Several months ago I had an important meeting on my schedule and I spent several days preparing for it. I was a little nervous, but I was also excited. I tend to over-prepare, but unfortunately for this meeting, I way over-prepared. I stayed up past 2 AM the night before and woke up the next morning feeling terrible. I thought I would be fine, but...
We’ve all heard the story of Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree. In fact, just the mention of his name is probably enough to bring the Sunday School jingle to your mind. I’ve always enjoyed the story, but only until recently have I realized how illogical it is. Zacchaeus was basically a 1st-century gangster. As a tax collector, he would’ve...
A few weeks ago after moving into our new house I had to make one last visit to our apartment office to turn in our keys. I walked in but before I could do anything I was approached by an older man who was visibly distressed. The rent payment system had just been transitioned to online-only and in an act of desperation he asked if I would help...
As a child, I regularly roamed the woods surrounding my house. It wasn’t uncommon for me to walk up to the front door with mud on my shirt, grass stains on my jeans, and dirt caked to the bottom of my shoes. While I’m sure it wasn’t my mom’s desire that I always come home and create an avalanche of dirty laundry for her to do, she never...
Something that has been burdening me recently is how often I see my focus centering on morality. Not primarily my morality, but everyone else’s. It’s an embarrassing and judgmental confession, but I’m certain that I’m not alone. It’s not that I don’t try to resist the temptation to judge others; it’s just that it is...
For so much of my life I thought that God was indifferent towards me. I felt like I had to achieve some kind of spiritual status for Him to care. I bought into the exhausting idea that as long as I was praying, attending, and serving then I deserved His attention. While I now know that isn’t true, I sometimes catch myself trying to revert...
One of the saddest things I see as a Christian is someone who is trying to earn grace and forgiveness. Just watching it is exhausting, and unfortunately I watch myself do it more than anyone I know. When we give our life to Christ, God pours out His grace and mercy like a flood. It’s unconditional, never ending, and always fulfilling. In...
