Finish Strong

by Sheila Presley Jones

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Gabriela ("Gaby") Andersen-Schiess ran in the women’s marathon in the 1984 Olympics. Twenty minutes after the winner, Joan Benoit, crossed the finish line, Gaby staggered into the stadium. The crowd gasped in horror and disbelief when they saw her. Something was evidently wrong—badly wrong.

Minds and Hearts

We talk often here about making a mind change and how that can make a big difference in our lives. But what is the relationship between a mind change and a heart change?

Certainly, the two are closely related. Sometimes to make one, you also have to make the other. Sometimes making one enables you to make the other. Sometimes they are almost indistinguishable.

Processing a Loss

This will be different. Today I find it hard to write. I want to affirm my faith in God the Father, my appreciation for the love of the Son, and my gratitude for the power of the Spirit,  and yet, I am nearly paralyzed by sadness. I want to say something meaningful. But I feel empty and numb. Perhaps you can allow me to try to figure some things out.

Creating Our Own Celebrity?

“In our world of social media, people create their own celebrity.” (Brandon Stanton, author of Humans of New York, in an interview on public radio).

“It’s not about you.” (the title of the sermon I heard on Sunday).