All was well in the Amish community in Lancaster Pennsylvania until a deranged man mercilessly shot 10 Amish girls and then turned the gun on himself in 2006. How did they respond to this shocking loss? Amazingly, the Amish community didn’t blame. Instead, they reached out with grace and compassion toward the killer’s family. They…
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He was Mary’s Boy
We are all connected through mothers- somehow, some way. Jesus was no different in that way. It all began with an angelic message. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He…
Do Not Worry
Take comfort in the One who tells us not to worry. We can become greatly troubled when our lives are in the spin cycle of God’s redemptive plan. Even in the midst of tears, tragedy, and loss we can celebrate through tears knowing that the story is not over, our lives are in his hands….
Advent is Waiting
This Christmas I’m recording very brief advent devotionals beginning December first all the way to Christmas. You can listen to them on the site or you subscribe to the “Scattered Feast” podcast on I-tunes, Spotify, or Stitcher,.
6 People in Your Church
In many churches, you’ll find these personalities. They are often masters at knocking you off course. Your ability to identify their shadow mission and stand firm in your stated mission will determine your faithfulness to be a God-pleaser and not a man-pleaser. Keep in mind that they are important to God. They will cause you…
The Land of UnKnowing
Jesus constantly encountered desperate people. Desperation drew Him to them. One such example is a story of the mess on the descending switchback path from the Mount of Transfiguration. A father who ran out of options, platitudes, and solutions begged Jesus to heal his son. You can hear the emotions behind the words, “If You…
Your Part in the Story
There’s something going on in the heart of every person. It’s universal. It escorts us nightly through vivid three-dimensional dreams. It draws into dark rooms to observe the flickering lights of a movie. We turn pages filled with words that transport us to undiscovered experiences. This is the power of story. God created us for…
14 Questions You Should Ask Before Opening Your Church Doors
I absolutely believe that most churches long to be welcoming to first-time guests and new attendees. But there is a gaping chasm between having a desire to reach people and doing the things that must be done to reach people. Here is a dare, if you will: Ask yourself these 14 questions. Some of them are…
Jesus, The Early Riser
We see Jesus rising up early: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Mark 1:35-37 Jesus…
Jesus, the Increasing One
They came to John the Baptist with a report of Jesus baptizing. “All are going to Him,” they observed. This itinerate preacher who made his home among reeds and wild goats listened and then replied. “You heard me saying from the start that I am not the One. Don’t expect me to be anything other…