One of the most common difficulties around the holidays is loneliness, and, in a season of increased isolation, loneliness may be even more felt this year. Interestingly, the season of Advent uniquely speaks to the struggle of loneliness, both as we look back to the first coming of Christ and also look forward to his second coming.The case could be made that Jesus is the loneliest human being to h...  Read More

You’ve heard it before . . . for some people, the holidays can be the loneliest time of the year. In 2020, with isolation more prevalent than ever due to Covid, this particular Christmas season can feel like piling on. I heard from someone this week who, sadly, spent Thanksgiving apart from family for the first time in their life; an all-too-common phenomenon I fear.God hardwired us for community,...  Read More

Jem, my son, will turn 8 this month. Over the past couple of years his increasing mental and physical development has allowed us to enjoy doing more and more activities with each other. And so we ride bikes and throw the football and play board games and work in the yard and go on hikes in the woods. Though our ability to do those things together were limited in his early years, one of my joys in ...  Read More

One of the realities of our eternity with the Lord will be using perfected bodies to interact with a perfected earth. Presumably we will traverse high mountains, skip through meadows with every color of flower imaginable, swim in crystal clear seas, explore lush forests, all while enjoying the company of perfected relationships with one another and with the Lord. Part of cultivating hope in the re...  Read More

The opening verses of John’s gospel provide us with unique perspective on God reaching out from the eternal into our world. Jesus, described there as “the Word,” takes on flesh and dwells among us. He is referred to as “the true light” coming into the world, and yet, shockingly, we are told that he is rejected by many. The created reject the Creator. However, for the ones who receive him, they bec...  Read More

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:18 (NKJV)While this is the verse most often quoted in this season of thanksgiving I would submit it is also the verse most misunderstood. And in a year where it seems everyone has endured at least some measure of challenge, it is almost assured that this verse will be used to say we should be thankful for th...  Read More