by Barry | Faith Formation, Holidays & Special Events
Stop for a second and think about all the things you can associate between God and the word “new.” Seriously, make a quick list before reading further, either in your mind, on a sheet of paper, or in an e-doc. I’ll wait. It’s one of those lists that once you think of...
by Barry | Faith Formation, Holidays & Special Events, Life Issues
The heavenly hosts made a bold statement that silent night of Jesus’ birth: Luke 2:14 (ESV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” I’ve been parked for the past few weeks on the phrase “and on earth peace among those...
by Barry | Holidays & Special Events
Many years ago I became intrigued with a particular Pharisee named Nicodemus. I was doing a slow-grind study through the gospel of John, both for personal reasons and in prep for an InWord study series. When I hit John 3:16 it dawned on me that there was a moment when...
by Barry | Holidays & Special Events
Growing up in a Wesleyan movement, I was not raised in a culture of practicing the Lenten season. The thought was this: “One should constantly be living in a state of sacrifice and there should not be anything extra to sacrifice during a season.” I respect that, but...
by Barry | Holidays & Special Events
I was exploring in Job last week and came across an oft-forgotten (at least by me, anyway) moment in Job’s life that provides a pre-calamity window into his persona and faith. Curiously, it also provides a teachable moment as we think about Valentine’s Day. Job 1:4-5...
by Barry | Holidays & Special Events
Waiting. As ingrained as it is in the gospel message, I’m surprised waiting didn’t make the cut for a Matthew 5 beatitude. It would have had a nice, beatitude-esque cadence. You can hear it easily: Blessed are those who wait. Think about it: Israel had to wait on the...
