I don’t believe that God makes people sick. I would never say that God took someone’s life because the Creator needs another angel in heaven. But I do think that God can use times of sickness to teach us important… Read More »Sickness as a Call to Rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find… Read More »Jesus’s Way is Actually Easy – We Make it Hard
Why does the leaf fall? The wind? That’s a good start but not the answer I’m going for. Because it served its time as a tool to collect sunlight, and now its time is over? Still not deep enough. Go… Read More »Why Does the Leaf Fall?
If you follow me on social media, you have probably seen pictures of my hiking adventures. To the untrained eye, hiking may seem like just a fun walk in the woods, which it definitely is, but to me it is… Read More »Hiking as a Spiritual Practice
I recently wrote an argument on violent language among believers and how this language can produce actual violence. This week, in my church history class, I’ve been bombarded by account after account of violence among believers in the Reformation. Here… Read More »Violent Language and Violence Among Believers
Over the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on my trip to Winterfest in Gatlinburg. This is my second time attending, and it is my first time being able to stay for the whole weekend. If you want to read… Read More »In the Beginning was Relationship
“He findeth not who seeks his own. The soul is lost that’s saved alone.” – John Greenleaf Whittier Why do we seek the kingdom without also seeking God’s righteousness or justice? That is, are the benefits of the kingdom only for one’s… Read More »Not Saved Alone – Work Out Your Own Salvation
Despite Paul’s insistence that our faith is modeled after Abraham, when he compares baptism to circumcision, we automatically adopt the attitude of the Pharisees: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).… Read More »Baptism, Abraham, and Salvation
“And on the cross, when Jesus diedThe love of God was magnified.” When I look at the cross, I don’t see God’s wrath as its typically defined. I see Jesus’s patience towards Peter when he asked him to feed his… Read More »On the Cross, the Love of God was Magnified
“May my steps be worship,May my thoughts be praise,May my words bring honor to Your name.” This is what it means to pray without ceasing. We wake up with an “our Father in heaven” and we go to sleep with… Read More »“May My Steps be Worship…” Do We Believe That?