What is broken in your life? I hate to start off this week’s blog posts on such a dark note, but so many of us have broken relationships, broken situations, and they really concern us, taking loads of emotional energy, time and sometimes money. How do we heal what is broken? I think about ourContinue reading “You can be in a close relationship with God – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 1”
Tag Archives: christians
How God wants to fix our broken world – Colossians 1:15-20
All things are in need of reconciliation. True or False? Just for the sake of argument, assume that statement is true. Why do all things need reconciliation? Because things are broken. You reconcile when you have a broken relationship. Something happened. Relationships break apart in all sorts of ways, right? From small slights to massiveContinue reading “How God wants to fix our broken world – Colossians 1:15-20”
How to bring hope to struggling people around you – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 5
This week I hosted my local ministerium’s monthly meeting at Faith Church. Throughout the year, we take turns, meeting at one another’s churches, and it was my turn. So I set up small round tables in our fellowship hall, spreading them out six feet apart, placing one chair per table, trying to make sure thereContinue reading “How to bring hope to struggling people around you – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 5”
“Words that bring smiles” – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 4
Want some news to bring a smile to your face? As we continue studying Colossians 1:1-8, look at verse 4. Paul says that he has heard good things about the Christians, news he is thankful for, and as a result he wants to keep encouraging them. Word has spread through the Christian network, which reliedContinue reading ““Words that bring smiles” – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 4″
Calling people “holy” or “saints” – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 2
What do you think about calling a person “holy”? To many of us, calling people “holy” sounds wrong. Only God is truly holy, not people, right? If we happen to use the word “holy” about a person, we might be describing them as, “holier than thou,” and we’re not complimenting them. Paul, however, uses “holy”Continue reading “Calling people “holy” or “saints” – Colossians 1:1-8, Part 2″
Vulnerability means saying, “I don’t get it.” – Honest Advent Week 1, Part 2
For Advent 2020, we are following the themes in the book Honest Advent as we think about the gifts we can give Jesus in celebration of his birthday. As we saw in the previous post, in Week 1, we are giving him the gift of our vulnerability. To understand what vulnerability looks like, and howContinue reading “Vulnerability means saying, “I don’t get it.” – Honest Advent Week 1, Part 2″
How are you using your influence? – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20, Part 1
Influence. How are you using your influence? I’m writing this in 2020 amid a global pandemic, political turmoil, racial tension, and many natural disasters. It doesn’t seem like most of have enough influence to affect change. Rather it seems the events of this year have surrounded and battered us like a tidal wave. It seemsContinue reading “How are you using your influence? – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20, Part 1”
An antidote to despair – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 4
If we aren’t supposed to succumb to worry about the future, is there an antidote to despair? Again, the Teacher, the writer of Ecclesiastes, is ready with more wisdom for us. Look at chapter 9, verses 7-9a. Dorsey’s Translation: “7 Therefore go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a joyful heart,Continue reading “An antidote to despair – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 4”
The Uberman Sleep Cycle, Time Travel, and figuring out God’s Plan – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 1
A couple weeks ago I sent a church-wide email with resources for tending to our mental health. I had received it from Messiah University, and I adapted it for our church. I sent it along because God cares about our mental health. I heard back from a number of people expressing their thanks because 2020Continue reading “The Uberman Sleep Cycle, Time Travel, and figuring out God’s Plan – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 1”
How to have and express joy in the difficulties of 2020 – Ecclesiastes 8:9-15, Part 3
It can seem almost wrong to say that we should have joy in 2020. This year has been a nonstop slog of hardship. And yet, in the previous post we learned that God is and always will be actively involved in the world. As a result, it makes perfect sense how the Teacher concludes thisContinue reading “How to have and express joy in the difficulties of 2020 – Ecclesiastes 8:9-15, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 