Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV) For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And… Read more »
If you are like any normal human being, regret is topic you may be quite familiar with. If you do not consider yourself normal, read this blog anyway. Have you ever said to yourself or others, “No regrets?” Several months ago, Ryan asked the crowd at Awakening an ice-breaker question: “Share one thing in your… Read more »
First Sunday of Advent: Prophesy, Longing, and Hope
If Advent is a season characterized by waiting, for what and for whom are we waiting? Whose arrival are we anticipating? What is it that we wish for and yearn for? What is our hope pinned on? The first Sunday of Advent focuses us on prophesies of God’s coming kingdom as well as our hope… Read more »
Women are relational beings. We were created to be emotional, loving and compassionate. We were made with a desire to be in community and to have relationships with those around us. With this desire to have relationships and be amongst people, comes the desire for acceptance and love. This broken world has caused women, like… Read more »
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always… Read more »
Advent is a season of the Christian liturgical year, which means that there are specific scripture readings and themes taught on each of the four Sundays of Advent (mostly in the more liturgical Christian traditions, i.e.: Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and others who use the Common Lectionary, a collection of scripture readings appointed… Read more »
Did any of you grow up with “Advent calendars”—you know, where every day you open a pop-out door to get a nugget of candy—to count down the days until Christmas? Our Advent calendars were definitely one of my favorite parts of the holiday season when I was growing up. As a kid, I was just… Read more »
From age 4 to at least 7 if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say “a princess”. I was going to marry a prince, live in a castle, and no one could convince me otherwise. I have grown up since then, but the idea of happily-ever-after and… Read more »
I have been thinking about this metaphor of “taking out the trash” from the Barbie and Ken series. If you missed part two of the series, it is a pretty simple idea. Ryan dispelled the myth that when you get married your significant other will suddenly change for the better. Instead he contended that “Preparation… Read more »
Being Doers for the Fate of the Human Race
It is easy to go to church, hear a sermon, be deeply moved by it and then go back to life as normal, quickly forgetting what you heard. It is easy to hear truth and really believe in it, but harder and more vital to act upon it. But the more teaching we get, the… Read more »
Acts 12:20-24 (ESV – italics added) Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal… Read more »
Genesis 1:27 (ESV) “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” I have read Genesis before and enjoyed it. Yet the verses that were discussed this past week at Awakening really hit me hard and opened my eyes to something that… Read more »