in Uncategorized
A Meaningful Life
I’ve often wondered what it’s like to play a sport professionally–that is, to have a job doing something that everyone else does for leisure, like playing golf. Or maybe something like being a park ranger,...
Elyse M. Nielsen
in Uncategorized
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a pretty big day of the year, commercially speaking. We’re told that more telephone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. And it’s supposedly the busiest...
in Uncategorized
People and Places
I have to confess: when I was younger, I occupied myself through numerous church services by looking at the maps in the back of the Bible. Let’s face it: sometimes the maps are more interesting...
in Uncategorized
Family History
You might be familiar with a few stories from the Old Testament: Noah and the ark, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, etc. But these are stories about people living in distant lands...
in Uncategorized
Were You There?
There’s a familiar old spiritual hymn that asks, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” (Click here for a version recorded by Johnny Cash and the Carter Family.) The truth–and the good news–is that...
in Uncategorized
Forgiveness and Healing
One of the unfortunate realities of life is that we find ourselves getting wounded often by others. Some of us have been hurt very deeply by things that others have done to us. Other wounds...
in Uncategorized
Sin Much?
When was the last time you sinned? If you were asked that question in person, I’m guessing that you would probably laugh at the absurdity. But if pressed for a real answer, you’d probably say...
in Uncategorized
Family of God
Sometimes people lament the deterioration of families in today’s culture. To be sure, families seem to experience brokenness and unrest frequently these days. But families aren’t disappearing; instead, families often look more different now than...
in Uncategorized
The Wind of God
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity: Along with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is a distinct person but still thoroughly God. It’s a mystery that Christians have...
in Uncategorized
Mirror Image
Sometimes you hear people make statements about Jesus that are actually expressions of their own views. “Jesus wouldn’t say something like that.” “Do you really think Jesus would vote for that candidate?” “Doesn’t Jesus care...