Opinion
Imagine... Christmas...
There is so much about Christmas that demands the use of our imaginations.
Gary Schwerin
Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the Rockford YMCA and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford.
Opinion
Strong spirits: we all want love for Christmas
Acts of love all have their source in the same place.
Opinion
Strong spirits: joy
When you are full of joy, you feel like you can do anything.
Opinion
Strong spirits: peace!
Don't go another day filled with anxiety.
Opinion
Strong spirits: do you have hope?
We all need hope. Where do we get it?
Opinion
Strong spirits: are you grateful?
Thanksgiving is the entry point to a relationship with God.
Opinion
Strong spirits: waiting at the right pace
Impatience is a curse of our time. But God waits...
Opinion
Strong spirits: if
Usually we want to be the ones setting the conditions.
Opinion
Strong spirits: are you a saint?
It is surrender to him that makes us holy, makes us his disciples, makes us saints.
Opinion
Strong spirits: the most important thing
If you had to pick one thing to do, what would it be?
Opinion
Strong spirits: C'mon! Celebrate!
Sometimes not celebrating wholeheartedly would be just wrong!
Opinion
Strong spirits: how do you decide?
How do you make large and small decisions about home, work, relationships, life?
Opinion
Strong spirits: every person becomes the image of the god they adore
Worship need not be complex or extravagant. It can be as simple as a whisper.
Opinion
Strong spirits: we work our best when we get our rest
Unless we do take time away from our work, we will not do our work well.
Opinion
Strong spirits: dying to self
Sometimes self-denial takes simple forms, ones that we can all practice.
Opinion
Strong spirits: but what will you do?
It does you precisely no good to know the truth and not act on it.
Opinion
Strong spirits: who are you, really?
The question is, what does your life say?
Opinion
Strong spirits: here's the good news
Like any good parent, God very much wants to give good things to his children.
Opinion
Strong spirits: Don't!
Only God is in a position to judge. We would be smart to leave it to him.
Opinion
Strong spirits: what are you worried about?
Carrying worry keeps you from joy, keeps you from peace.
Opinion
Strong spirits: where do you keep what matters most?
There is nothing wrong with having things, as long as we remember certain truths.
Opinion
Strong spirits: who, me?
In confessing to each other, the love and mercy of God show up most clearly.
Opinion
Strong spirits: wanna be great?
Would you rather be served, or serve?
Opinion
Strong spirits: Really? Submit?
Submission flies in the face of our independence, our freedom, our rights.
Opinion
Strong spirits: get alone
Begin with listening, being still, waiting.