Advent Day #5 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:36-37 Mary's conversation with the Angel Gabriel would have recalled the account of another barren woman …
You Can Go Home Again
As a bird that wandereth from her nest,so is a man that wandereth from his place. Proverbs 27:8 This verse caused me to count the cities my family has lived in over the years. Since my childhood years in central Kansas, I have only returned to visit. Marriage scuttled us down to three diverse cities …
Engaging Difficult People Biblically
After teaching teenagers since August, I jokingly told my Costco checker that I am nearly strong enough to work retail at Christmastime. He laughed with an eyebrow raised that implied his uncertainty at my readiness. Since I have never worked retail and he has never taught middle school and high school students, we might both …
We Cannot Teach What We Do Not Know
As an upcoming, first-year teacher, the beginning of the school year looks daunting. Thankfully, my schedule is light, and I have had time to prepare. Health is already a passion, so diving into the curriculum and searching for supplemental aids to teach four classes a week is much more enjoyable than a subject like math …
Meditations in the Fire’s Forging
Real faith upends the pre-conceptions of who Jesus is from the tiny box of human expectation and understanding. The apostle Peter and the other eleven walked the crucible of disappointment as Jesus revealed Himself to the world, not as the reigning Messiah, but as the suffering Servant. Those three black days of Jesus’ silent occupation …
When All I Have is Jesus
A Biblical Counseling Series # 5 Rejection cuts deep whether it is a child, a spouse, a parent, or a love interest. Elisabeth Elliot writes of George Matheson in her book, “A Path Through Loneliness.” When George became blind, his fiancée broke off their engagement. Instead of becoming bitter, however, he lifted his blind eyes …
Stewarding Well the Plan B Path
A Biblical Counseling Series #4 “It is not supposed to be this way.” Right now I see many believers walking difficult paths on my social media feed. A teenage Pastor’s daughter died in a random accident. A young girl is on her journey toward Heaven from a brain tumor. A family is dealing with the …
Robbed or Rewarded
A Biblical Counseling Series #3 Have you ever been left home by your parents with a list of chores to do before they return? I remember one Saturday morning when my parents went grocery shopping. Each of my siblings and I had a room to clean, but we knew we had several hours. We spent …
What Do You Know For Sure?
“I am sorry to tell you that the results say you only have six months to live.” “The test is positive. Your situation is incurable. Let’s talk about how we can manage it now.” “Years of skipping annual check-ups have led us to a point of no return. There is nothing we can do now.” …
Another Jesus
Another jesus is masquerading as the Jesus of the Bible. This false jesus overlooks the murder of innocent babies in the womb. He understands and allows for the reasons people murder others in the name of their own rights. He loves without any call to repentance or righteousness. This masquerading jesus accepts what happens in …
His Song in the Night 