Keep your head down, put in an honest day’s work, and life will largely turn out fair. Except that it doesn’t. It seems like others, who don’t approach life the way “they should” receive unfair advantages or 2nd/3rd/4th chances. Or worse, we are asked to pardon someone who has done something that we deem to be unforgivable. How does our faith intersecting with our behavior towards others demonstrate our belief in Christ?

At some point in our lives, we will find ourselves in the position where we have the opportunity to vouch for someone who doesn’t deserve it. Putting our name on someone’s second chance seems risky, but God has done that countless times with us. Do we have the ability to see the potential in others that God sees in us?

Sometimes our situation can seem so futile that we just want to run away from it forever. It seems like life is always greener on the other side of the fence. But what would you do if you jumped the fence, found out the grass was greener, but then were asked to go back to your side once again, where old friends waited for you?

A pitch black room. A dark alley. The first day at a new school. We fear these things because of the unknown. It has been said that what we do not understand we worship or fear. When this fear is aimed at people it is called "Xenophobia" fear of that which is foreign or strange. How wide to we draw our circle, and how would Jesus have us treat people outside of it?

No matter how much money we make or how much stuff we have it can seem like it’s never enough. But where does our anxiety about not having enough ultimately get us? Ultimately, Jesus tells us we should not worry, but is it that easy? How can we live a life with less fear about what we don't have?

It has been said that all that is certain is death and taxes. Although we know death to be inevitable and a regular part of life, many of us still fear its role in life. How does the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus change that? How do we live with assurance that not even death is the end?

A famous saying goes, "Father time is undefeated." How do we know what waits for us at the end of life? Is this all there is? Jesus promises us that we have hope, not because of what we have done but because of who he is.

This is a phrase people often quote using a capital THE. Jesus makes a strong declaration when he calls himself "the way, the truth, the life." But too often Christians "don't have near the amount of love we need to speak the truth we want to speak." It is crucial to remember we don't follow a list of rules, we follow the way of Jesus.

Sheep are definitely cute and provide some cozy warm wool, but they would rarely be described as smart animals. The thing about sheep is they need to be led. There are lots of competing voices vying for our attention, voices that beckon us to follow. Jesus showed us that his voice is the only one worthy to obey, and that we should follow his example.