Today the Church remembers the great cost of Christ’s cross. We remember that Jesus adopted our life, in all of its brokenness, pain, and death, so that we might be adopted into the life of God in all its fullness and joy.Through Jesus we have a hope of redemption and restoration of all things. Yet, on this day we also remember that there are still many people who suffer at the hands of unjust systems and sinful people. There’s an... Read more

We’ve talked a lot in recent days about responding to God’s call. Holy Week is a great time to do that, but I know that sometimes I can experience spiritual burnout. It’s particularly dangerous in difficult times like these. There is so much that I could be doing that I feel like I need to do it all. One thing that helps me is the knowledge that God isn’t calling me to be impressive, only to be faithful. I am... Read more

When I was growing up, meal time was a central part of our family’s life together. It was the main time during each day when everyone was together. Preparing for the meal was also a whole-family affair. Older kids would help to prepare the meal itself, while the younger kids would set the table. Having these responsibilities helped me to feel connected to the meal and established me as a valued member of the family. The Gospel accounts of Holy... Read more

One of the earliest records we have of Christian life and worship is from a diary of a Christian woman named Egeria. Egeria lived in Rome, but she went on a journey and spent time in Jerusalem for the week leading up to Easter, called Holy Week. Reading through this account has forever changed how I look at Holy Week. Egeria didn’t just go to Jerusalem because it was historically interesting. Egeria made the journey so that her own life... Read more

Today is Palm Sunday, a day when we remember the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem. On this day, the crowds gathered around Jesus and praised his coming. Many believed he would start a revolution that would overthrow the Roman government and institute a new political reign that would restore Israel’s fortunes. This was not Jesus’ plan, however. He came to Jerusalem not to defeat the Roman rulers through the shedding of their blood, but to defeat sin and death itself... Read more

Have you ever felt resentful of technology? It’s strange to admit, given all the benefits of our digital communication, but technology can sometimes feel like a little child trying to get our attention. It tugs and pulls on us all day long. It can be exhausting. Emails, Facebook notifications, ads, updates, likes, texts, PMs, the list goes on and on. Sometimes I feel like I just need a break. As we prepare for Holy Week, I want to encourage you... Read more

The Lenten journey is all about putting ourselves on a path to Easter. The goal is to help us take a step back from our regular patterns and practices so that there is room for God to move us and change us. We want to become people who look like Jesus in every way that we are able. One key to making the most out of our practices is to take some time to map out the day ahead and... Read more

Today is April Fool’s Day. I’ve always found the April Fool’s traditions to be odd. People celebrate it by trying to make someone else look silly through trickery and pranks. I’m not opposed to a little light-hearted fun, but as we think about how we can connect today to our Lenten practice, I wanted to offer an alternative idea. Can you think of any way that your fear of looking foolish might be keeping you from doing what you know... Read more

The weight of the need in this world can feel suffocating. There are so many people suffering injustice and deprivation around the globe—people who have been overlooked or underserved—that I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the gravity of it all. With that feeling comes the temptation to disconnect. I feel like I can’t really make a difference, so why bother at all? A few years ago, I heard a pastor give some advice that has really stuck with me. He said,... Read more

If you are like me, by this point in your Lenten journey you’ve probably hit a few walls and stumbled on a few occasions. Though I always try to give up meat on Fridays, for example, I tend to forget about this Lenten discipline until I’m halfway through a ham sandwich. The temptation when we hit a bump or a wall in our Lenten practices is to feel discouraged. I know I can sometimes feel like I let God down.... Read more