"Here I raise my ebenezer..." We sing this in the old hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." But what does it mean? An ebenezer is sort of a makeshift memorial. Sojourners in biblical times would find a rock, lift it over their heads to God, and then half bury it in the ground along a path. It was used both as a symbol of faith and a plea for mercy. Perhaps a sojourner had escaped a dangerous storm along the journey an...

A friend of mine is walking a long, dark journey right now, one that reminds me of my own trauma a few years ago. I have been praying continually for her, but I haven't known what to say. Anything that came to mind felt trite and unworthy of her suffering. But I remembered that when I walked a similar road, the silence of friends was deafening. It can be so hard to know what to say, but not saying anything is not the right...

This is the word of the LORD, just in case you had any doubt about what God wants for you right now. Jesus did not speak about protecting our rights or conserving our comfort. Instead he expressed very clear commands to serve and champion those whom society does not serve or champion. THIS is what love looks like in the eyes of Jesus. So if you call yourselves a Christ follower, go and do THIS. Leave the judgment to Him, b...