A little of the story of why I burned all my secular music as a teen, and how I have learned to tell that story now. Mostly, how I have learned to interpret this phase of my life in terms of some truth offered by Sam Shoemaker.

Music is as old as human civilization. Maybe older, depending on how you define civilization. Like God created us in God's own image, there is goodness, evidence of God, in music - not just religious music. Music itself is sacred.

Jim Van Rite is our guest preacher this week, and shares the story of 2 songs, "Why Me, Lord?" and "One Day at a Time," and how their intersection offers us all hope.

Joy not based in understanding. We sing Joy to the World - the hymn and the version we all know from 3 Dog Night - for the way we feel more than for the lyrics. 

God's love for us is not dependent on our understanding. A God we could wrap our minds around wouldn't be much of a God!

Sing for joy. Sing with joy! 

How does the song "Mr. Jones" help us follow Jesus?  Here's how.

Some of our most-loved songs are sings often sung at funerals. Why are music and singing important for helping us face death?

We open our "The Songs We Sing" summer series with a message about one of the most popular hymns ever written. Amazing Grace was written in 1772 by John Newton. At the time he was an Anglican Priest, but he had served for years on slave ships.  He didn't renounce the slave trade until 1788. What does that say about God's amazing grace?  Give a listen!

We conclude our "Rise" series on Pentecost, with a message about the Holy Spirit and God's power showing up in our lives.

You get what you incentivize. Listen to this account of John 11 - the story in which Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Hint: Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead isn't the most significant part of the story

Rahab lived inside the wall - IN the wall of the city of Jericho. This put her in a perfect place to maximize her availability to do what she did, and also to be available to help the spies Joshua sent. Like Rahab, we can learn to live nimbly so that whatever we find in our lives or around us can be part of our being available to God.