praise
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New Life Comes Where We Least Expect It
“A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots” (Is. 11:1 CEB). The prophet Jeremiah utters a strange proclamation to the people of Israel. He boldly tells them that “A shoot… Continue reading
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Cleaning the House for Our Guest
During the Advent season, we take a fearless, moral inventory of ourselves and of how we relate to those around us. To truly prepare, consider specific practices like prayer, reflection, or confession that help us remove the lent of… Continue reading
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Finding God in a Chaotic World
“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10). The season of Advent sounds excellent, but finding time to prepare and listen to God seems impossible. Through December, leading up to Christmas, we find ourselves bombarded by countless… Continue reading
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A Light in the Middle of Our Darkness
“We saw his star in the east[a] and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2b CEB). Sometimes, I watch a New Mexico sundown and feel transfixed by the fantastic colors. One of my favorite moments is watching as the… Continue reading
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Let Us Not Forget Joseph, the Father of Jesus, whose virtues of faithfulness and humility serve as a model for us all.
“Joseph was a good man…” Matt. 1:19a). The Bible highlights Joseph’s love for Mary and his choice to divorce her privately, emphasizing virtues that inspire us to embody kindness and obedience. This gentle act should motivate us to… Continue reading
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Keep First Things First
“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows” (Matt 24:36 CEB). At first glance, the scripture for today seems to indicate a colossal mistake. Why… Continue reading
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A Season of Thanks Living
With Halloween behind us, the rush towards the new year has officially begun. The last two months of the year always seem to fly by, especially for those of us in the church. The Advent Season, Christmas pageants, extra worship… Continue reading
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Making a Fresh Start
The last post I shared was in early summer. After 10+ years of writing blogs, I needed a break from the mundane. At first, I felt guilty about stopping, but gradually I realized that respites offer a time of… Continue reading
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Where Do We Go from Here?
I cannot help but think of the Jewish refugees reentering the land flowing with milk and honey after the exile. Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the first temple no longer existed. The word trauma seems to be an appropriate… Continue reading
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The End of the Beginning
Today we celebrate the arrival of the Messiah. He is in Jerusalem now, so we wait for him to show his authority over the Romans. God will be with him, and in one fail swoop, he will reclaim the… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 