“It is more blessed to give than receive.” These are words that we hear often during the Christmas season. However, whenever I hear it, I usually have this little “cringy” sort of thing in the back of my neck. (No. “Cringy” isn’t a word, but it’s the perfect adjective for my feeling.) Here’s why I feel…
Category: Random Thoughts
Lowering the Bar
I was inspired by a friend (Denice Lambert) who posted this on facebook: J: What do you want these boys to wear? Me: They already dressed themselves. They sort of match and their clothes don’t have any holes or stains. J: So those are the standards now? Me: Yep. Lowering the bar might be the…
Shepherds Sermon Notes
Luke 2:8-20 says: 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Most scholars agree that the time of Jesus’ birth was probably not Dec 25th. In his commentary, Adam Clarke suggests a fall time frame due to the fact that the sheep were in…
A Perfect Act of Love
“If I ever do a perfect act of love, I’ll probably be proud of it, and then it won’t be a perfect act anymore. Maybe if I die in the midst of performing this act, I could do it.” – man on radio (wish I knew who he was) When I heard it, this idea…
Confess with Your Life
“Confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and you will be saved……” Romans 10:9 Christians have used this verse over the years to get people “saved.” Unfortunately, I feel like some have missed the point. It’s not just the confession with the mouth that saves. Words are not enough. There’s more to it than…
Effort > Success
He slapped at the water and flailed his way across the length of the pool. Kasen tried out for the Lake Jackson Swim Team back in May and didn’t make it. He just couldn’t breathe properly and struggled with swimming the required 25yd distance without a few dog paddles. It was the first time he didn’t…
Believe Now
“Believe now.” ~ Bryan McKenzie My pastor said this in a sermon a while back. He was referring to coming to Christ for the first time, but I heard it differently. It stuck. It’s been rolling around in my head for months now. If I could “believe now,” then I could make a Godly choice…
Food
Food. Sometimes, it’s just that. Food. Nothing special. Just our regular old lunch. On the other hand, food can be so much more. There are some meals we return to every time there’s something to celebrate. These dishes hold hands with memories. The people with whom we share our meals, also share our lives. It’s…
Community is Messy
In spite of her gifts as a communicator and writer, Heather Zempel is truly humble. She admits her mistakes and paints a picture of stumbling through the maze of small group ministry and leadership, but her passion and heart are also very clear. She loves people and isn’t afraid of a little mess – and…