What a scene

Matthew 21:12–13 (ESV) ~ And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” What a scene. The whole thing seemed to have been one giant, jumbled mess. People shrieking and diving out of…

Riding on a donkey

John 12:12–19 (ESV) ~ The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting…

All that’s “wrong” with the world (Happy Birthday Emily)

I say I don’t believe in soulmates. I know that makes me cynical and I know the most Hallmarkian amongst you have already moved on to something else. But for those of you who’ve stayed, let me state my case. I believe that true love is hard work. I believe it takes sacrifice and selflessness. I believe it is most exemplified in the littlest choices that we make each and every day to put someone else before ourself. I believe…

My baby…

Baby. 5 years ago today, you became my baby. If I’m being honest every time I call you that, and I hear you say the words “I’m not a baby, daddy” it breaks my heart just a little bit. Because the truth is you’re anything but A baby now, aren’t you? You’re a big girl, a little woman, a little PERSON with a BIG personality. One so big I’m not sure the world will ever be able to contain you.…

Jesus 2020

I don’t do yard signs. It’s not because I don’t like drawing the attention of others, or because I’m against flair - rather, I’m all about it. All you’d have to do to know I’m serious, is to see me playing a sport or riding my bicycle. I’m the one wearing the gaudiest thing you’ve ever seen. No, the reason I don’t do yard signs is because I’m perhaps the least political person you’ve ever met, and I have found…

14 and counting…

I was 18 then. The entire world around me was changing. Graduation loomed only a few months away and the prospect of college loomed in the not too distant future. I didn’t know who I was or who I wanted to be. I just knew I didn’t want to do it alone.  Enter the most unique and incredible person I have ever known. From the moment I laid eyes on her I knew she was different. Some people call it…

I just want to show you love.

I just want to show you love.  Today you turn 8 years old. Old enough to be a real big boy, but not quite old enough to be a man. There is so much I want to teach you, so much I want to help you understand, so many things I wish I could explain, and all the things from which to keep you safe. They are growing by the day, and sometimes the task seems overwhelming and impossible -…

And then He said her name

She was weeping. Crying. Confused. Her mind raced and her side ached. This was the second time she had come to the tomb this morning - albeit fast this time. Peter and John were up ahead. She hadn’t been able to keep up - so she had stopped in the garden to catch her breath, and instead of doing that she began to cry.  There were SO many questions. Who would do this? What did they want with Him? Why…

It feels like drowning

It feels like drowning. The regret, and the shame. The idea that he had looked Him in the face and promised Him that he wasn’t going anywhere - and then when the rubber hit the road, he literally chickened out. His thoughts raced and overwhelmed him as he remembered every painstaking detail;  Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a…

He can still hear them…

He could still hear them. The noises. They were unlike anything he had ever experienced before.  The laughs. They had mocked Him. “Come down from there. Save yourself. Save us! Aren’t you the King of Jews?” Slanderous and hate filled. Their voices bellowed and their stomachs jostled. Didn’t they know who He was? Didn’t they understand what they were doing? What a mistake they were making? Couldn’t they see He hadn’t done anything wrong? Why would they mock Him like…