Basic Truths | Finding God in Everyday Life

  As I write this, they are forecasting a winter storm to hit here later this week. People are making preparations as they remember the storm we had 5 years ago which crippled the area. Many people were without power or running water for days.   Recalling the storm got me thinking about the different meanings of “power”. On the one hand, it represents the force that allows something to function, e.g. electrical power. It can also mean control over someone or something. The original Greek translations of the New Testament have several different words that can be translated as power: Dunamis (Mark 9:1) is the ability to do something while exousia (Matthew 28:18) refers to having authority. Kratos (Ephesians 1:19) and energeia (Colossians 1:29) are sometimes translated as power, the former meaning the power given to someone because of their position and the latter the energy to accomplish a task.   We speak of God as being omnipotent, or all-powerful. All the def...

  I noticed a tiny tomato plant in our vegetable garden just before the first frost in November. I decided to bring it inside for the winter, putting it in the spare bedroom where it could get morning sun. I haven’t been pruning it (my bad) so it has now grown to the ceiling without producing any fruit yet. In contrast, our ancient pepper plant that we were ready to toss out was accidentally pruned two weeks ago (don’t ask) and has since developed multiple blooms, one of which is already forming a pepper.   I took these horticultural events as God’s way of telling me why I need to be pruned from time to time. It’s easy to get into a comfortable pattern where you are busy with your various activities, feeling like you’re growing and being productive, not realizing that there is more to be done.     Pruning isn’t a sign that you’re doing anything wrong, nor is it a punishment. Jesus tells us, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every...

  I was channel surfing the other night when I came across a cheesy sci-fi movie from the 1950’s that I remember watching as a kid. The premise was that the world was about to be destroyed and a small group was leaving on a rocket to a new home on another planet. One of the characters was a wealthy man who funded the rocket because he didn’t want to die and wanted to reserve a place for himself.   Since truth is invariably stranger than fiction, I’m not surprised when I read about all the billionaires who have had doomsday bunkers built and of Elon Musk’s efforts to colonize Mars. There is a whole industry that caters to people who are preparing for one catastrophe or another.     Christians are called to exercise good stewardship by being prepared. Our preparation should be motivated by our love and care for others and our desire to serve, not just for our own benefit.   There are several levels of preparation. On a practical level, we should be pre...

  New Year’s Day has come and gone. The 2025 calendar, with all of its doctor’s appointments, workdays, and other events, has been tossed into the recycling bin and a new 2026 calendar has been installed in the kitchen. We also have a perpetual calendar that we keep in the kitchen that lists birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events. It just rolls over to January.   Our calendars remind me about what is truly important in life. All of the things we did and the things that happened to us last year, both good and not-so-good, have passed. Our relationships with people we care for will endure. One of my goals for 2026 is to invest more of my time and energy into what endures and less into what is ephemeral.   Jesus tells us, “ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not...