Reflections

Reflections are a chronicle of our personal journeys in relationship with God and others. These stories illustrate the breadth and depth of the Christian experience, and we offer them to you for encouragement and inspiration in your own journey.

Sadness Amidst the Cheer

Sometimes in the midst of all the joyful busyness and holiday traditions, we might stop and remember something that makes us sad.

When Your Shield is Turned Backward

When something happens that causes us to doubt or fear, Paul says to grab hold of our faith, our trust in God, and use it like a shield to defend against those darts that may wound us.

Don't Panic

Panic is a terrible feeling. It’s a sudden fear that makes us think or act irrationally. It engages our animalistic fight-or-flight response. We panic because we feel we are in immediate danger, and we must act quickly to protect ourselves.

Pray with Ceasing

When we acknowledge God’s presence and invite him into a situation, our life becomes prayer.

Tribalism: A Most Subtle Evil

The other day, I was in a professional development seminar where one of the exercises split the audience into two groups, each taking a side on an issue. I watched as the two groups almost immediately became competitive, splitting into “our side” versus “their side”.