CONSISTENT WITH OUR DESIGN Not only do we potentially represent and bring praise to God when we serve, but we live according to our Maker’s design. The various gifts and roles that God has given through the Spirit are “to prepare God’s people for works of service…” (Eph. 4:12) The idea that we were designed […]
Author: Christine Deken
LOGIC In Romans 12:1 Paul urges us “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual service of worship.” The word ‘spiritual’ is translated from the Greek word, logikos, and can be understood as logical or reasonable. ‘Bodies’ encompasses the complete person. God’s mercy, […]
The remnant dust from the dry Mexican ground on my sandals reminded me of the heat, hard work, and intense schedule of my week-long mission trip. Typically, such discomforts trigger the question, “Why am I doing this?” But in Monterrey, Mexico, God’s majesty in the surrounding mountains and the faces of the orphans provided the […]
I overheard someone say with great disdain, “They’ll let anyone be parents!” I remember thinking it is strange no tests or licensing or training are required before someone can be entrusted with another human. Later, as I brought my first child home from the hospital I also fearfully wondered, ‘Who in the universe was thinking […]
What happens after death? Many people at one time or another contemplate this question. Discussions regarding this subject reveal a pattern such as in the following conversation.[1] While sitting around a fire with adult neighbors in a driveway after the kids had canvassed the neighborhood for trick or treat, Ryan asks, “Who are you guys voting […]
“Can you believe it is 2013? Did that event happen two years ago? No, Five? Hasn’t this week gone fast?” If you’ve muttered these questions to yourself or others, you have experienced the acceleration of time. Eons ago, as a sophomore in high school, I noticed this phenomenon. When I commented to my older brother-in-law […]