“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 The thrill of opening the fat envelope from my fiancé quickly turned into salty hot tears as I read the first paragraph: “Dear Sherrie and Terri, They say white lies are terrible, but I need to tell you both about my black lie. Terri, I am engaged to marry Sherrie. Sherrie, I have been having an...

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”‭‭ Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬ Enemies is such a strong word. We are not at war. We do not take up weapons ready to defeat those who threaten our very existence. It may be easy to read Jesus’ words about enemies and gloss over them. We do, however, have people who cause something to boil within us. People...

“If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health." 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭13-14 (MSG‬‬) I have heard this story told again and again by my former students. The worst day...