Greetings from sunny Florida! Yesterday, it was nearly as warm in Iowa as it was in Daytona hgh cycle for women Beach. I’m guessing that won’t last for long! Today I’ll be seeing colleagues from all across the United States who are engaged in ministry very similar to ours at First Christian Church in Keokuk.…
At this time of the year, we seem to have a little more gratitude and appreciation for what we DO have while understanding that many folks simply DON’T have much at all. We ring bells for Salvation Army to help fill their buckets in turn, to help the poor, the less fortunate and victims of…
Soren Kierkegaard once wrote a parable about a prince who wanted to find a bride. One day while the prince was traveling through a local village, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant girl. He wanted desperately to meet her and possibly marry her, but he didn’t know how to go about it. He could…
When I was a kid, it seemed like Christmas would never arrive. Nowadays, as soon as the calendar flips to December, I feel the panic beginning to set in. Christmas is coming and there’s still lots to do! It’s like the story about the woman who was finishing up her Christmas to-do list when she…
Advent is defined as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. For Christians, Advent is the 4-week preparation for the celebration of God’s gift to us, the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the season which we use to prepare for and remember the real meaning of Christmas. We celebrate the coming of…
When it comes to Christmas, I think a lot of folks are like Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights, the dim-witted racecar driver who always prays to the baby Jesus. When he bows in prayer with his family, he prays: “Lord Baby Jesus, watching your Baby Einstein videos, still learning your colors and shapes……
I was watching the preacher Francis Chan speaking, and in the middle of his sermon he kinda took out his phone and was looking at it, and he said, “if you’ll find your bibles,” (still looking at his phone) “and uhh find Jeremiah.” And he kinda acted like he was texting, “Jeremiah 29:13” he’d say,…
I’ve always had mixed emotions around this time of year. I love Christmas lights and decorations, just as long as someone else is responsible for putting them up and taking them down. I’m not a huge fan of all that work, but I also understand that celebrating the incarnation of God in Jesus requires preparation…
I was blessed to participate in the Saturday Night Alive Thanksgiving Feast service this past weekend. As I thanked God for this unique worship experience and the people involved this is what I saw in my mind: Greeters: The “Welcome Mat” to our church offering a smile and an open door Meal: Donations of food…
Tammy and I have been invited to Common Grounds for their annual Thanksgiving celebration. I’ve got a couple of ideas for a devotion, but one thing I know I want to emphasize is that genuine thanksgiving is something that takes practice. It’s like the old joke about the conductor of the New York Symphony who…