Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 4 We just had a new baby in our family. Our second son and his wife had their first, a son, a month ago. I was holding my new baby grandson recently, as he was sleeping, and I noticed his blond eyelashes. Not typical for my family, but soContinue reading “The government is on the shoulders of a baby?”
Tag Archives: Christian
How to have radical love for your church leaders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 3
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. As youContinue reading “How to have radical love for your church leaders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 3”
When our fears come out to haunt us – 1st Samuel 17, Preview
Perhaps you’re like me and you have strange dreams while you’re sleeping. I find that my most bizarre dreams happen in the early morning, just before I wake up. This past week while on vacation, I had one of those early morning dreams, and in the dream Faith Church had one of those old-style marqueeContinue reading “When our fears come out to haunt us – 1st Samuel 17, Preview”
When we can and should judge in a church family – Holding others accountable, Part 3
In 2013 my congregation’s leaders proposed a significant change to who could become leaders in the church. Prior to 2013, we had a system where, at our annual congregational meeting, people were voted onto our various serve teams. Then at the beginning of the year, at the first serve team meeting, the members of theContinue reading “When we can and should judge in a church family – Holding others accountable, Part 3”
The earliest Christians were not perfect. But they do help us think about… Meeting together, Part 4
It is normal for pastors and church leaders to be idealistic about church, as we want our churches to be all that God wants us to be. In pursuit of the ideal, we often look to the early church as perfect. They were not perfect. But they definitely give us an excellent example, especially about how to meetContinue reading “The earliest Christians were not perfect. But they do help us think about… Meeting together, Part 4 “
The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” That phrase is an American anthem of sorts, pointing to an idea embedded in our history and culture, that we are individuals who have the power and ability to survive and thrive if we just work hard enough. But is this principle true? Even the task described in theContinue reading “The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4″
How to be ready for Jesus’ return – Ezekiel 12, Part 5
Football season is upon us, and the idea of being ready at all times, got me thinking of Charlie Brown, the Peanuts cartoon character. Charlie Brown’s friend, Lucy, kneels down and sets up the football for Charlie Brown, saying, “I promise you I will let you kick it this time…” But we know Lucy. SheContinue reading “How to be ready for Jesus’ return – Ezekiel 12, Part 5”
Is God trying to pry your eyes open? – Ezekiel 12, Part 2
In the previous post, we learned that God’s people had covered their ears and closed their eyes, so that they could not see or hear him. They were giving God the cold shoulder. How does God respond? God does not close his eyes and cover his ears. He continues to call out for the people,Continue reading “Is God trying to pry your eyes open? – Ezekiel 12, Part 2”
When it feels like you cannot see or hear God – Ezekiel 12, Part 1
I love learning about humanity’s attempts to travel into space, and one of the common elements of space travel is…delays. The astronauts go through all kinds of training, and then NASA sets the launch day. They say goodbye to their family, get suited up, excitedly enter the spacecraft, and then NASA scrubs the launch. TheContinue reading “When it feels like you cannot see or hear God – Ezekiel 12, Part 1”
Do you get tired of hearing about the end of the world? – Ezekiel 12, Preview
Did you watch the scenes from Afghanistan this past week? Awful, right? People hanging on US Air Force jets as the jets took flight, and the people fell to the ground. How about the destruction in Haiti because of the earthquake? More than 2000 dead. How is it that Haiti has one horrible disaster afterContinue reading “Do you get tired of hearing about the end of the world? – Ezekiel 12, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 