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