When my children were little one of them discovered what appeared to be a get-out-of-jail-free card for saying something offensive: just say the words “No offense”! “Mom, this food is yucky—no offense!” “Dad, your breath stinks—no offense!” After one particularly offensive declaration my wife asked said child what, exactly, does this child think “no offense”…

A couple weeks ago I said in my sermon, “Sometimes the best we can do is simply endure.” Life can be difficult and painful. There are times in which the pain we encounter overwhelms us and all that seems to be in our grasp is endurance. We grin and bear it. This quality is often…

We all want to live easier lives, don’t we? Lives free of pain and suffering, free of struggle and hardship, free of fear and worry, free of conflict altogether. I think if you and I were completely honest, we’d say this is what we want for this life. These are the things we tend to…

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the prophet Haggai. In two brief chapters he records God’s words to the leaders of Judah and to the people of Judah, and I often find his words comforting. Haggai offers very precise dates for his oracles. The book begins with a word from the Lord…

As of today we are halfway through the month of December. Many people love December in Michigan, and what other place can compare? Whether it’s waking up to a beautiful layer of clean, pristine snow or it’s enjoying an incredible day of sunshine, Michigan in December can be gorgeous. But it’s usually not. It is…