The Toughest Test of Endurance

Imagine going for a two-and-a-half mile swim and then biking over one hundred miles and then running a full marathon. Though just picturing such a feat of endurance makes me want to take a nap, Ironman triathletes actually do all of this in one day—and apparently enjoy it! Maybe you watched the Paris Olympics and … Continue reading The Toughest Test of Endurance →

Love Even for Oppressors

Dividing the world’s population is easy: Salty cravers and sweet cravers. Avocado lovers and avocado haters. Conservatives and Progressives. Coffee drinkers and tea drinkers. Jocks and nerds. Oppressor and oppressed. That final category has received increasingly more attention in recent years. While none of us would ever want to admit to being an oppressor, historically, … Continue reading Love Even for Oppressors →

Humility at Home

Dorothy Gale of Kansas said it best: "There’s no place like home." It’s where I wear my comfy clothes, don’t worry about hair or make up, unwind after a long day, and generally feel the most secure. Home is also where I’m most likely to let my guard down. Because I feel secure with family, … Continue reading Humility at Home →

God Can’t Wait to Forgive You

Bloodthirsty, vicious, fearsome, violent, wicked, indomitable—these are just a few of the words that describe the ancient Assyrian empire. Though Israel was just a bump in the road to these pillagers, it was a bump they desperately wanted to own. So they started breathing down the neck of God’s chosen people. As they felt the … Continue reading God Can’t Wait to Forgive You →

You Might Be a Stingy Forgiver If…

The name Ebenezer Scrooge has become synonymous with the concept of stinginess. The protagonist in the Dickens novella A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, though a wealthy man, refuses to share his wealth or to enjoy it. He scoffs at the notion of donating to charity and rations his coal so that his employee Bob Cratchit … Continue reading You Might Be a Stingy Forgiver If… →

Forgiveness Is Not About Me

When it comes to topics discussed in church and lyrics sung in worship, forgiveness in Christ tops the charts—and for good reason. The forgiveness found in the Gospel is knock-your-socks-off good news, and we shouldn’t be able to get enough of it. However, is it possible that we’ve skewed the emphasis of this glorious truth? … Continue reading Forgiveness Is Not About Me →