by jakeowensby | Jan 27, 2023 | Beatitude, Humble, Lent, Matthew 5:1-12, Poor in Spirit
We all want to be happy. And yet, if you dedicate your life to pursuing happiness, you’ll never be happy. This may seem like a contradiction to you. But prophets and theologians, philosophers and priests have been saying it for ages. Recently I heard a story that...
by jakeowensby | Jan 19, 2023 | Lenten Study, Matthew 4:12-23
Despite the heat and humidity of late-July Florida, I strapped on my shoes for an afternoon run. The relief of getting out of the house and capturing a few quiet minutes on my own outweighed the threat of heat stroke. Andrew, our firstborn, was just a few weeks...
by jakeowensby | Jan 13, 2023 | Following Jesus, John 1:29-42
Sometimes you don’t realize what you’re getting into. I don’t have bad things in mind. Actually, I’m thinking about good things like marriage or parenting. It’s not that we knew nothing at all about these kinds of relationships before we got hitched or before...
by jakeowensby | Jan 6, 2023 | Baptism, Baptism of Our Lord, Conversion, Matthew 3:13-17
Some years before we met, my friend S- pastored a Baptist church in Paris. He invited another American preacher, also fluent in French, to cross the Atlantic and deliver a series of talks on the Christian life. The guest speaker’s first teaching focused on the...
by jakeowensby | Dec 31, 2022 | New Year
As our calendars turn from 2022 to 2023, some of us will commit to starting new things. Healthier eating, regular exercise, pursuing a degree, praying regularly, or simply adjusting our attitude. Others will resolve to stop something that diminishes their lives....
