I preached for the first time on Thursday, September 22, at The Well, a campus ministry on the campus at Ashland University. The subject of the sermon was on two parts of The Well’s mission statement: to “Encounter the Transformative Power of the Lord” and to “Experience the Joy of Incarnational Community.” Here is whatContinue reading “Experiencing the Transformative Power of the Lord and the Joy of Incarnational Community“
Category Archives: Jesus
Sifted As Wheat
Sometime around 2005, the “everything happens for a reason,” feel-good faith of my college years shattered. I had had two miscarriages and health complications that accompanied those losses, and to tell you the truth, God did not feel real close, or real good, or real loving. In fact, I didn’t feel anything for God exceptContinue reading “Sifted As Wheat”
Enter Through the Narrow Gate
“Enter through the narrow gate,” Jesus told his disciples. I’ve been thinking about this narrow gate for a long time, bewildered that God would make a small entrance into his kingdom on purpose to keep people out. Jesus says the only way to the Father is through the Son, that the Son is the Way,Continue reading “Enter Through the Narrow Gate”
How to Read the Old Testament without Wanting to Throw Something, or Drink, or Give Up Your Religion
The Old Testament of the Bible is hard. If you’ve taken any modern science classes, married for love instead of property, or heard about Jesus’s call to love your enemy, you probably struggle a little bit with the God of the Old Testament. The God of the Old Testament seems finicky, impatient, and intolerant. TheContinue reading “How to Read the Old Testament without Wanting to Throw Something, or Drink, or Give Up Your Religion”
Advent Day 1: God With Us
Today begins the first of a series of advent posts that consider the coming of Emmanuel, God with us, and what that means to those of us who came over 2,000 years after the Son of God was born in Bethlehem. In one of my favorite Hollywood prayers, Ricky Bobby begins his family meal, “DearContinue reading “Advent Day 1: God With Us”
Held
We spent the evening with friends of ours discussing the aches and opportunities of the church we’re attending, and while our kids ran around their living room and up the stairs, and I scratched the ears of one of their pups, I said the thing I keep saying about this church community: I laugh everyContinue reading “Held”
Advent Day 17: Sharing the ‘Good News’
If you’ve been alive for at least 18 years, it’s likely that you’ve heard once or twice or more the Good News of the Gospel about Jesus, Son of God, come to take away your sins. You’ve probably heard or been led through or been offered the sinner’s prayer to ask Jesus into your heart soContinue reading “Advent Day 17: Sharing the ‘Good News’”
Crazy Jesus Parables and Dead Pigs
Lately I’ve taken to listening to the audio Bible on YouVersion’s Bible app in the mornings as I exercise or as I’m getting ready for work. I have been out of spiritual practice, so since I’m exercising regularly, I figure coupling my physical exercise with some kind of spiritual exercise is a wise move. I’mContinue reading “Crazy Jesus Parables and Dead Pigs”
The Elliptical and Tonight’s Work of Writing
It’s one of those writing nights where I spend about a minute or two typing out clever sentences and then hold down the backspace bar until the page is white again. It’s also the night of a thousand saves as I open and close new and old drafts of poems and essays. And the nightContinue reading “The Elliptical and Tonight’s Work of Writing”
Getting My Martha On
Like most nights when my husband is working, a good hour needs to be dedicated to demolition clean-up after the kids go to bed. Between whatever the dog destroyed during the day (diapers, stuffed animals, Legos, etc.), the food left over on the table, chairs, countertop, and walls, toys that migrated all on their ownContinue reading “Getting My Martha On”
Sarah Marie Wells 