When I was in high school, my youth group went on an international mission trip to Peru. Forty youth plus chaperones set out from Cedar…
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…
J&MES: Faith & Action
This month in worship, we are going to be focusing on the book of James in the New Testament. It is all the way in…