hope
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What Does it Mean to Ransom Someone?
In the famous Christmas Carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel pleads to “ransom captive Israel.” When I think of ransoming someone, there must be money involved. While the Merriam-Webster Dictionary does include the idea of a monetary payment in… Continue reading
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How Well Do I Know My Expected Guest?
Many of us know that Advent is a time of preparation, a season to clean our spiritual house to make way for Jesus, the guest, to come into our homes. Who is this Jesus that we should take such… Continue reading
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Rejoice, My Friends!
For some, the season of Advent brings sorrow. Tragic events from the past seem to overwhelm us, much less leave us feeling anxious and ill at ease. The psalmist spoke of pain when asked to sing the music of… Continue reading
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I Will Keep You in My Prayers (and I mean it)
I often say to people, “I will keep you in my prayers.” This saying has been with me since my earliest years in church. Sometimes, it is an immediate response without thinking about what I mean. My prayer life… Continue reading
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Doing Spiritual Work Brings Spiritual Joy
As I sweep my spiritual floor clean, I notice something that gets my attention. Laying in a corner of my soul is a list of those who have hurt me. I want to go over and sweep with everything… Continue reading
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How Long Must We Wait?
During this season of Advent, I cannot help but wonder how long God expects us to wait for His presence. The people of Israel lived in a ridiculously lengthy period of Advent, as they waited for hundreds of years… Continue reading
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Are We Saved by Grace or Works?
For many years, the idea of cleaning the house to prepare for the arrival of the Christ child has confused me. In short, must we “do” certain things before Jesus enters our hearts? The more profound question is, “Must… Continue reading
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The Christian Life Is Not All Happy, Happy, Feel Good Stuff!
When I was young, I heard a song that indicated that the Christian life provided a straightforward pathway. All one had to do was profess faith in Jesus, and suddenly one lived stress-free and happy all the time. I grew… Continue reading
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Giving Thanks for My Current House of Worship
There are moments in ministry, especially itinerant service when moving occurs. Sometimes the possibilities of moving forward appear to be the next right steps. This experience is not the case for me at this moment. This week I had… Continue reading
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Finding Pockets of Rest
Every day I find the busy-ness of life calls for rapid decisions and constant movement. If I am not careful, I can move from busy to overwhelmed at a lightning-fast pace. I run at 100 miles per hour and… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 