The pastors of our church have been preaching a series through Hebrews 11 during Advent. It has been very encouraging to us in this season of our lives. There are times when we just can’t see around the corner. We can’t seem to figure out how it’s all going to work out, or how we will pay the bills, or when we will be doing the kind of ministry we know God has prepared for us. But God’s word (in Hebrews 11) gives us the reason and the courage to hold fast.

When you think of Christmas do you think of missions? Matthew’s gospel causes us to think of the mission-heart of God when we read the Christmas story. And when we adopt a missional mindset for our lives we are imitating God in his redemptive work to save the lost by sending Jesus. That’s what Christmas is all about!

What hinders believers from being truly joyful? I think about this a lot at this time of year. I think it is because we are so often reminded of the very good reason we should be joyful.

Life has been difficult these past several years. Where do we find hope?

I have had the great privilege and honor to officiate the weddings of all five of our children. When the first one got married, we were struck with wonder at how we were rapidly entering into a new and exciting season of welcoming daughters-in-law and a son-in-law into our family. With the wedding of our last child it feels a little different. With all the kids moving on, where do we find fullness in this new season?

We heard the distress call of a sailboat on the marine radio around 3:30 AM. The voice of a woman in a British accent repeated the words over and over: "we are being attacked by orcas!" The Spanish Coast Guard replied and gave instructions to switch to a different channel. We don’t know what happened to them after that.

I had the privilege to help crew on one leg of a voyage delivering SV Dolphin 3 to Greece from the Netherlands. For me it was a chance of a lifetime.

We have the great privilege of training churches and their leaders around the Mediterranean basin in how to read and proclaim God’s word with God’s heart. One of the tools we use is called: “Asking Good Questions.” Asking good questions of the text leads us down the path of discovering the author’s intent.

When a sailor plans a trip, the first step in charting the course is to plot a line from the present position to the desired destination. In the old days a line was drawn with a pencil on a paper chart from point A to point B. Today navigation apps plot a line across a zoomable digital chart. Either way, it is the sailor’s goal to pilot the boat along that course, not veering away to one side or the other. It is the same when navigating the Word of God.

I used to identify closely with George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life - maybe a little too closely! Because of his growing resentment for being stuck in Bedford Falls, George becomes blind to the great blessings he has in his beautiful loving wife, his precious four children, and all the dedicated friends he has impacted in the community over the years due to his benevolent heart.

According to Jesus, getting married is not simply a couple people falling in love and making a life-long commitment. It is that, to be sure, but it is so much more. Jesus says “…what God has joined together, let not man separate.” if you are married, it is God who has brought you together. it is first God who has joined you as one. It’s not just your own decision. And it is God who gives you the strength to stay together - to hold fast to each other.