Sometimes, their questions impress me. Sometimes, their questions delight me. Sometimes, their questions are easily answered. Every once in a while, their questions challenge me—and that’s what happened last week. I never know quite what to expect on Sunday mornings when I teach a group of 4 to 11 year-olds about God through Bible stories. […]
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As part of my professional role as Director of Children and Family Ministry at my church, I have the privilege of leading chapel for our preschoolers. Every month, children as young as two gather on the lawn to hear a story about the Bible and learn about God. Preparing these brief talks is always a […]
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Roald Dahl is known for his whimsical and creative stories, but none seem to have captured our imagination like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It has inspired two major motion pictures, a musical on Broadway, and, most recently, a spinoff prequel called Wonka. There is something so appealing about an exclusive invitation—there are only five […]
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On Easter Sunday, we put on our fancy clothes and listened to special music, and with much fanfare, we celebrated that Jesus rose again. This year, as part of my job as Director of Children and Family Ministry, I took the stage to give a three-minute kids’ sermon. I used a pair of bright yellow-tinted […]
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I’m not saying that my decision to put on makeup earlier that morning caused the car accident on the I-5, but as I inched along in traffic, the two events grew more connected. I was on my way to a large speaking event at a church in Orange County. When they’d reached out a few […]
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It was the day after Thanksgiving, and we had just unboxed our tree. It sat bare in the living room while I went to the garage to fetch all the trimmings. My husband strung the lights and I set out the boxes of ornaments, marveling at all the colors and memories, but something felt off. […]
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Maybe you’ve seen it. Maybe you’ve seen it so many times, you have the scene memorized: Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrel, is beyond excited that Santa will be coming to the department store. But when Santa arrives and invites a boy onto his lap, Buddy senses that something is amiss. He gets right […]
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One of my favorite parts of this season is waking up before anyone else, and coming downstairs to be greeted by the glow of the Christmas tree. I sit across from it in my darkened living room and admire the halo of colored lights as I sip my coffee. The morning is new. The day […]
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I’d like to think that Jesus was an introvert, just like me. Never mind that he had twelve men always at his side, and that he dealt with crowds on a regular basis. An introvert is someone who draws energy from being alone, and there are a number of occasions when Jesus withdraws to a […]
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Sarah K. Butterfield 