Labor and Rest
In the area where I grew up, the school year began after Labor Day. The holiday marked the unofficial end of summer and the return to school routines. The idea of Labor Day began as a holiday to celebrate all workers, …
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Seeing Jesus
Imagine that you’re going about your business, when Jesus bursts in unannounced and says, “Come on, let’s go!” What would you do? Would you get up and follow, without knowing where he’s taking you? Would you try to get …
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Lukewarm Faith
Jesus once described people as “lukewarm” in their faith–neither hot nor cold. Addressing the residents of the ancient city of Laodicea, Jesus wrote, “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit …
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Pillar Faith
We have all seen images of columns and pillars from the ancient world. In many cases, these pillars remain upright without any support at all, long after ceilings, walls, and other structures have collapsed. The fact …
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Sleepy Church
Somnambulism, also known as sleepwalking, is the phenomenon when people are able to get up and walk around while in a state of sleep. But sleepwalking isn’t limited to walking around; people are sometimes able to do …
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The Best Policy
Psychologists have observed that children develop a capacity to lie usually around three years old. Initially, young children’s fibs are transparent and easy to discern, but as they get older, they get more …
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Work of the People
Sometimes in church we use the word “liturgy” in reference to our worship. It comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which literally means “work of the people.” Outside of religious settings, it refers to public service, …
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The First and the Last
Several times in the New Testament book of Revelation, Jesus refers to himself as the Alpha and Omega. We can find some additional variations too, like “the first and the last,” and “the beginning and the end.” Alpha and …
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Priority Mail
It’s interesting to notice how our relationship with mail has changed over the years: Some of the oldest among us have never sent or received an email. And many still write and send letters by hand on a regular basis, …
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