Author Archives: JRMITCH85

Many times in my life I have looked at how someone has done something and thought to myself, “I can do that myself.” I’ve read numerous manuals and YouTube videos, and some explain the task poorly, giving long, convoluted instructions that make everything look harder than it needs to be. Maybe the worst of theseContinue reading “The Persistent Pray-er”

Our society has significantly changed, and our neighborhoods are less connected. There are still a few instances where we look after our immediate neighbors, but there is much more of a tendency toward looking through the blinds at what is going on than actively connecting with one another. This likely stems from the fact that,Continue reading “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”

Getting started is often the hardest step in any endeavor. It doesn’t matter whether it is something lofty, like climbing a gigantic mountain, or something as mundane as putting away our laundry. The first step may seem insurmountable, but if we never take it, then we will never begin. In our churches, we often feelContinue reading “Get Ready To Work”

When someone carries a debt they can no longer manage, their options narrow. Ultimately, they may try to get out from under that debt by declaring bankruptcy or fleeing it entirely. However, many can never escape crushing debt and feel stuck. This is where we find ourselves when we are all summoned to the HolyContinue reading “Canceling Debt”

Our world thrives on the adage, “If you scratch my back, I will scratch yours.” This system of reciprocity has shaped our society for most of its existence. We deal with contracts, quid pro quo, engagement-rewarding algorithms, social networks built on mutual benefit, and relationships negotiated around equal emotional return. Our world moves as ifContinue reading “Love Is Not Always A Two-Way Street”

Our minds can easily conjure up people that we find absolutely deplorable, whether we think of those who are on the opposite side of us politically, or those who come from places with different customs from ours. Every once in a while, we can unite behind the idea that some people who have committed theContinue reading “Quit Complaining About Sinners”

Living in the desert makes you familiar with the tumbleweeds, succulents, and wildlife, and helps you understand that what something looks like on the outside may not accurately be predictive of what lies beneath. One who has spent any significant time in the desert or even on the hilly trails knows that what might lookContinue reading “Repentance: The Journey Begins”

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute toContinue reading “What It Means To Be A Community”

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; 11 put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, 12 for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against theContinue reading “The Defensive Gospel”