There is a new word in my vocabulary, “Catastrophizing.” I picked it up when I told a friend that my back felt weird, and I might have cancer because I looked the symptom up on WebMD. He said, “You’re catastrophizing again.” He’s right; I was. The back problem disappeared after a few days, and I finally had a name for that pesky little thought process that sneaks into the back of my mind when little things begin to crop up. How quickly I can get stuck in worry! If we have no faith, we can find plenty of things about which to worry: retirement, riots, laser surgery, MTV, warts, Democrats, Republicans, tax reform, school lunches, artery health, guns, grandchildren, tennis elbow, depression, computer viruses, hair loss, terrorism, ransomware, and eczema. If your heart rate increased after reading this laundry list, maybe you need a little faith. Confident faith is a worry-killer.” Confident faith is a worry-killer. It quiets our minds at midnight as He sings us to sleep. The lyrics are directed through the ages. They are in words we can grasp. It’s not rocket science. He whispers to our souls, “Fear not.” If you stop long enough, you can hear His voice: “Fear not. Fear not. Fear not.”

Since the pandemic, we have sharpened a peculiar set of skills all under the umbrella of watching. In fact, many research studies have concluded that Americans spend more time in media (TV, streaming services, social media, messaging, and gaming) than they sleep. Binge watching has become a national pastime. I have to admit that I’m disappointed when I watch a series that makes me wait a whole week to find out if the guy in the series will discover that his wife is a Russian spy. Most believers don’t set aside time to pray each day. Only 31% of believers claim that they set aside time for prayer.” Yet, binge praying never really caught on. If it did, some amazing things would happen. Most believers don’t set aside time to pray each day. Only 31% of believers claim that they set aside time for prayer. What’s wrong with this picture? Throughout the Gospels, we read that Jesus spent large blocks of his time praying. If the Son of God needed prayer that much, we too must pray in faith.

What makes great fiction? I think we’d all agree that having last-minute rescues and unexpected twists make for a great page-turner. We love to read stories of flawed heroes who swoop in to save the day and vanquish the enemy. Something in our soul longs for those stories, but the thing about the Gospel is this: it’s a true story of the perfect Hero that goes even further than fiction. We read stories where the last-minute passes, however, there are no last minutes with Jesus.” We read stories where the last-minute passes, however, there are no last minutes with Jesus. His timing is perfect even when it seems like He steps in too late. These are the stories that bolster our faith during difficult seasons. It gives us hope even in the darkest nights that the story isn’t over. Jesus isn’t done with the story, including yours. In fact, He’s just warming up the victory band! This week’s story provides a perfect example of expectant faith. All we see is a final period; Jesus transforms it into a semi-colon.

Frank David Bennett was no more than 5’5” tall and well into his 70’s when I came to Louisiana College as a theater major. It was his last year of teaching and my first year on campus. I had received the only theater scholarship in the department, and I was also working in the theater set shop. He was a small man, but with one stroke of the pen, he could have ended my scholarship and my job in the theater. I could have been relegated to working in the cafeteria, which would have been the worst-case scenario for me as an 18-year-old freshman. His authority was paramount that year as a freshman. He knew it and I knew it. The strongest police officer can’t literally stop a car, but with the one hand, he or she can command the brakes of law-abiding citizens. Why? Because we yield to authority. Jesus seemed like an unusual authority figure to many people he encountered, but surprisingly, a centurion recognized his authority and received a great reward.” That’s the thing about authority. The strongest police officer can’t literally stop a car, but with the one hand, he or she can command the brakes of law-abiding citizens. Why? Because we yield to authority. Jesus seemed like an unusual authority figure to many people he encountered, but surprisingly, a centurion recognized his authority and received a great reward.

There’s constant debate about when life begins. Does it begin at the time when the egg and sperm meet, before the child is born, or after the child is born? As Christians, we know that life is a precious gift from God. There’s something significant about the period of time when no one can tell that a woman is pregnant. Only God knows this tiny little human He has breathed life into even exists. When that mom goes in for her first doctor’s appointment, it’s all about the heartbeat. Hearing a baby’s heartbeat for the first time is one of the most significant moments in the life of an expectant mom. God’s desire is that every life would be treasured.” God’s desire is that every life would be treasured, even those who can’t speak for themselves. Believers should stand up against the brokenness in our world. Psalm 10 gives us direction on how we should respond to this significant call on our lives.

