The world is noisy. All day long we get it from every direction: “Look at me!” “Can you believe that nonsense?” “This is the best!” “He’s not one of us.” “Buy now, pay later.” “The sky is falling!” “You deserve the best today.” “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “Whatever makes you feel good …” Take… Read More
Philippians 4:4-5 Let your light shine
You are a mirror. A light reflects off of you onto everyone you come in contact with. What affect does the light you reflect have on others? Does it burn? Does it make them shut their eyes and turn their face away? Is it warm and inviting? Is it judging and condemning–reaching to expose every… Read More
Philippians 4:2-3 Are you holding a grudge?
Do I choose to list my grievances? Does it matter if they are due to the chip on my shoulder or the other person’s actions or words? Can I really change how I feel? Do I want to? I can’t do it myself, but God’s Holy Spirit lives in me and is just waiting for… Read More
Music makes the story come alive
In an extended trailer anticipating the latest remake of Les Miserables (coming out in December—can’t wait!), the director and actors talked about a unique technique used in the filming of this musical. Instead of the actors meeting in a studio to record the songs before the movie is shot, and then trying to match up… Read More
from Fear to Trust
My mother is terrified of water, and I’ve been afraid of water since I was a toddler and got knocked over by waves at the beach. My parents made sure I went to swimming lessons–over and over again–hoping that learning how to swim would dissolve the dread and replace it with confidence. I became competent,… Read More
Negative or Positive?
What am I going to focus on personally? What am I going to focus on in community? What am I going to focus on nationally? When I think about the Olympics in London this year, will I dwell on the badminton scandal or the U.S. women’s volleyball team who were determined to give each game… Read More
What’s on the back of my eyelids?
“Ready for a surprise? You blink twenty-five times every minute. Each blink takes one-fifth of a second. So if you take a ten-hour automobile trip, averaging forty miles per hour, you’ll drive thirty-three miles with your eyes closed!” (Chuck Swindoll, Insight for Living, http://www.insight.org) This is the first paragraph of a July letter from Pastor… Read More
