it from where they’re sitting? Nope. Neither can I, and I stand way closer to the Bible than the rest of the congregation. The print in the Bible is large,Continue reading “How the open Bible in our church sanctuary sets off my struggle with perfectionism – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 2”
Can an ironic proverb help us make sense of our complex world? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 1
Are you feeling perplexed? Confused by the world we live in? If so, you are not alone. How many of you are familiar with Veggie Tales? The creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer has been making some fascinating informational videos relating to racial justice in the USA. One video answers the question why Black ChristiansContinue reading “Can an ironic proverb help us make sense of our complex world? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 1”
The way to have a better life…now – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 5
I love the encouragement of this picture. With two and a half months to go in 2020, many of us are holding out for a better life in 2021. Here in the USA, the bitter presidential election will be over. It seems that we will get beyond Covid in 2021. So does that mean, asContinue reading “The way to have a better life…now – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 5”
How to overcome anger and discontentment, and have joy – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 4
Look at the woman in the picture. What do you notice? Longing, perhaps. Someone who is on the outside and wants to be on the inside. Frustration with life, maybe. Some who is upset enough to lean their forehead against a door. I wonder if something happened on the other side of the door thatContinue reading “How to overcome anger and discontentment, and have joy – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 