I have a confession to make. I don’t like surprises. I deeply appreciate when things are predictable, and decisions are easy. But, of course, life is full of surprises and important, life-changing forks in the road. God requires us to take a leap every now and then. In 2012, I was enjoying the comfort of a great church family, close friends, and a consistent, generous salary. Nevertheless, that was the year where I had to make a tough decision. Both of my parents, who lived 500 miles away, were going through the valley of dementia, and miraculously, I was offered a job opportunity that would allow me to move five miles away from my parents, but it came at a cost. I would only make about half my current salary. However, the prompting of the Holy Spirit could not be ignored. I faced the two roads that Robert Frost wrote about, and I felt the pull of God to take the road less traveled.” I faced the two roads that Robert Frost wrote about, and I felt the pull of God to take the road less traveled. I needed life-changing faith. We all face these decisions, don’t we? God calls us into unchartered territory, which sometimes requires a deep faith rather than the faith that longs for comfort and consistency.

As we prepare to enter another presidential election cycle, many people are likely thinking about safety and security concerns. Our nation grapples with how to keep its citizens safe in the face of many security threats. Cable news broadcasts feature debates about rising crime levels, addressing tensions between police departments and the communities they have sworn to protect, and the best ways to ensure national security. Added to the mix are presidential candidates, some of whom offer potential solutions, while others stoke fear among the population and seek to assign blame to those deemed insignificant or undesirable. While we should look for ways to ensure safety for ourselves and others, we must place our trust in God. He alone is the source of our protection and safety.” Some members of society choose to opt out of the partisan chaos entirely, becoming apathetic toward the political process. Through this, the question of where we can find safety remains. Those of us who are believers recognize that our ultimate hope and security lie not in our political institutions but reside in God alone. Whether chaos rages in society or in our individual lives, the Lord provides a constant, reassuring presence for us. While we should look for ways to ensure safety for ourselves and others, we must place our trust in God. He alone is the source of our protection and safety.

The song “Take Me To the Water” is often sung during baptism services at churches. This African American spiritual contains several stanzas highlighting new believers’ affirmations of faith as they begin their lives as part of the Christian community. Members of the community often recall their own baptisms and reaffirm their commitment to follow Christ. One stanza of the song declares that “none but the righteous shall see God.” Who are the righteous? What does it mean to be righteous? As new Christians identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by being immersed in and raised out of the water, they are signaling that something has changed inside of them. As new Christians identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by being immersed in and raised out of the water, they are signaling that something has changed inside of them.” The act of baptism itself does not cause the change, however. More than one preacher has said that without an internal change, a person can go in the water a dry sinner and come up a wet one! Thankfully, God does not wait for us to become righteous on our own, because we cannot. Instead, God, who alone is righteous, makes us righteous by grace. When we believe, the Lord begins the transformation in us that will be completed when we see Him.

As wonderful and cherished as our traditions are, they are far outweighed by the true meaning of this holiday. Most of us have heard (and said) that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” As traditions, styles, and customs change, one thing remains the same. The very old story of the birth or our Lord has been handed down through the centuries and has never gotten stale or out of date. Jesus’ reason for coming to earth, as had been foretold, was the salvation of humanity. This will always be a reason for celebration. Jesus is the reason for the season.”

”Love, a word that comes and goes, but few people really know what it means to really love somebody.” These are words in Kirk Franklin’s aptly titled song, “Love.” The concept of love is often discussed, but is just as often misunderstood. Think about what you have heard people say they love, or what you have said yourself. We may love a favorite television show or movie, a special recipe, or a particular season of the year. We may also say that we love a certain person or group of people. Many times love is described in terms of a feeling of affection based on what a person or thing gives us, be it comfort or pleasure. The Greek term for love, “agape”, is other-centered love and moves beyond thoughts and feelings to act in others’ best interests.” While these views of love are important, the highest form of love, and the manner God expresses towards us is noted in its activity on behalf of others. This manner is referenced by the Greek term agape. This love is other-centered love and moves beyond thoughts and feelings to act in others’ best interests. It is likely this type of love that makes Kirk Franklin go on to say “I love you and you show me, Jesus, what it really means to love.”