Strengthening Faith, Love, and Hope
Strengthening Faith, Love, and Hope
Sometimes in life, it is difficult to tell who is winning and who is losing. Consider Joseph’s stint in slavery, the three Hebrews’ stroll in a fiery furnace, and our Lord’s own trial and crucifixion. Each of these events shouted the defeat of God’s purposes, and yet each of these defeats was actually a doorway to an unprecedented victory. Sometimes defeated, anti-climax moments are actually…
When you and I consider the story of our lives, we probably do not self-identify as the villain. In thinking through our histories, most of us identify as the hero of our tale. And that’s good! We are indeed called to model the heroic attributes of sacrifice, courage, and overcoming love. And yet, every story also has a villain, doesn’t it? When you reflect on…
Jewish Rabbi and family therapist Edwin Friedman coined the term “non-anxious presence” to describe a person who carries and imparts a calm, peaceful, and empowering presence to others. These “non-anxious” people are able to bring a sense of peace and security amid moments of fear, panic, or controversy, and our world today, with its ever-increasing levels of stress and anxiety, desperately needs them. Jesus modeled…