...and a time to speak...

Christians, it's time. Time for the inevitable recognition and discussion about our own bad... very, very bad... behavior as of late. This is without a doubt not going to be the favorite post I've ever written. In fact, I've dreaded it. It's been on my mind for quite some time, but I have been avoiding it like the plague (or maybe the Covid??). But, I just keep thinking, if only Paul could see us now. What would he write to us in his letters? I fear it would be a reprimand of the highest order and the worst part would be that we would deserve every word. Christians everywhere, we should be choosing our own switches and bracing for that first swat against the backs of our legs. It's really gotten that bad out there. It has absolutely turned putrid and if we as believers do not do our part to stop it in it's tracks, this November might be our undoing. Read the following VERY carefully.  Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to l...

Obey. Say what? You got it, obey. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." John 3:19 I am not sure what is more offensive to culture's ears today than the idea of obedience to God. So offensive in fact that culture just went ahead and made itself a brand new replacement god. Culture's god is the god of feelings. The god of romantic love. The god of instant gratification and treat yo'self. The god of fluffy, happy, kittens all over my face giddiness. Most importantly, the god of "it's my life," "it's my body," and "it's my right." And just like all of the other man-made, lower-case "g", false idol god's of other religions, American culture's god is also an idol. He is a figment of culture's over-indulgent imagination. But why would they do this? Because the real, upper-case "G" God was too m...

For Abri "He must increase, but I must decrease." These were the words of John the Baptist in John 3:30 in response to his followers when they asked him about this new fellow, Jesus, who had recently burst onto the scene. Jesus and His followers were just over there baptizing people, the same way John had been, and a dispute broke out about purification. Instead of a long dissertation on theology, John simply states (among some other things) that he himself must decrease and Jesus Himself must increase. He just boils it right down. I am no longer important here, only Jesus is. My way of baptizing is coming to an end so that Jesus' way takes center stage. How impossible to say is that simple little statement in today's world? No, we aren't expecting another Messiah to enter the arena. We aren't anxiously awaiting yet another God-Man that has been promised to us through scores and scores of prophets over the last thousand years. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, already...

Pandemic 2020 prayer life has taken different directions for many people. Understandably, folks are scared, depressed or anxious at being cooped up for days on end with very little sunshine at times. Some are concerned about shortages of essential food and hygiene items. Others who have not previously had a call on their life to home school children are now being asked to do just that for weeks on end. For me, I really miss working outside the home. It is a part of my God-given personality. I need office-environment work. I am relishing this time with my kiddos to be sure, but having to use prolonged, school-related brain power is not in my wheel house and has me feeling unsettled. Long story short, we are ALL unsettled over some part of this new normal. We are getting through it with uplifting, and often hilarious, social media content and much prayer. Hopefully the latter before the former (cough... talking to myself). Also, Alexa. She is new to us and I can not be more thankful for...

The following is an open letter I recently wrote to the parents of students in the middle and high school department at my church. The opening paragraph explains the origin and purpose of the letter. Because I think this information pertains to ALL parents, I wanted to share it here as well. Parents, the spiritual climate within your own home is of paramount importance to the continuation of your child’s faith journey as an adult. I can not stress this enough. Please read on and share with parents you know who need these truths! Dear Parents, Hello! My name is Leslie Strange and I am one of the Student Ministry Life Group leaders who has the privilege of interacting with your student(s) on a weekly basis. I also recently came on staff at Judson as the Admin Assistant to Patton and Dan in the Student Ministry department as well. Patton, Presley and I met together recently to do some 2020 goal planning and one of the things that came out of our time together was this letter to you, h...

You can't out-educate holiness. You can't out-affirm Jesus. You can't out-woke God. That is just some straight up bad news for all the so-called academics out there. Progressive thinkers obsessed with reaching higher forms of thought are going to be so disappointed having wasted so much time trying to gain the world after loosing their own souls (Mark 8:36). Those quasi-spiritual influencers that consider  themselves  to be society's long-awaited for bridge builders are going to be dumbfounded when they learn that there is but one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Social justice warriors are going to be so shocked when they finally learn that their woke culture, in fact, is  not more compassionate than the Father of compassion, God Himself (2 Corinthians 1:3). And how do I honestly feel about all of this? Sad. So super sad. Mostly because the leaders who fit into the above referenced categories hold themselves out to be the saviors of...

Oh happy day... it's resolution time! Or to many, not so happy day, because it's time to go about the process of re-thinking priorities, setting health goals, initiating new family directions and just generally assessing life to this point. To some, it's their most favorite thing. To others, it's terrifying and daunting. I kinda fall somewhere in the middle. I try... try ... to make fairly healthy choices throughout the year so I am not overwhelmed with the weight (no pun intended) of a complete health overhaul come every January. Thankfully my husband and I communicate easily, so we sort of work on prioritizing and re-prioritizing all throughout the year as well. However, there is always something about January that feels a bit heavy to me. Maybe it's the inevitable after effects of coming down from all the holiday festivities. We place so much time and energy into planning and preparations to make Christmas special, as we should because it deserves as much, but i...