There’s a tension that is present in many people of faith - that the hope of God’s work in the world and the reality of life experiences don’t always line up. It’s in these moments that I long for the church to embody Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s vision of the Christmas bell.
Read MoreChristians believe that the end of all things is already known. In the end, Jesus will return to bring justice and to make all things right. But why is it taking so long? Why do we have to endure so much suffering and pain? Why can’t we skip to the end?
Read MoreA few weeks ago, my daughter and I had a funny exchange as I tried to get her to say my real name. Instead of saying “Moses,” she kept saying “Daddy.” This got me thinking about my relationship with God.
Read MoreWith the start of a new year comes all the pressure to begin anew and to commit to doing things the right way. I can’t count how many times I’ve been told that God deserves the best part of my day. But what if I don’t have a best part of my day right now?
Read MoreAs a local church pastor, I’ve seen just how much churches change. The transient nature of church has led to the phenomenon that we refer to as “church shopping.” Church isn’t a commodity that we can buy or sell, so instead let’s ask critical questions when looking for a new church.
Read MoreOne day this summer, as I was biking to work, I heard a loud pop as I crossed a bumpy intersection. I slowly started to notice that my bike wasn’t moving the way that it used to. I looked down - my back tire was flat!
Read MoreTime is meant to be seen as a gift. Although it vanishes away quickly, the fact that we’re here now and have the time that we have should lead us to give thanks to the giver of life. Each tomorrow is a gift of opportunity that we should never take for granted.
Read MoreThrough Jesus’ words, we hear God speaking to us. On the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” What do those words mean for us when we don’t know what we are doing?
Read MoreHow do we go about naming our losses? How do we commemorate the one year anniversary of this pandemic? What do we do when we don’t have good answers to all the “Why” questions?
Read MoreSo much has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is the Church still relevant even though we can’t meet in person? Will the Church be needed after the pandemic is over?
Read MoreDuring this pandemic, I can’t count how many times I’ve longed for things to go back to normal. But I’m starting to realize that my hopes for everything to go back to normal uncover my own place of privilege.
Read More2020 has been and continues to be a difficult year for many. So can we get a pass on giving thanks and simply agree that this year sucks?
Read MoreStories have the power to shape our worldview - how we believe the world functions and what our place in it is. But the big question remains - how do we judge the stories we tell? How do we know what stories are true?
Read MoreMy Opa and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were both German. My Opa was a soldier in Hitler’s army. Bonhoeffer did all he could to oppose the Nazi state. How is this possible? One reason is that Bonhoeffer believed a very different narrative about Germany, Hitler, and those who were different from him.
Read MoreThe fact that my Opa was a Nazi is something that I’ve tried to hide for a long time. However, his story has taught me something powerful about racism - that is that stories matter! If we want to know why some people do horrible things to others because of their race, we need to pay attention to the stories they are telling.
Read MoreIf we want to live as God intended, we need to include rhythms of sabbath - times when we stop and take a break from that which we consider “work." I find this extremely difficult because rest often feels unproductive and selfish. But it’s something I continue to work on.
Read MoreA few months ago, I thought any hope of still running summer camp this year was gone for good. But I’m so thankful that our camps have found an innovative way to open up their space to kids this year. Once again, I got to witness the kingdom of God at work.
Read MoreIs wearing a mask an infringement of our freedoms? How should we respond to all the rules and regulations that are in place because of COVID-19? Surprisingly, Paul addresses how to deal with our freedoms in 1 Corinthians 8.
Read MoreMy family and I experienced both birth and death during this COVID-19 pandemic. While the experiences were vastly different, both solidified for me the importance of relationships and community.
Read MoreI used to think that it was the Christian respond to be “colour blind” when it comes to race; however, race itself isn’t the issue. It’s not a negative that we need to get rid of. The issue is that we’ve misunderstood God’s design of humanity. When that happens, we become blind to God’s call for diversity, justice, and peace.
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