The House You're Building

[14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. [16] For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. [17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14–18 I grew up in the 80’s.  In a decade of teased hair, acid washed jeans, and synth heavy music.  One of the best parts of pop culture in this decade was the movies.  Classics like Goonies, ET, and Top Gun all made their appearance, but one of my favorites was the Indiana Jones series. ...

[1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  Hebrews 1:1-4 One of my favorite people is a coworker.   I’ve been so lucky in my professional life to have to have people I can share life with.   They say adults usually make a lot of friends at work because adult friendships are more about proximity and it can take 200 hours spent together to make a consider someone a fried, so it makes a lot of sense that you will “go there” with coworkers as you often spend more time w...

I’m in a whole new phase of life, the empty nester.  Many have debated this term, if it’s the right way to describe what happens when your a parent who no longer have children at home.  I have learned that though the kids aren’t living with you, they need you just as much.  What’s really going on is they are learning to fly, they take off and flap there wings, but in reaching out for advice and money, there presence is still really felt.  In the teen years, they were doing their developmental work of creating their own identity.  As a parent this seems to rip out your heart as you see them experiment with things that you didn’t “raise” them to become.  And, you start to see that this transformation begins when they stop listening to you.  It’s an odd, and deeply rewarding feeling, that even when they don’t live at home, that they still call for advice.  The father away they physically are, the more independent they have to be, the more they real...

[12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:12–16  (ESV) Human reality is in constant flux.  No state in our present experience is ever permanent.  In the good times, this is a negative characteristic.  Contrastingly, in hard times it is often a benefit to realize that your current circumstances aren’t always going to stay the same.  This has led to a saying “this too shall pass.”   This truism does not come from Scripture, though the...

  Straining Toward the Goal [12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:12–16 ESV) As I reflect on the year, as many of us are prone to do at the changing of the calendar, I was thinking of what 2024 was about for me—the new things that entered in and the things it was time to let go of.  One of my favorite new things was hiking.  Though I’ve always hiked, a group of adventurous ladies who I’ve been doing life with for many years, focused on do...