Category: Uncategorized

By Eloise Briscoe As I was walking out of church a few weeks ago after Anthony’s “Identity Crisis” sermon (1 Peter 1:1-4), I started humming a song that I hadn’t thought of in a long time. It was a Sara Groves song called “To the Moon”. Do you know it? You can hear Sara sing...

By Jane Highley I’ll be turning 38 this month, and that number puts me squarely in the “late-30s” demographic. It’s also the age that feels like I’ll be entering a 2-year holding pattern for the formidable 40s, which sounds really grown-up. I’d like to say that, at this point in my life, having been a...

By Aaron Ullman “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit” ~Virgil, from The Aeneid While there is no real English equivalent to Virgil’s famous Latin phrase, some have roughly translated it to “Maybe someday you will rejoice to recall even this.” The words are powerful and emotional in the context of the epic—Aeneas and his nomadic...

By Ward Shope Several weeks ago, I replaced a light bulb in my dining room. I just screwed out the old bulb and screwed another bulb in its place. Predictably, I flipped the switch and haven’t thought about it since. If only it were that easy replacing lead pastors… But THAT is more like roping...

By Laurel Kehl Immigration. Just the word itself raises a lot of strong emotions in our hearts these days, especially the idea of undocumented (illegal) immigrants. As Americans, we have a lot of pride in being a nation that from the beginning has said, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…” but we...

By Anthony Gammage Diversity. It seems to be the word of the day in our modern, global culture. It arises in standoffs in Ferguson, Refugee crises, and tragedies in Charleston; is made visible in our presidential candidates; and even in our own denomination, it will be a major overture at our General Assembly in June. ...

By Rae Barnes A New Year. A New You! These words are everywhere right now. Truly, there is no other time of year when everyone’s need for a Savior is so apparent to me. The latter part of 2 Corinthians 5:17 seems to be in the front of my mind this time of year: “The...

By Ward Shope Recently, I ran across a Peanuts comic where Lucy was distributing New Year’s resolutions she felt would be good for each member of the gang. How freeing it would be to have everyone else adjust their lives this New Year in such a way that my life would be easier! I’m sure...

By Todd Hill I am sitting here in my office listening to Christmas music, counting down the hours until the Christmas festivities commence! There is a relaxed atmosphere among the staff as we spend time distracting one another from work while we share upcoming holiday plans and discuss our last-minute shopping needs. As I consider...

By Aileen Weik I was thirteen years old when I first realized the Christmas morning tradition I knew may not be the norm. This revelation surfaced as my brothers and I watched a video of how my triplet cousins opened their presents on Christmas morning. In equal parts shock and amusement, and maybe a bit...

By Jane Highley All is not calm,      doing and going with lists to check and cross;      weary of wanting the greener grass, a life of gleam and gloss. Did I make enough, smile enough, do enough      to sate little needs of my three;      but here is how the Rescuer still saves me: Visions of past...

By James Ahn As a little boy, I believed in God. I wasn’t sure exactly who God was, but I would pray to God if I needed something. And amazingly most of my prayers that I recall were answered, such as passing my Tae Kwon Do Belt Exams, passing school tests, getting a Nintendo game...