Justice

Justice is something we all want. In fact, justice is a God-given desire innate in everyone. Yet, how many of us are willing to do the difficult work of looking inward and asking ourselves how we’re embodying justice in our own lives? While it’s easy for us to point fingers and blame others for what’s wrong with the world, what is God calling His people to do in times of turmoil, division, and injustice?

Restart: Bonds of Peace

Do you have any addictions? I have an addictive personality so I have to be careful what I consume. But lately, I’m trying to have a different approach towards addiction. Perhaps addictions are just another form of bonding; all human beings have an innate need to bond with others. I would also argue that all human beings have an innate need to bond with God. If human beings cannot bond with God or others in healthy ways, they’ll bond to something else like drugs, alcohol, pornography, or gambling. As journalist and researcher Johann Hari explained in his widely viewed TED talk, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection.”

Restart: Feeling Stuck

Have you ever felt stuck in your life? Perhaps you’ve felt stuck vocationally, relationally, or financially.
But have you ever wondered if you’ve ever felt stuck spiritually? Since 2020, it seems like most people are spiritually stuck but are either clueless as to how to overcome or they’re utterly oblivious to their own spiritual state. We will explore this important, relevant and rarely examined phenomenon of feeling spiritually stuck.

Restart: In the Wilderness

A common misconception that many people have regarding faith is that all of our questions will get answered, all of our doubts will be erased, and all of our struggles will be disappear. In fact, often times our faith calls us into asking more questions, causes us to have more doubts, and makes us endure greater struggles. So why would anyone in their right mind become a person of faith? It’s because spiritual growth and peace is found in the questions, doubts, and struggles. Staying in the valleys of life will ensure one thing: we stay exactly the same. It’s precisely when we traverse the mountainsides and enter into the wilderness where genuine spiritual wholeness is found.
Faith invites us to enter into the wilderness.


Restart: After Resurrection

Have you ever wondered what happened after Jesus’ resurrection? As we learned last week, Jesus’ resurrection was first experienced by a handful of people. Over time, more of Jesus’ followers witnessed Jesus’ return from the grave, but His resurrection was never meant to be for the crowds of spectators like some of His miracles, His entrance into Jerusalem, or even His death on the cross. Yet after His resurrection, Jesus hung around for 40 more days before He ascended in heaven. But why? Well, it’s because Jesus’ resurrection was only the beginning, not the end. It was a restart.

Hope of Easter

The definition of hope can differ from person to person. When people speak about hope in a spiritual sense, it might mean believing good things will happen with faith in God. For others, it might mean always looking on the bright side and seeing challenges as opportunities. In other words, always “hoping for the best.” Merriam-Webster’s definition makes “hope” seem close to “wish.” “To cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true.”

In general, hope is the belief that life will get better. Now, that could mean that your circumstances may not change; maybe you’ll change to be able to better handle life’s difficulties. Perhaps God will send people your way who will help carry your burdens. Maybe God will give you a spiritual fulfillment that will outweigh the hardships.

I don’t know about you, but my life is still really difficult. One thing is certain, it is impossible to experience any joy without hope. This is what Easter is all about: hope.