Blogs

Not Just My Parents’ Church Anymore

Written by Jason Hyde

The well-meaning counselor was convinced my family’s religious beliefs were not mine. As an eighth grader I had to explain what I, personally, believed. Along the grand race of life, we...

Longing for the Good Old Days?

Written by Susan Scott Smith

The Israelites heard God’s promises of rescue from Moses and said “Amen.” But when they saw Pharaoh, lacked water or meat, etc., they longingly remembered the “good old...

Shooting for the Stars: Why Am I Here?

Written by Melody Hess

Watching the last U.S. space shuttle launch focused my mind on our search for purpose in this vast universe. Has God put this yearning for meaning in our hearts? Last week I had the unexpected...

Overcoming Temptation: Finding a Way of Escape

Written by Mike Bennett

God wants us to escape from our temptations. But why do we too often miss seeing the way to escape that He provides? What’s our part in overcoming temptation? Christianity is a calling to...

Spies (and Giants) in the Land of Canaan

Written by Susan Scott Smith

Caleb and Joshua, part of the spy party sent into Canaan, did not bring back the same report as the others. Why? As we think about the people we know, we can generally separate them into two...

Reflections on “Gramma Camp” 2011

Written by Janel Johnson

Sometimes a solitary, long drive in the car provides time for reflecting on the simplest but most important things in life. Just a few hours ago as I drove north toward home on the interstate, my...

Think Beyond the Label

Written by Debbie Pennington

Most of the labels people use for each other can be demeaning, but they’re just in fun, right? If you think about it, it’s not always a laughing matter. “That’s so...

Are You One Step Away From Murder?

Written by Mary Henderson

Although they don’t know it, lots of people are only a step away from committing full-blown murder. Could you be closer than you think? If you were ordered to administer a lethal 450-volt...

I Wouldn’t Have Complained—Would I?

Written by Susan Scott Smith

The Bible highlights the Israelites’ complaining during the exodus from Egypt. What kind of Israelite would I have been? Prior to the Feast of Unleavened Bread our pastor asked us to...