Have you ever had a hard time believing in something? Chances are we all have at one time or another. Life has a way of throwing things at us and there are times when it may be hard to believe that things can change for the better. This summer has been one of those seasons for me. From being denied at annual conference to a flare up of my ulcerative colitis to getting COVID and everything in between, there have

These are the words Jesus called out to the men who would become his disciples. They were out fishing at the time, and as soon as Jesus called out to them they dropped their nets and followed him. Yet, I am wondering how difficult it may have been for them to leave their things behind and follow Jesus into a world of unknowns. Today, God similarly calls each of us into the unknown and that is never easy. While we

Does anyone reading this like the sand? Like the sand at the beach? I am a beach enthusiast but I have to admit that the sand is still annoying to me. I love my feet in the sand. I love laying on a towel on the sand. The part that irritates me is trying to get all the sand off to get back in the car! My grandfather actually keeps tarps and bags in his truck for this very reason!

When is the last time you flew on a plane? I just got off a plane a few days ago. I have been on a few over the past six months. Each time I am on a plane I am still shocked that we no longer have to wear a mask. I am still adjusting to the reality that we might be coming out of a global pandemic. Some things that changed during the pandemic will stay that way. Zoom

Courage often sounds like a scarier thing than it is. Often we believe courage means being a hero or doing something impossible. But I am convinced that courage is much simpler than that. Our scripture this week comes from Acts 27:13-38 when Paul and the other apostles encounter a storm out at sea. During the storm they experience difficulties and doubt if they'll make it ashore safely. Meanwhile an angel appeared to Paul and said, "Don't be afraid. God will grant

When I was growing up, I played with legos a lot. I built huge castles and structures and played make believe life with the little lego people. Occasionally, however, one of my siblings would come and destroy my creation just because they could. And yet, I would always build it back and the next time around I would make it even better than it was before. I am reminded that life in the wake of destruction is painful and frustrating,

Jesus proclaimed he had come to bring liberation to the oppressed and to set the captives free (Luke 4:18-19). Throughout the course of scripture, God has a history of doing this very thing over and over. God is in the business of bringing freedom and liberation to the powerless. And yet, this calls to our attention what it means to be oppressed and what it means to be freed. There are different types of oppression. There is physical oppression and there

Have you ever expected to find rest during the weekend only to be met by a broken AC or unexpected leaky roof? Since the pandemic, this has possibly been most of our lives. We expect one thing and discover another. In our scripture for this week from Acts 16, the disciples go to Philippi and expect to discover a place of prayer. Instead, they encountered people. The disciples encountered a group of women and began to listen to them, and the

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.... so they say..... I am sure many of us are familiar with the phrase, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." I heard my southern grandma say this a few times growing up. As well as, "remember, it is so much easier to pick up if everything has a place." Cleanliness and orderliness in the home remain very important to my grandma and many of us. In ancient Israel, cleanliness of home but also body, people, food,

Have you ever been given a second chance? I would imagine most of us have been given numerous second chances with those that we care about. Maybe it was after making a mistake at your job, or maybe it was hurting someone you love. Regardless what the case may be, we've all been offered a second chance at some point in life. This week's scripture lesson is possibly one of the most inspiring second chance stories in existence. In Acts