Near the Beginning… (NaBloPoMo)
This morning, let’s go back… to nearly the beginning of the story… and do some genealogy. Pastor Todd and I are going to start us…
Kenotic Words
Awaiting the Already: The Promise of a New Dawn
Have you ever sat and watched the sunrise? The hints of purple… turning pink… and then neon orange as the sun peeks over the horizon….
Thankful Giving
In our gospel reading this morning, we meet Zacchaeus, that “wee-little man”, who was really a terrible, awful person. As Carol Howard Merritt describes him:…
Saving and Investing
I stand up here today exhausted, and yet filled with joy and satisfaction. The past two days, I have been at Ankeny First with a…
Daily Bread
My friends and family play this game called “Would You Rather…” It sets up silly and sometimes serious scenarios and you have to decide which…
J&MES: Blessing & Cursing
Our tongues are muscles – and the strongest muscle in our body at that. In fact – a man once lifted a 24 lb. 3oz…
J&MES: Mercy & Judgment
I love to play games. Board games, video games, card games… One of my favorite ways to spend time with family is to grab a…
J&MES: Preparation & Opportunity
We talk about preparation all the time. Am I prepared for retirement? Are we ready for school to start? Are the teams ready for the…