Confronting Ourselves

Do you ever get somewhat depressed, troubled, disturbed or just off kilter but aren't really sure what started it? Maybe you feel like you get upset with others for no good reason that you can name, but you say something you shouldn't, or retreat and hide, and it hurts relationships. Well, we should realize that emotions don't

The Holy Discomfort, Part 2

Last week we looked briefly at some of the sayings of Jesus about the Spirit's work, from John 14 and 15. Now we'll take a brief look (after all, these are brief messages) at some events in Acts, seeing how the Spirit was at work.

Jesus used the Greek word "parakletos" in John 14:16, translated "comforter" in the King James, and "helper" in some other translations. It's used to mean 'someone who

The Holy Discomfort?

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, starting in John 14, and I have taken a lot of comfort down through the years that he uses the term "The Comforter." There have been lots of times in my life I've needed someone to comfort me! (Could I hear an amen?) Well, that word is in the

Torches, Jars and Messages

(This is a reiteration of a few points from last Sunday's sermon time -- I hope you enjoy it!)
The story of Gideon gets space in many children's Bibles and storybooks, because it's so visual and adventurous. A basically ordinary guy is called by God to deliver his people from

"Renewal Information Enclosed"

(this is a re-posting of something I wrote two years ago. Hope you enjoy it!)

I pulled an envelope out of the mailbox the other day, with "Renewal Information Enclosed" in big letters. I opened it excitedly -- maybe it was an offer for a free vacation, or even better, a retreat where my spiritual energy could be renewed. No such luck: it was just a bill. Bummer! But did you know, you can have renewal information inside you, by the work of the Holy Spirit? Are

Jesus Loves Us Little Children - and Has Gifts for Us

It's a familiar scene to Bible readers -- Jesus and his disciples are discussing deep, important spiritual matters, and little children interrupt them. The disciples try to push the kids away but Jesus intervenes and calls them over. It's a lot more than "cute." This scene shows the very essence of Jesus' ministry, then and forever. Jesus' words and actions open up two

Out of Focus?

"Mindfulness" is getting a lot of press today. Basically it means "paying attention to what you're paying attention to." The idea, they say, is that you can be more productive, positive, and nearly every other good thing you can imagine, by being mindful. But of course, the real question is not just whether we're paying enough attention but what