trust

a fist-sized rock

“What do you need from the next three months?” We talked about this question last week. Answers include I need to find out what my life is going to be. I need to find out whether God loves me. I need to build some direction. I need to resolve some complications. And I need structure. […]

by Paul Merrill

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday) A lesson I’ve been learning again is how to trust. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Paul’s request for us to not worry in Philippians 4:6-7. He gives a great alternative – pray. When we worry, we bring the problems into our own court and […]

by Jon Swanson

letting him into the boat

The disciples spent a lot of time on the water. Several of them fished professionally. There were sudden storms and bad fishing days but that was part of the job. It was annoying, but it was life. Until Jesus. With Jesus around, with their decision to follow him, to be part of his entourage, they […]

by Jon Swanson

sometimes faith means walking away

Jesus told a man that his son would be healed. The man took Jesus at his word and headed home. Perhaps the man was good at taking direction because he worked for the king. That was certainly true for another healing situation. A centurion (military commander of 100 soldiers) wanted a servant healed. Jesus offered […]

by Jon Swanson

someday you will understand

Much happens in our lives that we don’t understand right away. We have conversations, we watch things happen, we see things in the moment. We think we understand. A person is cranky. We think they are mad at us. Or that they just have issues. A person moves slowly. We think they are lazy. Or […]