I was reading in Genesis 14 this morning, the story of early tribal warfare, if you will, where a bunch of kings teamed up together, fought and plundered some other kings, and essentially took Lot and all his household and animals with them. Abram did what would have been expected of family – he went… Continue reading Finding Ourselves in the Deep Sigh of Abram
Tag: Surviving
Looking into 2023
So here we are Christmas has come and gone, and while the decorations are still up, presents may still be strewn around the tree, and our bodies are still recovering from all the sugary treats, the days on the calendar still flip and life goes on. Tonight we celebrate 2022 taking its place in history.… Continue reading Looking into 2023
The many messages in Christmas
I have always loved the Christmas season, and I’ll admit, I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite “thing” – because I love just about everything about it. The warm sweaters, hot chocolate with candy canes, seasonal lattes at every coffee shop in town. The lights! On houses, lining city streets. The fun of finding… Continue reading The many messages in Christmas
Ever been in Mary’s shoes?
Last year I read through Kenneth Bailey’s book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” – and his observations in the opening chapter around the birth story of Jesus, as told by Luke, captured my attention. Bailey set the story in the context of the way homes were built and how the culture of hospitality worked in… Continue reading Ever been in Mary’s shoes?
When you grieve what’s going on a world away
My heart has been so heavy lately, for two things that I know have been all over the news. For the people of Haiti and the region where I have Haitian friends, Haitian families and pastors that have been impacted by the earthquake and heavy rain. For the families whose houses were devastated and now… Continue reading When you grieve what’s going on a world away
Redemption of the past
So today is the first Sunday of Advent, and this morning the pastor was reading over the first chapter in Matthew – which, if you have read it – is a geneology of the dads (and a few moms that are mentioned) in the line of Jesus. I suspect some of us have always skipped… Continue reading Redemption of the past
Something New
You know how sometimes a verse just sticks in your brain and you can’t get it out, and you realize that it is then the Lord is speaking to you through that verse, even though it was a different time, a different people, spoken thousands of years ago? For me, that started happening quite frequently… Continue reading Something New
The Curious People of God
Two days now I have woken up with a song in my head – and its not because I was listening to music the night before. One morning the dream was of maybe 10 or so singing the old hymn “How Great Thou Art”, and the next it was a more recent song “Unshackled” by… Continue reading The Curious People of God
In with the new?
As believers, we might easily quote verses and pictures proclaiming “Beauty for Ashes”, holding to the image that God can bring anything good out of something hard. Or, we find encouragement in a song like “God’s not done with you” – clinging to the fact that our unfinished stories can still hold purpose and promise… Continue reading In with the new?
Lemonade doesn’t cut it
I have a love/hate relationship with the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I know the intention is good, and I know it’s a way to remind people that there is always a way to take something that might leave a sour taste in your mouth and look at it a different way,… Continue reading Lemonade doesn’t cut it