1 Corinthians 9:24-27 When I think about the activity of running, I instantly think of the word torture. Nothing against anyone who runs, but I don’t know how you do it! The amount of training that goes into running 5k or even 3k is intense. The pain your body goes through as you train your feet and your endurance. However, I find it fascinating that Paul uses the example of running in 1 Corinthia...  Read More

Philippians 3:15-16 My husband is the biggest goofball I know! From the moment I met him, I couldn’t stop laughing. When it’s just us two, there is a comfortable side of him that’s much different than his professional self. I joke around that he’s still a kid, just a big kid. When it’s time to be serious though, Brandon can get the job done. As a volunteer in the children's ministry at Emmanuel, h...  Read More

Philippians 3:13-14 Do you ever look back at your life with regret? Perhaps you have something in your life that you wish you had done differently. I know that I have many things in my life that I wish I had done differently. I am sure that we can all think of some things that we wish that we hadn't done. Some of that list probably comes from before we even knew Jesus.   Here in chapter 3, Paul gi...  Read More

Philippians 3:12As I grew up, I became an avid fan of hockey, and in particular, the Detroit Red Wings. I still remember my dad coming into my bedroom when I was a kid and asking me if I had ever heard of the Red Wings' new draft pick. His name was Steve Yzerman. Of course, Yzerman would become one of the greatest players in NHL history in the next two decades.For many years, the Red Wings would p...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:     “Sit back and relax, you’ve done enough” is a cultural slogan that doesn’t fit Christianity! Neither is, “you could never be used by God because of your past!” Those two thought processes are in contrast to the challenge the Apostle Paul gave to the Philippians. Remember, Paul wanted the church to follow his passionate example. He was a man who had experienced it all! ...  Read More

Psalm 139:1-10 If you’ve ever spent any time with a toddler or a young child, then you’ve probably experienced a multitude of “whys”. A recent conversation with one of my grandchildren went something like this;  Them: “Can we go to the park today?”Me: “No, not today.”Them: “Why?”Me: "Because it’s raining.”Them: “Why?”Me: “Because God sent rain to water the flowers.”Them: “Why?”Me: “Because the flo...  Read More