Hello friends! I invite you to listen and enjoy my recent interview on the Hope Unyielding podcast. Writer and host Hope Johnson and I discuss why peace is so important for Christians in today’s culture of busyness and distraction. “Peace is something that we all desire, yet often feels elusive in today’s world. Even before the pandemic hit, the fast pace of American culture combined with the ever-increasing usage of technology has many of us feeling frantic and frazzled. Cheryl Elton has made it a life goal to pursue Christ’s perfect peace, and today she shares what she has learned through…
January 6, 2021 is a day we will never forget. Watching a massive mob of angry and violent protestors break into our nation’s Capitol, while Congressmen and women cowered on the chamber floor was horrifying and heartbreaking. It left Americans shaken, scared, uncertain. Later that day I went out for a walk to think, pray, and try to process what was happening. The beautiful sky and setting sun reminded me of God’s supremacy. What came to mind were the words on a poster I had as a teenager: JESUS CHRIST Certain in the midst of uncertainty A firm rock in…
A new year brings hope, a sense of fresh beginnings and better days. For many, it’s a time to set goals and sharpen our focus on what is truly important. Enter the “SMART” acronym . . . A well-known business model for setting goals and objectives says SMART goals are: S-specific; M-measurable; A-attainable; R-relevant; T-time-bound. A lot has been written on these highly effective concepts, and they offer a practical measuring stick for success when making personal goals. But let’s also consider Ephesians 6, which gives us the crucial reminder that at its core, all of life is spiritual. Finally,…
Autumn finds many of us removing dead plants from gardens and preparing homes and yards in anticipation of the coming winter months. Some plants require pruning—the process of removing dead branches and stubs—which promotes beneficial rest for the plant while allowing room for new growth next season. Pruning also deters pest infestation while supporting a plant’s natural shape and healthy growth. Recently I was reminded of the importance of personal “pruning”. On an episode of a weekly podcast I enjoy, one of the co-hosts shared his experience of a complete mental breakdown. It triggered the realization that he had taken…
With warmer days and summer around the corner, one of my spring rituals is putting away the winter coats and sweaters for another year, and bringing out the short-sleeved shirts and shorts. Many of us give much care to the upkeep and choosing of clothes. And surely we wouldn’t consider going out into the world without clothes on! Yet as we begin each new day, how often do we venture out without putting on our spiritual clothes—the presence of Christ? And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Galatians 3:27…
