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Holy Week Reading
Travel with Jesus along the "Via Dolorosa," which means "Way of Suffering," as you remember His route to the cross during Holy Week. I've combined the Easter accounts from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into one continuous reading. Reminiscent of the stations of the cross honored by many Christian traditions, the readings are separated into the major events of Holy Week:Maundy Thursday The Last Supper Garden of Gethsemane Betrayal of Judas Accusation by the Jews Denial of Peter and Abandonment by All the Disciples Good Friday Judgment before...
How to Handle an Unholy Mess
Have you ever found yourself swept away by your emotions, letting them dictate your actions and thoughts? One morning, I had a breakthrough that might resonate with you—not during a quiet devotional but in the middle of a workout. I had a conflict weighing on my mind, and instead of stewing over it, I went for a brisk winter walk to sort through the mess of feelings. With each step, I mentally replayed the situation, allowing myself to feel frustration, hurt, and even anger.This beautiful painting, "Winter Watercolor", is by my talented...
Neighborhood Cafe Webinar
Do you want to love your neighbor but are unsure where to start? Does your heart ache for the homes around you, yet it seems impossible to connect with the people inside? Well, here’s your plan: host a Neighborhood Cafe! Here’s how the Neighborhood Cafe works: Invite your neighbors to an Open House Invite them back to Bible study Sound daunting? Don’t worry. If you have 1,000,000 questions between Step 1 and Step 2, I’ve already faced 999,999 of them - and we’ll tackle the last one together. I’ve done this countless times in my own...
Mending Fences
Scared but smiling, I knocked on Lisa’s door and invited her over for coffee—along with 89 other neighbors. We had never met before, but I was finally caving in to a crazy idea to start a neighborhood Bible study. The fact that I didn’t know many of my neighbors didn’t seem to bother God, but it had caused me months of angst! Our roles were reversed on the day of my Open House as Lisa knocked on my door—coffee mug in one hand and a Bible in the other. I called it the Neighborhood Café, and Lisa and I became friends as neighbors, friends, and...
Twas the Night Before Christmas
I wrote this poem one year when we donated gifts to a local charity instead of giving presents to our friends and their children. Adapted from the classic "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, feel free to use it if you adopt the idea yourself! ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The stockings were bulging, their toes showing wear,Full near to bursting, weight too great to bear. The children were nestled all snug in their beds,With piles of toys threatening...
