Tag Archives: Hope

An Earthenware Vessel

While we were at family camp last week, Israel bombed Iran, and I sprained my ankle. Forty-five people went with us to camp, and it was a wild and woolly week full of Jesus, fellowship, and fun. We were worshiping together around a campfire when a friend leaned over and showed me her phone screen.Continue reading “An Earthenware Vessel”

Easter Everyday

In Paul’s last letter, he wrote to Timothy, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” Tradition has it that Paul was beheaded by Nero because of his faith in Jesus. And it does seem kind of ludicrous, doesn’t it? Is being beheaded coming safely anywhere?Continue reading “Easter Everyday”

Why Don’t They Fast?

Listen HERE Inquiring minds wanted to know: why were the disciples of Jesus not fasting when everyone else was? This month, my Muslim friends have been fasting for Ramadan, and my Catholic friends are fasting for Lent. Some years, I have fasted from some foods during the Lenten season. This year, I have not. SomeContinue reading “Why Don’t They Fast?”

When God Made Fruit

Listen HERE A ministry called “On Eagle’s Wings” sends us interns every March. Each young man who has come has been saved by Jesus and OEW helps them learn to share their “hope story.” They spend the summer months traveling to different reservations across North America sharing the story of how Jesus saved them. ThoughContinue reading “When God Made Fruit”

Spit on. Struck. Slapped.

Listen HERE There’s an awkward part of Handel’s Messiah where the alto sings, “Despised. Rejected,” over and over. In that section, she also repeats, “He gave His back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair…” It is always a little uncomfortable to think about Jesus having hair on hisContinue reading “Spit on. Struck. Slapped.”

The Blindness of Advent

Listen HERE Fourteen years ago, my grandmother gifted us an ornate advent calendar. It is shaped like a house, and each door is numbered.  She also sent little ceramic animals that I remember from my own childhood. “Put one in each door,” she wrote in her letter, “and then, each day you can see whoContinue reading “The Blindness of Advent”

Growing Popcorn

Listen HERE It takes 100 days for popcorn to grow. I planted the seeds in May. I watched the stalks grow throughout June and July. By August 25th, the yellow ears were ready to harvest. My kids helped me take the kernels off about fifty of the cobs, and I couldn’t wait to fry themContinue reading “Growing Popcorn”