Category Archive

Carrying Our Load and Bearing Other’s Burdens A caretaker for disabled foster children and her own children were living in a home so unsafe and inadequate, it hindered their care and healthy growth. A television show (I’m not sure which) recruited neighbors, area tradespeople, and merchants to cooperate in an extreme makeover, which rehabilitated the property and dramatically enhanced the … Read More

Upset? Maybe it’s God calling? Many people I know are so upset about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, this week. They think watching the news is making them less effective at work and with their loved ones. But what if the high emotions and grief are one way God uses to help you know how to use your spiritual … Read More

Out of all the answers Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter gave interviewer Kori Street, it was the ones about hope that were most moving. Recordings of his responses to hundreds of questions are now computer indexed for quick selection. An artificial intelligence program called a Chat Bot can simulate a real-time conversation, almost as if he were there. He spoke of … Read More

Our ‘Good Enough’ Lenten series concludes this month with worship on Easter celebrating our Lord’s Resurrection! On that day (April 17) we will have communion and we will baptize Sloane Slavik (daughter of Holly and Sam)! You are also invited to worship with us on Good Friday, April 15, at noon as we remember the crucifixion together. As the pandemic … Read More

The idea that you have to be constantly working and unhappily grinding to be successful. ‘Always working’ is an idea worth questioning, challenging, and surpassing. A better idea is that rest, recovery, and reflection are essential parts of becoming the person God wants us to be! Living a successful and happy life should involve ‘being’ as much as ‘doing’. This … Read More

This moment in history seems so dark to me. Days are short and nights are long. The pandemic is at an all time high. Not meeting in person is hurting churches, schools, and most every other organization. When will it all end? When will goodness be on the rise instead? How can we remain faithful in the present moment and … Read More

A popular young music artist’s performance included the phone number for the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 along with positive messages of hope and recovery including the phrase: “I want you to be alive.” It told the story of a person in crisis who considered suicide but then called the 800 number instead and experienced help and relief. It … Read More

Human Nature How long is it appropriate to grieve about new awareness of human behavior? Is it healthy to rehearse our grief? Does continuing to be upset — hinder accepting the new facts and beginning to strategize what God might be calling us to do in light of them? People should not lie for personal gain. But many people do. … Read More

Robert Raynolds, in his 1952 novel, writes a sad summary of the Roman Empire in the words of his fictional Roman official: Our whole age, our whole Roman world had gone dead in its heart because it feared tragedy, took flight from suffering and abhorred failure. In fear of tragedy, we worshipped power. In fear of suffering, we worshipped security. … Read More

Compassion Resilience During CoVid A recent presentation, found by searching for timely coping advice, identified what a lot of us are going through during the pandemic and listed strategies for staying strong and responsible in this difficult time. Sue Dicks and Emily Jonesburg, certified counselors at Rogers Behavioral Health in Madison, Wisconsin, name 3 stages many have experienced: (1) overstretching, … Read More