Christian life is hard. It often seems as though we expect life to be a smooth highway without bumps or curves. However, the truth is that life is filled with loss, failure, illness, difficult decisions, and heartache. At times, our life on earth can become so hard that even putting one foot in front of…

We use the word bless or blessed all the time. Blessed is a wonderful word. We say “bless you” when someone sneezes, wishing them healing and health. On other occasions, we say “bless you” when ending a conversation or gathering. People generally understand blessedness as wishing for good fortune or receiving exceptional comfort. The question…

Jesus calls Peter and his fellow fishermen to cast their nets into the deep water. This call comes after a night of unsuccessful fishing. The night had been terrible; despite their hard work, they caught nothing. As they were finishing their fruitless and tiring labor, preparing to go home, Jesus instructed them to cast their…