The past is not what we leave behind so much as what we carry. How do we carry it well? We carry the past well when we carry it with gratitude, acceptance, and contrition – instead of nostalgia, denial, and shame.

Psalms takes us on a rollercoaster because that's what life is. But, Psalms ends with five psalms of joy and praise, because the rollercoaster of life ends on the highest note imaginable: hallelujah!

The gospel (when rightly heard and received) is a source of laughter. Because His promises exceed our expectations, we can't help but laugh when God comes through for us.

How can Paul write about having joy, despite his dire circumstances? And how do we find that kind of joy? Paul gives us insight into how to live joyfully in a broken world.

What happens at the end of Mark's gospel account? This Easter, we're examining why it ends the way it does and what we can learn about the resurrection story.

What happens at the end of Mark's gospel account? This Easter, we're examining why it ends the way it does and what we can learn about the resurrection story.

Jesus leaves Jerusalem after the palm procession, and we read about a rather odd account with a fig tree. This story leads us to ask, are we bearing any fruit? Or are we just leaves?

How do we enjoy life when it is so unmanageable and fleeting? By cherishing life's many provisional joys and remembering we are not entitled to permanence.

Although Solomon declares that much of life is vanity, he recognizes that it's better to live with wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon describes the difference between a life of wisdom and a life of folly.