Is Loving Myself a Prerequisite to Loving Others? By Beth Demme I know I am supposed to love my neighbors. After all, it’s in red in the Bible! So why is it hard with certain people? Maybe it’s hard to love some people because I don’t really believe God loves me. When Jesus was asked which commandment was “the Greatest,” he boiled the law …
Is Technology Messing With My Theology?
Are Google, Siri, and Alexa Making Answers Too Easy? By Beth Demme I’m smart, but I don’t know everything. Think about the smartest person you know. Guess what? They don’t know everything either. This is one of those plain and obvious truths that still needs to be said. More and more these days I find I need to say it …
Why Being a Peacemaker Means Praying for Donald Trump
By Beth Demme I’ve often heard it said that polite people avoid discussing religion and politics. If that’s true, I’m afraid today’s blog post is very impolite. It is about both religion and politics. #sorrynotsorry Jesus says in the Beatitudes, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) One Bible commentary says that “peacemaker” …
Why I Love The Fall of Humanity
By Beth Demme If you’ve spent any time reading the Bible, you’ve probably noticed there are a lot of ups and downs throughout its sixty-six books. In its ups and downs, the Bible mirrors life. Literally, this mirrors life. A normal heart rhythm is composed of ups and downs, peaks and valleys. Something like this: We’ve probably all seen, either …
Why I Like to Make Fun of Christians
By Beth Demme I recently had this conversation with a friend: “I’m not on Twitter. I don’t even know what I would use it for,” my friend said. “Oooooh!” I jumped in excitedly. “I use it, mainly, to make fun of Christians.” “But, aren’t you a Christian?” she asked. “Yes! And there is soooooooo much to work with!” I replied. …
When the Bible Changes
By Beth Demme Over time, some Bible verses seem to take on new meaning for me. Maybe you’ve experienced this, too? I can read a verse and think it means one thing, but when I read it again later it has an additional meaning. Or, a verse that didn’t seem meaningful to me suddenly offers a profound insight into my …
Why We Try To Sell God
By Beth Demme God is not a product or commodity, but I have to admit I have, at times, treated him like one. A commodity is something people want that is available in limited supply. I do not believe God is limited, but I am guilty of sometimes acting like my way of being in a relationship with God is …
God Loves Us When We Act Unlovable
By Beth Demme One of the major lessons of the Bible is this: God loves us even when we act unlovable. A great example of a Biblical character who fails to live loved is a man named Gideon. When we meet Gideon (in Judges 6), he is feeling a little hopeless. The angel says (and I’m paraphrasing here), “nice day …
Make Fear Disappear One Click At A Time
How I’m Making Fear Disappear One Click At A Time By Beth Demme I recently remarked to a friend that I am coming up on my 2-year blog-a-versary. “Wow, that’s great. What have you learned so far?” she asked. It was an innocent, but paralyzing question. I tried to play it off with a silly answer, “I’ve learned that blog …
Three Words For When God Feels Absent
Three Words For When God Feels Absent: Psalms, Palms, and Perspective By Beth Demme Sometimes it feels like God is as real, and as close, as my breath. Other times, it feels like God is absent. It’s easy to have faith when I feel God’s presence, but what do I do the rest of the time? I have found three …