I don’t have a smartphone. Never have. My lack of smartphone does not make me better than others. I know full-throttle phone addicts who are more present, patient and prayerful than me. Pope Francis apparently had 50 million Twitter followers. But, while my status does not confer moral superiority, it does give me a rare viewpoint.

God is a worker. The first thing God reveals about himself in Scripture is that he is a creator and a worker. God chooses to work, and the work of his hands is good. According to Genesis, we were made to be workers to reflect the image of the ultimate Worker.

Due to negative stigma, many Christians distance themselves from the title “fundamentalist,” and I cannot blame them given the current cultural perception. Yet are we right to so readily abandon this designation? While I may have distanced myself from adopting this title given the modern-day interpretation and definition, I am also wary of throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater.

“As a believer, and an image bearer of God,” Nita says, “my goal in my imaginings is that the life-giving nature, the truth and beauty of God would be made manifest in my work.” Nita’s imagination expresses itself through stained glass.

Jesus is God-with-us, but though that was physically true when he walked on earth, it can be hard to see now. Asham shows both how vital God-with-us is in our lives, but where we should expect to see him particularly.

In chapter 45 of her life, Jodie tells of learning new ways to serve her church. She talks about saying a new and scary “yes” to the Lord—and how rewarding her new roles were as she led and taught in youth ministry.

In 2022, Kathleen Grift went back to college to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. “I excelled,” Kathleen says, but “began tripping frequently and struggled to carry my backpack of textbooks. The diagnosis arrived at the end of the second semester. ALS! How could it be? I was 49 years old.”

♪ Writing about the appeal of progressive Christianity is a daunting task. Those labelled as progressive Christians have been seen as those on their way out of the Christian faith, those who don’t hold to the authority of Scripture, and the legitimacy of their faith is sometimes questioned by those within evangelical circles.

♪Christians agree that God promised land to Abraham’s descendants, but did God intend for that promise to extend forever? In a time of intense disagreement over Israel’s actions in response to Hamas, it’s helpful to consider our belief regarding the biblical case for and against Zionism.

♪In encounters with people with a disability, Jesus shows us:
1. That a person with a disability has autonomy and will—“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6).
2. That a person with a disability is not some angelic, sinless being, but like every human, is also in need of forgiveness—“Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).

♪Most of us know someone who is autistic, or you may be autistic yourself. Stephanie Fast, teacher and student, works to bring clarity to autism and presents ideas for making autistic people feel welcome in EMC congregations.

♪The sun ebbed, reflecting off the Sea of Galilee. Water lapped against the small fishing vessel, and the familiar cry of seagulls echoed overhead. A young rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, slept as his disciples conversed in low tones.

Then, in a moment, everything changed.