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Psalm 86, Ecclesiastes 7:2–5, Matthew 5:3-10 The world is often full of pain. In fact, were you to watch the news, it would seem that pain far outweighs anything else in the world. One of the biggest reasons for this is our desire to avoid…

Psalm 49, 1 Chronicles 29:16–22, Acts 3:1–16 Wealth and prosperity have long been a source of strife, envy, pointless striving, overwork, and abandonment of others. In an achievement-driven culture, it became an even greater issue as an “achievement” of wealth is measured against those whose…

Joel 2:18–32, Acts 2:29–40,2 Peter 1:16–21 Joel is an interesting book in that there are no definitive elements to place. There are many events and practices that put it within a few centuries, but that the prophet does not define himself, nor does he seem…

John 20:19–23, Acts 1:4, Acts 2:1–36 The short vignette in the locked upper room after the Resurrection seems as if was a snippet of a memory that was lacking something. Yet, John felt it was important. As a precursor to Pentecost, Jesus’ statement/blessing about receiving…

Psalm 19, Matthew 12:46–50, Ephesians 2:1–10 Framily often rewrites the rules of family, friends, and culture. We seem to have an understanding of what family ought to be, but in the midst of our mixed-up world, we don’t know how to live it out, and…