4th Day Letters

As we move into the second week of Advent, many of us find that the season can feel familiar, almost routine. But nothing about the birth of Christ is routine. As our family prepares to welcome a new granddaughter in April, we are reminded that waiting, especially...

In Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up sings proudly, “I’ll never grow up — not me!” Perhaps we have sung that same tune in our faith? This week’s message invites us to leave behind childish ways and grow into the mature, joyful disciples Christ calls us to become....

When the candlelight dances on the Thanksgiving table and the scent of autumn spices fills the air, our hearts are drawn to gratitude. We think of family, friends, and the many blessings that fill our lives. Beyond the meal and the laughter lies something even...

Imagine being trapped in a collapsed mine, dark, airless, and alone. The longer you remain, the harder it is to breathe. At first, you may try to convince yourself you are safe enough. The ground seems stable, and perhaps you believe you can dig your own way out. But...

In the old days of big department stores, most of us wouldn’t have thought twice about skipping a few floors to shop only for what we want. But as we all know, our faith isn't meant to work the same way? Are there entire “floors” of the Christian journey we’ve been...

Imagine going to a play. The stage is set with simplicity. There are no elaborate props—just three characters. The first is the lover. The second is the one who is loved. And the third? Well, the third is an intriguing character too. Find out how this three character...

Have you ever gone searching for peak color in the fall? My wife and I do it every year. We drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, hoping to catch the mountains at their brightest. This year, as I watched the colors change with every mile, I realized something: maybe we’re all...

Do you ever feel your thoughts leaping from one worry to the next, like a restless monkey? Most of us have experienced periods when our mind is agitated, unsettled and wandering. I recently heard that in the Buddhist philosophy they call this “monkey mind.” This...

Imagine this: You’re in a grocery store parking lot and overhear two friends talking about someone they both know—someone who has made a serious mistake. One friend shakes his head and says, “It’s not my place to judge.” The other replies, “Well, if we don’t say...

There are moments when the name of an old friend suddenly comes to mind. We shrug it off, promise ourselves we’ll call later—and then life moves on. But what if that moment was not an accident? What if it was the Holy Spirit gently nudging us to pick up the phone?...