Sharing Sunday: the dying side of living

The cross. Our pastor reminded us Sunday of the cross carried by Christ. We are told to carry our crosses. Then He [Jesus] said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) The cross. A splintered beam of…

Sharing Sunday: faux hawks & flat bills united in service

As our pastor continues to lead us through the book of John, my eyes are opened to a newness of Christ and living for Him. And as Caleb sketches BK’s sermons, I am seeing the Word through the eyes of a child. As well as having my self-nurtured skepticism and prejudices exposed. In the seventeenth chapter of…

Sharing Sunday: A funeral sermon for the living

Life has definitely interrupted my normalcy and kept me from sharing with you all regularly.  I’d apologize except that I’m not sorry for the paths God is having me travel.  (In fact, Camden and I leave in less than a week for a mission to Guatemala!) Before we leave, I want to urge you to…

Sharing Sunday: By faith, Cristal…

Forgive me for my week-long absence.  Unexpected life events do certainly draw our attention away from the normal at times.  And what a blessing.  Yesterday, Nick Elizondo shared  a message with our congregation.  In a word.  Faith. Nick asked a question which hung gently in the air before landing heavily on each heart. What actions…

The juicy, yet weighty, part of being delivered

Just before heading out the door for an evening church service, Caleb opens the pantry looking for a quick snack.  Mom!  Why do you have these here? I presume he’s questioning the location of my dumbbells.  Firmly planted in the pantry at eye level.  I’m going to let you in on a little weakness of…

Sharing Sunday: What kind of tree are you? (hint: check out your fruit)

Our Pastor shared the Truth with us yesterday, as taught by Jesus and recorded in the twelfth chapter of John. I assure you: Unless a grain of  wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. The one who loves his life will lose it,…

Mammon and the evil eye…mwahahaha

Last week, my pastor posted on his blog a reminder to protect our eyes.  The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in…

Mater (as in Tow Mater) convinced me to take off my church mask

When Caleb and I recently traveled to his basketball tournament, he was watching Cars 2 in the backseat for part of our seven hour drive. {We don’t typically watch movies in the car because I have found riding time to be valuable in facilitating deep discussions.  Seriously.  I also rarely talk on the phone in…

Sharing Sunday: Out to pasture

From the tenth chapter of the Book of John, our Pastor escorted us into an understanding of Jesus as our Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd. I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.  (John 10:14-15)…

Sharing Sunday: It’s Easter. So, what’s with the grave clothes you’re wearing?

A day of celebration.  Remembrance of the sacrifice.  The reason for the good news.  The Lamb of God is risen. No longer on the cross. And no longer in the grave. Our pastor recalled the story of Lazarus from the eleventh chapter of John. The compassion of Christ is clear. Jesus wept.  (John 11:35) A petition…