Advent 2025, Week 4: John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 5 In the previous posts this week, I’ve point out how Jesus is the light of Christmas past and present. Now we travel to the future, when Jesus, the light of the world, returns. In Revelation 21:23–24, we read a vision of that future light,Continue reading “The future light of Jesus is available now”
Tag Archives: relationships
How the light of Jesus can help us heal relationships
Advent 2025, Week 4: John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 4 Jesus, the light of Christmas present, can bring healing to our broken relationships. Do you have any broken relationships in your life? John elaborates on this in his epistle, his letter, 1st John, chapter 1, verse 5, “This is the message we have heardContinue reading “How the light of Jesus can help us heal relationships”
A new light is shining in the darkness
Advent 2025, Week 4 – John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 2 What is the darkness in your life? Maybe it is in a relationship. Maybe it is inside you, like anxiety, which is a part of my life, or depression. These long dark nights, like yesterday, the winter solstice. The longest, darkest night ofContinue reading “A new light is shining in the darkness”
Difficult family relationships at the holidays
Advent 2025, Week 4 – John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 1 I have a friend from college who, together with his wife, have experienced numerous difficulties in parenting. Our kids are about the same age, and they even had three boys then a girl just like us. One of their sons married, then soonContinue reading “Difficult family relationships at the holidays”
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”
Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2
Allowing ourselves to encounter and express the love of Jesus, I believe, starts with humility. By saying, “I need more of you Jesus.” By saying, “I don’t have your love all figured out. I could learn more about it, maybe a lot more. I could live your love more in the day to day, hourContinue reading “Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2”
What’s at the root of the saying, “That’s just the way I am”? – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 5
Years ago someone was telling me about a conflict they were having with their boss. They had actually had conflicts with a string of bosses. They said it was always the bosses’ fault. During their conflict with their most recent boss, they said, “That’s just the way I am.” Have you ever said that? HaveContinue reading “What’s at the root of the saying, “That’s just the way I am”? – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 5″
When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4
Think about how your mouth has gotten you in trouble in the past. Might have been this week. Might have been this morning. The worst is when you get into a verbal argument with a family member as you are getting ready to come to a worship service. You drive to church in silence. ThenContinue reading “When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4”
Dashboards, emotions, and making God sad – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 3
Car dashboards have all sorts of indicators. Speed, engine temperature, lights on/off, and turn signals have been standard for decades. In the past few years, cars are coming equipped with radar. My two vehicles have radar and alarms that sound if we are drifting toward the sides of our lane, or if we need toContinue reading “Dashboards, emotions, and making God sad – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 3”
There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview
A few weeks ago, a serious forest fire devastated 2700 acres in the Michaux State Forest here in Pennsylvania. Close friends of ours have a property located very near to where the fires burned, and thankfully their property was spared. Others were not so fortunate. The news reported that the fire was started not by lightning, butContinue reading “There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 