Stale popcorn--something nobody wants to eat (except me, much to my husband's chagrin, but forget about that since it doesn't fit with the analogy). Stale popcorn is the epitome of food that has lost its pizzazz. It's almost chewy (yum), and feels a bit dead in your mouth. Like all foods past their ... read more
5 Scripture Verses for Those Who Strive
Is it just me, or have we made striving a virtue? We admire those who overachieve, who rise above expectations because of sweat and diligence. It seems like the harder a person pushes toward perfectionism, the more she's admired. We call it a good work ethic. Wrong. We've taken a good thing--hard ... read more
Questioning Through Mark: 8:22-26
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they ... read more
Questioning Through Mark: 8:1-21
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some ... read more
The Work of Jesus: Making Oaks of Righteousness
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of ... read more
Jesus Makes Everything New
For those days when life feels like a tattered old dishrag, Jesus says, "I am making everything new" (Revelation 21:5). For the moments when words escape your mouth and you want them back, "I am making everything new." For the dark hours when old wounds raise ugly heads, and for the early dawn ... read more
Questioning Through Mark: 6:30-44
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32 So they went away by ... read more