Tag Archives: Christianity

Discipleship Costs

“Jesus turned and saw [two disciples] following him, and He said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to Him, ‘Rabbi,’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’” It was an invitation into His life, and one that would change the whole course ofContinue reading “Discipleship Costs”

Power Outage

My phone buzzed with a notification from our church prayer text group: Pray that our electricity comes back on! One of our church families had lost power. When the windchills are -35, even a temporary power outage is a big deal.  I just happened to be reading the book of numbers, where Moses prays, “AndContinue reading “Power Outage”

Making a Difference

Federal agents swooped in and took my neighbor from his workplace. It was the middle of the day. He wasn’t expecting it. His girlfriend and children weren’t sure what to do or how to contact him.  He sat in prison for eight months before his federal trial. It seemed unjust, unconstitutional, unamerican.  But I wasContinue reading “Making a Difference”

Not for the Faint of Heart

I teach a children’s Sunday School. It is not for the faint of heart, and not just because you might get hit with a spitball or handed a “cootie.” (“Could you squish this, teacher? I found it on my sister’s head.”) Last semester, we worshiped by singing a song called, “Sing Wherever I Go.” SomeContinue reading “Not for the Faint of Heart”

Loving Leviticus

Leviticus gets the short end of the stick. Pastors rarely exhort congregants to start their Bible reading in Leviticus. Adjectives for the book abound: boring, dense, antiquated, dull.  To most, it is a list of rules for an ancient people who weren’t able to keep them. But David found treasure in the book of Leviticus.Continue reading “Loving Leviticus”

A Holy Calling

6,646 feet above sea level, I saw a flower on Logan’s Pass in Montana. Bees and butterflies took nourishment from it, and so did I, in a way. In a field of wildflowers, this one held my attention and reached above the highest mountains to gather sunlight. It did not cause itself to germinate orContinue reading “A Holy Calling”

Ears You Have Dug For Me

It’s the time of year for sappy sentimentality to croon out of every radio and department store speaker. As soon as I hear anything about Christmas shoes, old lovers in grocery stores, or chestnuts, I wish I could close my ears. Yet I have my own sentimental list of things I do around the ChristmasContinue reading “Ears You Have Dug For Me”

Let’s Try Again

Before the whole fishy incident, God gave Jonah this command: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before Me.” Obviously, Jonah did not like this command, and he attempted to flee from the presence of the Lord. (Mistake #1.) You’ve probably read how thatContinue reading “Let’s Try Again”