praise be to god
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Find Joy in the Busyness of the Season of Advent
The last few weeks leading up to Christmas often become a race to the finish line. We must arrange for out-of-town friends and family to purchase last-minute gifts and to practice one more time for the church Christmas concert.… Continue reading
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Living With a Spirit of Gratitude
“Mary said, ‘With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my saviour’” (Lk. 1:46-47 CEB). Mary’s response to God’s calling can inspire admiration and trust. Her encounter… Continue reading
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Experiencing God’s Presence in Unsuspecting Moments
Today, I had an encounter with the Divine in the most unlikely of ways. Our church hosts many community parties and programs, and with them come tons of food left for us to eat. Because of the season,… Continue reading
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A Crisis of Faith Led Me to a Deeper Understanding of God
When I attended seminary, I had a crisis of faith. I could not understand how my way of holding on to truth could be the only way of finding favor with the Divine. One of my continuous struggles… Continue reading
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I Will Keep My Eyes on You, My God
It is extremely easy to worry about outcomes. We panic about illness, money, relationships, and everything else that seeks to take hold of our time. As a matter of fact, my anxiety about different situations can become so large that… Continue reading
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Like the Ancients, We Seek Out the Presence of the Messiah
This time of year can become incredibly routine as we begin another year in the church calendar. The season of Advent anticipates the Savior’s coming into the world. Hasn’t he come already? We did read about this happening in the… Continue reading
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The Things Our Children Teach Us!
As I reflect on my stinky boy’s journey through the extended hospital stays and the enormous amounts of time traveling back and forth to and from our home, I remember the one thing that seemed to be missing. It was… Continue reading
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Counting My Blessings During This Season Brings Me Joy
I remember one time when Julian, my oldest son, was sixteen. He sang in a good choir in his high school years. This program featured a very ambitious selection of time-honored works and new music. I know I must shut… Continue reading
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God Can Handle Our Complaints
One thing that I respect about the ancient Hebrew prophets is their unwavering honesty. Many times, God addressed the people about their sin, but sometimes God heard the people’s cries and needs. At first, one might think that this… Continue reading
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Our Family Advent Traditions
I don’t know what it was about last night, but I had a profound awareness of God’s presence as my family decorated our Christmas tree. As my wife hung the ornaments, she pointed out the various people and places that… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 