Blog
English Class and the Gospel
I was saved after my 9th grade English class. Truth be told, it was quite a bit later. However, looking back now, there were glimpses of the Gospel even back in Mrs. Taylor’s freshman English Class. This class is where I first heard about indicatives and...
Jubilee Reach Service Day
Before having children and staying home with them, I was an elementary school teacher in the Bellevue School District. In my classroom of 26 kids I had over 10 languages spoken, and in my school, 82 percent of the children were on free or reduced lunch. This meant...
The Songs we Sing
Every Sunday, Redeemer Church gathers together, and as a part of our service, we sing songs of worship. That is not all we do, but it is an important element of our worship service every Sunday. Have you ever wondered, “where do these songs come from?” or “why did we...
Romans 1-4: A Foreign Righteousness
Our church has been studying the book of Romans for the past eleven weeks. We have finished “part one” of the book, and will now be taking a break for the next two Sundays to cover the events of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. These events are some of the most...
Chronic Pain and the Gospel
Definition of Chronic Pain: An ever-present experience of distressing and sometimes debilitating physical pain that invades one’s body and severely impacts every single aspect of that person’s life (my definition). When I was asked to write about chronic pain for our...
Discipline and Punishment: Know the Difference
How would you explain the difference between punishment and discipline? You have likely heard attempts to clarify the differences between the two, but if you’re like me, you may still find it slightly difficult to clearly grasp the difference. Executing punishment and...
Finding Rest in the Messiah
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28 I love an unexpected snow day. There is just something about the quiet and beauty in a fresh dusting of snow that invites us to rest. Have you thought about rest, wanting rest,...
Willful Seasonal Amnesia
It happens every year—football season begins, the weather starts to cool, and Thanksgiving comes and goes; then enters the sentimentalism and nostalgia of the Christmas season. By the middle of November I see "baby Jesus" everywhere—on cards, in stores, on the...
Unanswered Prayer?
How are we to handle the unanswered prayers of our prayers for our children, our spouses, our intimate friends, and even for ourselves? Has God failed to hear us (Isa. 1:15)? Has He heard us and said “No.” (Deut. 28:15, 68)? Has He delayed His response (Jn. 11:6)?...
Who Needs Theology?
Recently, I was studying at my favorite coffee shop, when a man glanced over and noticed the stack of theology books occupying my table. He said, “what are you reading?” I handed him two of the systematic theology books I was reading, and he said “isn’t it amazing...