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Isn't it is so easy to have the same pattern and rhythm of prayer for years? Fortunately, we have access to a few of Jesus’ prayers to help us expand and enrich our prayer life!
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A few weeks ago, I met a disciple-making friend for lunch and we imagined what it would have been like for Joseph, son of Jacob, after he had been betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned in Egypt. If you have been reading along with the FMC Daily Scripture Reading Guide, then you will have just completed the book of...
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Two weeks ago, Janice and I spent a few days at Deer Ridge Ministries - a spiritual retreat center which accommodates couples who serve in full-time ministry. This ministry began over a decade ago to facilitate place where pastors can intentionally practice Sabbath without added responsibilities. But what is Sabbath? It is an...
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This week is one in which prayer will get national attention. Perhaps you will hear news reports of prayer gatherings among state leaders or community members on May 3 rd for the “National Day of Prayer.” Perhaps you will even join other Christians from Grace Church, New Castle Bible Church, and First Mennonite Church in...
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Our eldest son has recently shown an interest for testing his own strength. It’s not uncommon for us to find him attempting to do a pull-up while dangling from his loft bed. He also occasionally gives me a bear-hug in order to see if he can lift me off the ground. As a father, I love seeing our pre-adolescent son’s...
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Most weeks on my day off, I venture out to the grocery story with our twins. Since this has been a regular routine most of their life, they enjoy the journey up and down the aisles of cans, boxes and cartons. The joy for me is that I often run into people whom I know. I love striking up a conversation as we stand by the...
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The new obsession of our twin boys is counting. Frequently, we hear them saying, “eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, fuzzenteen, twentyteen…” As you can tell, the numbers break down a little after sixteen. We love hearing this because vocal repetition is one way in which they learn. ...
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Our children are in a phase of life where we can almost see them growing. One of our twins already rivals the kitchen counter with his height. The other develops a broader vocabulary almost every day. Often, I tell our daughter to stop growing. She laughs and tells me “No,” but then we silently recognize...
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On Friday, August 11 th , an angry mob of white supremacists rallied around a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia with torches and a nationalistic agenda. Meanwhile, people from different religions gathered at a nearby church to hear from activist Cornel West and the president of the Unitarian Universalist...
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At our final small group book study, we took some time to reflect upon the reality that God’s work is often like farming. There is a time for planting (whether asking in prayer or investing in disciple-making friendship). There is a time for waiting to see what God is going to do with our small efforts. Then there is a...
