Calming the Storm

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm…” (Mark 4:39)

In Oklahoma, we understand how unpredictable the weather can be, especially in the spring. We have weather apps on our phones and text alerts for when severe weather strikes. For those of us who grew up here, we know how quickly the day can turn from bright and sunny to dark and stormy.

In October 2001, I lived in a small town that was hit by a tornado. On my way home from work, the wind picked up, and it started raining. Storms occur at any time of the year here, but I didn’t think it could be a tornado because it was so late in the year. Continue reading “Calming the Storm” →

Developing Unity Among Believers

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8 ESV)

This year has brought challenges none of us ever imagined. I wrote recently about how the year started with promise but quickly devolved into a year of chaos. As I mentioned in that blog post, I don’t have any answers. At the same time, I will continue to seek answers for the problems I see around me.

I recently heard the term “virus fatigue,” and I think it encapsulates how many people feel about the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopes were high for the second half of the year to be “normal.” But with the COVID-19 numbers spiking, and in many cases higher than ever, fears surrounding the coronavirus still abound. Continue reading “Developing Unity Among Believers” →

Longing for Peace

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)

Peace is elusive. With the invention of the smartphone, we are constantly connected and bombarded by dings, rings, and chimes. Instead of finding activities to engage our minds, we pull out our phones when we’re bored and pass the time on mindless games or scrolling through social media. We have email on our phones, so even when we’re away from the office, we’re still available and always on call. “Downtime” isn’t a word that’s even in our vocabulary anymore. Continue reading “Longing for Peace” →