Sometimes Christian contemporary music missed the mark. But let's appreciate how "Even If" by MercyMe  holds the tension of our will and God’s. How do you hold on to hope even when the outcome isn’t what you wanted? Matthew 26: 36-3936 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” 37 When he took Peter and Zeb...  Read More

This song, “If You Want Me To,” by Ginny Owens came out in 1999! Some of us were mere babes, some had already lived a lot of life. And now, 26 years later, the same is still true- we are all going through different things that often feel scary!What strikes me about this song, every time I listen (and often have a few tears), is the line “‘cause I’m not who I was when I took my first step, and I’m ...  Read More

When I listen to this song, I hear someone who is dealing with the burden that is their fears and worries and who feels others do not fully understand this burden. The words “if you could see it through my eyes, you'd understand my fear of everything in sight” demonstrate how lonely it can feel to be burdened with something others either do not or cannot fully appreciate. I imagine this is much li...  Read More

This song and this cover speaks to the fear of losing someone you love. I think maybe Jesus Christ as feeling this in the garden. It was a night of saying goodbye to friends—friends who laughed, cried, healed, shared meals and drank wine. Friends who journeyed together. Friends who would wind up at the foot of the cross. Matthew 26: 36-3936 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Geth...  Read More

The Funeral Procession by Ellis Wilson (1899-1977) was made popular when it appeared in the living room of The Cosby Show.What does community look like for you on your grief journeys? John 11: 17-3717 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was a little less than two miles from Jerusalem. 19 Many Jews had come to comfort Martha and Mary afte...  Read More

WelcomeI’ve got the joy joy joy joyDown in my heartWHERE?!?Down in my heartIf you weren’t already singing the Sunday School song about this week’s topic, well, you’re welcome. Joy, a seemingly simple emotion, can often be tricky to find and tough to hang onto. Religious types love to talk about how joy is more than just happiness. Joy carries a spiritual significance, and so, if we don’t have a to...  Read More