1 Thessalonians 4:7-12 Which do you prefer: mashed potatoes or baked? Corn on the cob or creamed corn? Steak or pork? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or tea? Sometimes we have to choose a preference. In your opinion, there are things completely acceptable to others that you deem worthy of rejection…
1 Thessalonians 4:1-6 Technology is great when it works. Despite popular belief, technology can only do so much. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing in popularity in some communities. No matter how many choices we let AI decide for us, it’ll never be able to make the moral choices God calls…
Galatians 5:19-26 Remember those toddler toys with colorful shaped blocks that fit into shaped holes of a plastic ball? The objective is to teach kids their shapes and colors. If they put the round block through the round hole, we clap, smile, and celebrate. If they try to cram the…
Galatians 5:2-12 The tank is full. The luggage is loaded. The kids are belted in. The trip has begun; adventures await, snacks distributed, cruise control set. With the music playing, the little black and white sign went unnoticed. A few moments later, a glance in the mirror revealed the flashing…
Galatians 5:2-12 People actually believe that? Throughout my life, I’ve often wondered how people could believe some of the things they do. I’ve heard people say things like: “The earth is flat.” “Elvis is alive.” “The moon landing never happened.” “Bigfoot lives in these woods.” “The dog ate my homework.”…
Psalm 103:13-19 A truth that has been on repeat in Stefanie’s mind lately is this: The days are long but the years are short. Perhaps you can empathize with this sentiment and her situation. You see, in one short year her oldest child will be graduating from high school and…
Luke 11:1-13 In the film Wizard of Oz, Dorothy travels to Emerald City in order to request help from the “Great Oz” in order to return home to Kansas. Dorothy and her newfound friends arrive in Emerald City, only to be told to come back the next day. Dorothy was…
Romans 8:9-17 Over the past year, I have learned a lot about educating children in a formal classroom setting. An important part of that are the classroom procedures and expectations. I have learned that often children need to know which action and result goes together, or, as we put it…
Romans 8:1-8 I remember my first piano lessons as a small kindergartner—walking up to the front door of my teacher’s house, sitting at her huge piano. For years—from elementary through college—I took lessons every year. There was much music, so many lessons, yearly recitals, offertories in children’s church and “big”…
Galatians 4:28—5:1 My children like to watch zoo documentaries in which you get a behind-the-scenes look at how the zoo cares for the many animals at their facility. These episodes often involve veterinary care, including exams, tests, and even surgeries. Because these are animals being cared for, they often need…