It is easy for us to get caught up in the comparison trap. We all search for reasons why we are okay, reasons why we measure up to the often unseen standards of our culture. We may develop religious and moralistic positions that end up separating us from others.  Read More

I once came across this story about a man who was in a wheelchair. When he was asked by someone how it felt to be confined to a wheelchair each day, the man replied, "I am not confined to this wheelchair—I am liberated by it. If it wasn't for this wheelchair I would be bed-bound and never able to leave my house."   Read More

It's very easy to become discouraged in life. It’s easy to allow the circumstances of life to sap our drive and sense of courage to face the challenges ahead, make the right decision, or to not think that a situation is hopeless. How do we handle this?  Read More

I think this morning was perfect. The rain came last night and we opened our windows to let in the fresh air. As I woke, the sun played lightly on my cheek and I could hear the wind gently blowing in the trees around my house. The temperature was cool, but not cold, and everything smelled fresh and new.  Read More

In tense or scary situation, I can freeze up. Sometimes this is the right response, but when it comes to someone else being in danger, action is required. If they don’t see a car approaching at high speed or a door closing on their fingers or someone turning into them with a tray of drinks we must warn them. And this is what Paul does here.  Read More

In this transitional sentence, Paul is preparing the Philippians to hear a warning he shared with them previously, but before he does he calls them to focus their attention on rejoicing in the Lord. This letter is filled with reasons and reminders to rejoice in what God is doing in and through the church.  Read More

When I was a high school freshman I went to a church camp and they had a belly flop contest. I was one of the finalist and went for my last dive. At that moment, I had to weigh the risks between pain and glory. So I jumped as high as I could on the diving board, grabbed both my ankles and splatted on the water with a sickening SLAP! I screamed under the water at the pain and my chest was a bright red for the rest of the day, but I won the contest! I thought the risk was worth the glory, the applause of others.  Read More

“But God had mercy on him”. Could there be any more powerful and life changing words? This is the story of the gospel throughout scripture. We see it in the garden, when God clothes Adam and Eve, providing for them, instead of destroying them. We see it in the stunning forbearance toward Noah when God determined to blot out all that he had created, “but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”(Genesis 6:8)”  Read More

One of the spiritual disciplines that I've tried to work into my life over time is reading a chapter in Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month. It's convenient because it takes little mental strain to figure out what to read for the day since Proverbs has thirty-one chapters.   Read More

For many in our area, graduation ceremonies are coming up for them this weekend. Yay!!! This means rightly celebrating the completion of a lot of hard work. And it also means no longer being enrolled as a student in that particular school. But I remembered something this morning.   Read More

If you hang around Christian circles long enough, you may hear someone talking about the need for Christians to be “salt and light” in our culture. Or if you’ve been a Christian since early childhood you may remember singing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” But what do these metaphors of salt and light actually mean?  Read More

There have been seasons of my life as a Christian in which I was deeply connected and supported by brothers and sisters in the work of the gospel. I think back to my youth group in middle school and our missions trips to San Francisco for a week of service, worship, and sharing our faith. Similar times shaped my life in high school, college, seminary, and in my life since seminary.  Read More