There Is a Time to Eat BBQ… Turn! Turn! Turn!

March 14, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

The other day, someone near and dear to me and I were watching TV. There was a funeral on the screen, and a time-worn voice stoically recited Ecclesiastes 3 (E3), “There is a time for birth and a time to die…” across the room, I heard, “Ugh… I hate that passage at a funeral! It’s so cliché. Make sure they don’t do it at mine.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized they were right—not about the funeral part, but—about the passage being cliché and not really listening to its meaning anymore. Read more

“Get Outta My tribe!”

March 11, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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I blame tribalism. Tribalism is more than just being organized into a tribe. It’s a way of life and thought. You naturally hang with people who look like you, who act like you, who speak like you. You feel more comfortable with them, and there is a natural shorthand of thought. You know what your friends and neighbors are going to think, say, or do before they do it. It’s comfortable. It’s lazy. Read more

What Am I Worth?

March 7, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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We are constantly bombarded by the question on social media, TV, and radio, “What are you worth?” Girls have been comparing themselves to Barbi, the latest pop star or the most-watched influencer, for years. Boys compare themselves to their favorite athletes, movie stars, or ultimate fighters. Even older men and women aren’t exempt from the comparison game. “Am I as pretty, strong, desirable as_____?” (fill in the blank with a known name here). So, what are you really worth? Read more

All I Hear is, “Thou Shalt Not!”

March 3, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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I was in a discussion with someone a few weeks back who became frustrated with the conversation and blurted out, “All I ever hear is the ‘Thou shalt not’ parts of the Bible! It’s like God is just sitting back and waiting to smack us around!” I had to admit; it doesn't always look like God has a plan for us. But that’s where faith in God’s Will kicks in. Read more

My Dad Wasn’t a Boy Scout, but He was Prepared.

February 29, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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I was thinking a lot about my dad this week. Mom would give Dad a clean, crisp package of handkerchiefs for every Thanksgiving and Christmas. He would take a close look at them, smile, thank her, and then *shoop* into Dad’s pants pocket one of the handkerchiefs would go. I will never forget my dad's pants. More specifically, his pockets. It didn’t matter if he wore jeans, work pants, overhauls, or a suit…he had three bulging pockets. Read more

“Don’t You Test Me!”

February 25, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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The fact is we are tested every day, every hour, every minute of the day. The Bible calls it “temptation.” The Bible is a book chocked full of stories about testing/temptation. Some people like Abraham and Moses rose to the test, others like Jezebel and Herod failed miserably. So, what are the rules of the game? What’s to say if someone passes the test or not? Read more

Help others? Why should I?

February 22, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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The one conversation that seemed to be almost made of T-N-T was about helping those less fortunate. Inevitably, I’d get answers like, “Why should I? What have they ever done for me?” And “They need to stop being so lazy and get a job.” When I transferred the idea of helping the less fortunate from other countries, it became even more caustic. Comments like, “I ain’t helping those people. No way! They dug their own hole; now they need to be buried in it.” That was mixed in with the inflammatory commentary were always genuinely heartfelt statements of gratitude and hope from people who either had helped others in the past or had been helped and continue to help others to this day. Read more

Covenant, Schmovenant… Who Cares?

February 18, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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Covenant schmovenant… It’s just another way of saying contract, only more church-like isn’t it? Yes and no. Yes, a covenant is an agreement, like a contract, with two or more parties agreeing to a set of rules to abide by. But that’s pretty much where the two similarities end. Read more

“We’re All Going to Have a Cross to Carry…”

February 15, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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Last night, I had the honor of assisting the good and holy bishop of my area at the Confirmation of school children into the faith. After the event, he turned to me and asked, “How are you doing?” asking about some health issues I’d just faced. I thanked his Excellency for his prayers and assured him all was well again, that I’d received a clean bill of health just a few days before. He turned to me and said, “We’re all going to have a cross to carry. We just don’t get to choose what it will be.” Read more

Preparing Snacks in Secret

February 11, 2024 By Ben Bongers KM

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As we move into Lent, we have the opportunity to be “moved with pity” for those around us. To do so, we need to read the actions and not the words of others. So, what is the one thing you can do for someone that will make a change in their life? Or better put, what snacks can we secretly prepare for our neighbor? Read more