We have a sign in our house that says, ‘His law is LOVE’. I don’t know where the idea for the sign originated, but it purposefully hangs by our kitchen table. Over the years, our kids have asked about it, and we have shared that Jesus tells us the greatest command is to love God, and the second is like it, to love our neighbor. We usually talk about the importance of being loving and kind and even helpful when we can, but as they have gotten a little older, we’ve been able to talk more directly about love.

Doing something scary is a little less intimidating when watching someone else do it first. Growing up, my family often visited Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ. There is a tall cliff at the park that (brave) visitors jump off into the raging river below. As a kid, I was terrified of leaping. It was only after I had watched my dad and brothers dive in (and make it out alive) for several years in a row that I felt ready to jump. They assured me that though the freefall was terrifying, it would be oh-so rewarding in the end.

Our verse today is one that leans towards the more-well-known parts of Scripture, and one that people enjoy reading since it is an incredible promise that Christ followers are given. The confession of our sins leads to our forgiveness from those sins.

It amazes me how inserting a simple word into a sentence can drastically alter its impact. Oh, how we wish the author, the Apostle Paul, crafted an out clause regarding our anger. If we were the writer of this passage, we'd change it completely. Our version would read something like this:

We do not need to pray or ask for opportunities to demonstrate love because they are always around us or in front of us. Rather, we just need to be willing to see them and step into them. May we be a people who demonstrate love more than we say it, and by doing so, give people a glimpse of a Savior who made the ultimate demonstration of love for us.

More often than not, we use this scripture to discourage foul language or, more specifically, saying certain four-letter words. But what if its intent goes much deeper?…

My youngest daughter loves the ocean. It's like something in her soul is drawn to the water. I remember the first time my wife and I took her to Wrightsville Beach when she was a toddler. As soon as her eyes locked on the waves, she ran towards them with reckless abandon. There was no fear, apprehension, or hesitation…

Our response to life's circumstances pushes us off course. We travel down unintended trails through slight missteps, justifications, or ignoring the warning signs of our hearts altogether. We get enticed by particular views, and our feet wander off the path that leads to humility and integrity. When we look up and assess our surroundings, we wonder how we got into this predicament.

Do you ever wish you were better at hosting, better at sitting with people when they are sad, maybe better at loving on kids, or meeting a middle school student where they are?

Carrying our own burdens can be so wearisome. Sharing those burdens with others feels like it may make things worse. This is because vulnerability implies risk. Nevertheless, we have this innate craving for intimate connection with others. This past Sunday, Pastor Mike said, “Human beings are made for connection, but we have settled for acceptance.”

It is true that God calls us to live others-centered lives. He calls us to lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13) and count others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). But this doesn’t mean that God wants us to shame ourselves, neglect ourselves, or perpetually beat ourselves up internally. It doesn’t mean that God wants us to tolerate self-abuse or abuse from others. A sense of self-worth has a place in the Christian life.

For me, shopping is a mission. I want to be in and out in 10 minutes or less. For my wife and two girls, shopping is a day-long quest that involves numerous stores and at least one Starbucks break. So, on those unfortunate occasions when I tag along (or get dragged) to go shopping with them, I have one goal in mind: finding a comfy chair.

What was I born to do? Many of us may have wrestled with this question. All the possibilities can bring a heavy dose of stress and pressure. But as we go through life, we learn which pursuits we should consider and which ones we should cross off the list.

Over the years, our parents, family members, teachers, and coaches shared with us words of wisdom about life. Sometimes the advice came out of left field and didn’t make much sense. For example, how could one’s eyes be bigger than their stomach? Would our faces really get stuck that way if we didn’t stop with that smirk?

Our words can help as well as hurt. Unfortunately, there are times when we're producing the burn, and for that, we must confess to God and seek forgiveness, if possible, from those we have hurt. Counting our words teaches us to be conscious of them and their power to bless or curse those around us. \

I waved goodbye to my parents, ready to embark on my college experience. Before I could turn around, I watched in horror as their car came to a screeching halt. My mom hopped out and began heading toward me. "C'mon, mom...time to cut the cord," I muttered. Even though she wanted one last hug, that wasn't the main reason for her returning. She needed to tell me how a washer and dryer worked.