The Gospel of John tells of Mary Magdalene who, upon discovering the empty tomb, is panicked by the idea the Lord has been “taken away” (John 20:13). First she deals with Jesus’ death, and now the possibility someone has stolen his body, perhaps as some cheap stunt. Whatever hope she had placed in Jesus seems READ MORE
Surrender
Five Reflections from the Story of Ruth
Ruth is the beautiful, dramatic, and yet simple story of two widows seeking to find their way past hopelessness, despair, and grief. READ MORE
“Walk By the Spirit!”
As the Apostle Paul brings closure to his thoughts regarding love being supreme over and above the fleshly extremes of license and law, he raises a tension regarding how to ensure this love will prevail. Galatians 5:16 and following resolve this tension with profound clarity, and the resolution is the antithesis of self-effort. “Walk by READ MORE
Set Upon the Spirit
The Apostle Paul declares in Romans 8:6, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” I very much want that “life” and “peace” of which Paul speaks—that daily calm reflecting a meaningful connection with something bigger than me. Or Someone. Who is READ MORE
Living Above & Beyond with Extravagant Rejoicing
This post finds us continuing our series and Bethel Church’s special season entitled, “Living Above & Beyond,” an opportunity to mature as followers of Christ, with the goal of becoming the church that lives above and beyond material slavery, spiritual complacency and small-minded eternal vision. We want to raise our spiritual bar; indeed, we must READ MORE
“Rest” or “Rant” – Again
Utterly preoccupied with those worries likely shared by most others on the road, worries such as work or finances or family or politics or whatever else one could add, I found myself muttering to God for some relief when suddenly I glanced upward from the traffic and noticed a large neon sign at the Flying READ MORE