Preventing the Flood
Many of us were first introduced to the stories of Scripture through childhood lenses. For some, that lens came through VeggieTales—catchy songs, animated vegetables, and simplified retellings that made Bible stories accessible and memorable. In our household, those stories still echo in conversation and song. They formed something in us. They mattered. The problem is […]
Coming Home: Comfort and Joy for a Weary World
Epiphany Reflections on Jeremiah 31:7–14 When I first read the scripture appointed for this Sunday, one word immediately came to mind: homecoming. For me, that word is wrapped in vivid memories of my hometown of San Pedro, California—a small fishing community tucked into the vast sprawl of Los Angeles. San Pedro was the kind of […]
God With Us—Even We Hurt
Each Christmas, there is a moment when the season seems to end abruptly. The trash bags full of ribbons and bows. Trees laid out at the curb. Family and friends loading cars and returning to ordinary life. The joy of Christmas can feel as though it fades faster than we expect. The lectionary for the […]
Signs and Truth: An Advent Reflection
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… the earth was formless and empty.”These words from Genesis are familiar to many of us. When I used to hear formless and empty, I imagined outer space — total nothingness. But the Hebrew words behind that phrase, tohu wabohu, describe something different: not empty space, […]
Preparing the Path of Peace: An Advent Reflection
This time of year, everything around us seems to sparkle with Christmas joy. The tree in the town square is glowing, Christmas music drifts from every speaker, and twinkle lights turn even the most ordinary street into something magical. It’s the season of cozy traditions—cookies in the oven, the fireplace crackling, and the familiar readings […]
Facing the Horizon: Learning to Wait in an Unhurried Advent
This past week, my family and I spent time in Virginia Beach. I’m an early riser by nature, so each morning I found myself tiptoeing through the house before sunrise, slipping outside to watch the ocean wake up. There’s something about the quiet darkness right before dawn that feels holy—just me, the water, the horizon, […]
Living the Kingdom: Doing Things Differently
I used to help cover expenses at home and for school as a consultant with Pampered Chef. Many folks who signed up wanted to make a meaningful contribution to their household income, but when they didn’t see results, we discovered they weren’t doing some of the things needed for success. We would coach them, but […]
At the Table of Memory and Promise
All Saints Sunday invites us to remember those who shaped our faith and to meet Christ at the Communion table, where heaven touches earth and grace strengthens us for the journey.
Run to Jesus: Receiving the Kingdom Like a Child
Jesus doesn’t ask us to become innocent to enter the Kingdom—He invites us to become dependent. Childlike faith is persistent, expectant, and unashamedly eager for God’s grace.
The Event of the Baptism of Jesus: The Beginning of God’s Transforming Work
At the Jordan River, Jesus stepped into the waters not for repentance, but for revelation. In that moment, heaven opened, the Spirit descended, and God declared love. The baptism of Jesus was not the end of something—it was the beginning.