When I was growing up I loved hearing stories of successful people. Whether they be successful athletes, successful diplomats, successful CEOs, or successful politicians (especially the politicians). I have always been intrigued by ambitious people. I’ve always wanted to know what drives someone to pursue such unique careers or what motivates someone to live out…
surrounded by joyful faces, cheering you on. held within the gleaming smiles. standing proudly among them. surrounded by words. small yet meaningful, firm yet graceful. echoing deep within, breaking through the darkness. surrounded by arms, wrapping themselves tight in an effort to block out anything that might come against. surrounded by hands reaching out to…
Character development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you’ve ever had the thought “I need to remove myself from the community so that I don’t hurt anyone” – this is a tribute to you. To your heart. Your beautiful, growing, and admittedly deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). I have both been told by individuals in my…
When I think of community, I think of unity. The idea of people coming together, Groups able to gather. Strangers, friends and families, Together to form forever memories. Born and raised a ‘sevvie’, I am surrounded by a community. From sabbath school to church lunches, I’m not alone in the trenches. Though tough moments come…
They say art should afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. I think the same is true for Scripture. It challenges and confronts, yet at the same time, it comforts and supports. But I need to ask when was the last time you wrestled with what was in the Bible? I think scripture has a…
Tuesday 6:30 pm, I have just returned from a short run and am about to make dinner. I’m doing this program called “Couch to 5k” because I decided it was time to improve my cardio health and, because I couldn’t find a program called “Office chair to 5k,” I figured this one would do. I’ve…
We have used the “Church is not a building” line so many times that—not only have we forgotten that, at least in some ways, a church so obviously is a building—we rarely pause to think what other temptations we could similarly rebut by adapting this simple statement. So let me suggest some other worthwhile applications…
Sometimes when we repeat a true statement too many times, we begin to forget the ways in which the statement might be untrue. One such statement is this: “Church is not a building.” How many times have we heard it without pausing to think about what we are saying? Of course, it is true. Church…
Love…. All around their shouting, Cursing, Trying to pull me down. Further and further into their darkness. It’s working. All I see Are tears. Yours. Theirs. Every struggle. Every wrong turn. People dying. Yet every step they take Appears light. As they push aside the yearning. The need. Ignoring. Me. Love…. The…
Stress, deadlines, exams, jobs, expectations, assignments, exhaustion… pressure. Has your heart rate increased? Are you still reading or hiding under the covers? There is always something that needs doing whether it be working, studying, catching up with friends, housework, something for church, etc. While we might enjoy all of these things, it can quickly become…