While studying the topic of spiritual gifts this week, I stumbled upon a curious path and thought I would share my findings. Probably, when you think of spiritual gifts, accounting is not the first one that jumps to mind. I promise you that no one gets into ministry because they have a burning passion for budgets and spreadsheets. Still, as I said in a lecture to some college ministry students a few years ago at Oklahoma Christian University, "You can’t do any more ministry t

I recently watched the new Fantastic Four movie with my family. Compared to some of the recent Marvel movies, this one was good, and I enjoyed it. Beyond the cinematic entertainment, the film also carries a fascinating moral dilemma worth exploring. I think I can say without spoilers that the movie’s premise revolves around one ethical decision: would you sacrifice your baby son to save the earth? The plot is reminiscent of the old philosophical riddle about having five adult

Advent, the season of expectation and preparation, turns our hearts toward the marvelous truth that Jesus came so that our joy may be complete. John 15:11 summarizes this profound promise when Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” This isn’t a wishful thought; it’s the very purpose of his coming. More Than a Feeling The joy Jesus speaks of is not the fleeting happiness of a holiday morning

Since we are in the middle of Advent 2025, now is a great time to reflect on some of the biblical passages that we sing in our Advent hymns. The two hymns that I will focus on in this article are primarily about prophecies in the Old Testament that foretell Jesus’ coming. Part of the inspiration for this post comes from the Nine Lessons and Carols service, originally held in Truro, England, in 1890 and later established by King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918. These services us

Life can hit us hard. When it rains, it pours. The struggles we face in our modern 21st century are eerily similar to those experienced by people who lived centuries ago. Suffering is a common thread among humanity… and Jesus is the cure—not to remove our suffering—but to give us peace through that suffering. Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts

It’s always ironic to me that after Thanksgiving—a holiday to pause, reflect, and give thanks—Black Friday follows immediately after. It’s a day of deals, frenzy, and the push to buy more and more. Buying things isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s striking how quickly the world tries to steer our hearts from gratitude toward discontentment, comparison, and a scarcity mindset.   But Jesus teaches us an upside-down way of living.  He taught lessons like: "the first shall be last,"

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 ( Isaiah 9:6). As we enter the first week of Advent, we remember the hope we have in Jesus. For centuries, the Israelites heard prophecies of a coming Messiah—one who would deliver them. Hope Then The Old Testament is filled with a deep sense of expectancy and waiting. Through slavery in Egypt

What are you grateful for? Gratitude is more than just a list of words on paper. It is what keeps us grounded and connected to God in the midst of noise, chaos, busyness, and division. Instead of telling ourselves that we don’t have enough or will never measure up, gratitude keeps us centered on what matters—it keeps us centered on the God who loves us, who created us, and who breathed life into each and every one of us. As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, gratit