Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 2 Matthew was there. He not only saw the light of Jesus’ peace change others, Matthew personally experienced what happened when Jesus light of peace enters the darkness of a person’s life. Matthew’s life was dark, without peace. He was a tax collector. Hated by his fellow JewsContinue reading “Peace in the midst of dark times”
Tag Archives: christianity
The kind of peace Jesus came to bring
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 1 Today we go back in time nearly 2700 years and Israel is at war. There is no peace. Isaiah 9, verse 1 gives us the context: “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land ofContinue reading “The kind of peace Jesus came to bring”
What can heal the ideological divide in our culture?
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Preview Have you sensed that there is a widening ideological divide in our American culture? I’ve written about it here on the blog, the sorting of our society. I recently heard someone suggest, however, that only 10% of people hold to the extremes poles of cultural ideology. 80% resideContinue reading “What can heal the ideological divide in our culture?”
Gift giving that makes a difference
Advent, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 5 How much of your gift-giving this Christmas will be lavishing gifts on people who already have all their needs met? I will love the gifts I receive at Christmas, but I can tell you very honestly that I don’t need a single Christmas gift. I want them. ItContinue reading “Gift giving that makes a difference”
Ancient wisdom for the dark times in life
Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 4 When we are in dark, difficult situations, we are often self-focused, wallowing in our misfortune and hurt. It is not wrong to sit with our pain. In fact sitting in our pain is needed for a time. As I mentioned in the previous post, when we feelContinue reading “Ancient wisdom for the dark times in life”
Mighty children and fabulous wealth
Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 3 Two of the primary hopes parents long for is (1) that their children do well, and (2) that they have enough money to provide for their kids. Parents can expend mountains of emotional energy on these two important concerns throughout the parenting years, and even long afterContinue reading “Mighty children and fabulous wealth”
How fearing God can be a delight
Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 2 Have you heard of the fashion brand Fear of God? It is a curious name for a clothing company. Company founder Jerry Lorenzo says that the name, “…‘Fear of God’ evokes a sense of reverence, acknowledging the Christian upbringing of Lorenzo’s youth. Representing the influence of faithContinue reading “How fearing God can be a delight”
What parents can learn about worship from youth sports
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”
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 Jesus’ upside-down view can change the world
Trust & Obey, Week 3: Luke 6, Part 5 I teach English language development classes in my community. In a recent class, the curriculum included a story about a family who immigrated to the US, worked hard, and opened a restaurant, because they wanted their son to experience the American Dream. Around the table inContinue reading “How Jesus’ upside-down view can change the world”
Engaging Scripture 