We should not be surprised when we set out on a new path that all hell breaks loose! Many feel at home in a system of dysfunction and to try and set things right upsets the spiritual equilibrium of our lives. Get ready to rumble!

We all know the story of carrying burdens contrary to our best intentions. Like slaves, we kowtow under the weight of our loads. But then God sends us a person of promise. Hoping against hope, we begin to consider we may have a way out after all!

Some would consider a meditation on our death morbid. But Christians have long contemplated our mortality at the onset of Lent--a penitential season focused on working-out the salvation God has worked into us.

The late great planet earth is not just an apocalyptic tale spun by fundamentalist Christians. Science also has become preoccupied with predicting an imminent dystopian future/present. Whether it’s the book of Revelation, or the discovery channel, we know that the end is near!

The politics of fear has become the standard. Regardless of which party, candidate, or news source you lean toward, they all sound the same: the other side is going to be the worst case scenario. How does Jesus factor into the election cycle?

Even the most “out of it” texters know the acronym FOMO. Some people don’t just know FOMO, but live with it. Related to this is FOBO: Fear Of a Better Offer. Afraid of not living their best lives, we can miss many God-given gifts right in front of us!

Woody Allen famously said, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Are you afraid of dying? Are you afraid of flying? We approach both of these events with apprehension, but also with knowledge that mitigates our fears.

Fear can be healthy. God programmed fear into our nervous systems to give us survival instincts needed to keep ourselves safe and to prepare for goals. But fear can spike in ways adverse to God’s intent. How do we live our faith in the face of fearful circumstances?

You don’t lack commitment; you’re overcommitted! You have so many great options in front of you that the glut of choices has created a form of paralysis. As we approach the new year, we will begin to consider resolutions. We all want our lives to demonstrate more productive habits. So, it’s time to make a choice!

What is the birth of Jesus about? It’s about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord! The birth of Jesus is the prequel to the parousia--known only by God the Father Himself. Prepare the way of the Lord!