Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 1 My wife and I have four children who played a variety of sports through the years. We learned that school athletic departments don’t ask parents for family schedules before arranging the sports calendar. There were sports seasons where we had four kids on four different teams, andContinue reading “What parents can learn about worship from youth sports”
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How I broke our church’s candle lighter
Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Preview Earlier this week I broke our church family’s candle lighter. Do you know what I mean by “candle lighter”? I’ve searched online numerous times to learn if it has an official name, but I can’t find one. It seems “candle lighter” is the official name. Or “candle lighterContinue reading “How I broke our church’s candle lighter”
How to love like Jesus – Advent Love, Part 4
Love like Jesus. Is it even possible? His best friend John thinks so. This week we have been studying 1 John 4, and in this final post in the series, John sums up his teaching, giving us some practical illustrations about how to love like Jesus. Here’s what he writes in verse 17, “God isContinue reading “How to love like Jesus – Advent Love, Part 4”
How Christmas is all about love – Advent Love, Part 3
In the first post in this series, I asked you to consider the first five words that came to mind when you heard the word “Christmas”. In that post, I linked to some online articles that suggest the words most associated with Christmas. Those articles listed hundreds of words, but not the one word IContinue reading “How Christmas is all about love – Advent Love, Part 3”
Three tests to determine if teaching is true or false – Advent Love, Part 2
In the adjunct courses I teach, I require students to use quality sources to support their essays. But what is a quality source? I use words like “academic,” “peer-reviewed,” and “scholarly” to describe quality sources. I do not allow them to use blogs, church sermons, or devotional commentaries. If they are uncertain, I encourage themContinue reading “Three tests to determine if teaching is true or false – Advent Love, Part 2”
Handing leadership over to the next generation can be emotional – Advent Love, Part 1
John is getting old. He sees the end of his life coming, and it’s close. He’s lived a long time, and all his old friends have passed away. There is actually no one left from the original group except him. Some of them, including his brother, passed away long before. Gradually, one by one, theyContinue reading “Handing leadership over to the next generation can be emotional – Advent Love, Part 1”
What is the most important Christmas word? – Advent (word), Preview
Grab a piece of paper and pen, or open the notes app on your phone. Write down the first five words that come to mind when you think of Christmas. Then come back to this post and keep reading. Go for it! Maybe even ask the people around you for their five. Now you’re back…whatContinue reading “What is the most important Christmas word? – Advent (word), Preview”
Evaluating YOLO, FOMO, and Bucket Lists – Advent Joy, Part 5
You know the acronyms YOLO and FOMO? “You only live once,” and “fear of missing out.” Those phrases describe a passion to have amazing experiences. As we have been studying the Apostle Paul’s perspective on his incarceration in Philippians 1, it almost sounds like he is using a version of YOLO or FOMO. But isContinue reading “Evaluating YOLO, FOMO, and Bucket Lists – Advent Joy, Part 5”
Super-sizing God, even in prison – Advent Joy, Part 4
In the last few years, I’ve spent a lot of time in prison. In 2023 a man from my church was incarcerated, and I visited him weekly. As a result, my church joined the rotation of churches leading worship services for inmates at the prison. Our team leads worship about once per month. Our countyContinue reading “Super-sizing God, even in prison – Advent Joy, Part 4”
Four unhealthy approaches to the “chains” in our lives – Advent Joy, Part 3
Throughout the years, I’ve heard discussions about the difference between happiness and joy. I am not so sure the scripture makes a clear-cut distinction. To me, the two are either totally the same, or very close to the same. But some people have said, “You can be joyful, but not happy about something.” I getContinue reading “Four unhealthy approaches to the “chains” in our lives – Advent Joy, Part 3″
Engaging Scripture 