The main characters were dating, and the man was going to meet his girlfriend’s family for the first time for a family dinner. Knowing how her dad was, the woman gave her boyfriend some advice. She said, “My dad can ‘go off’ on certain topics, so don’t mention politics or religion.” Then she thought a…

Sometimes, when I’m hiking, I see a sign that says, “Stay on the Marked Trail.” It’s usually easy to do. What might have started out as someone blazing a trail in the wilderness becomes more defined after a while. When you hike on a well-worn trail, it’s not difficult to stay on it. Sometimes, it’s…

It happens to the best of us. Something (although at times it’s someone) captures our hearts. The Bible counsels us to guard our hearts and for good reasons. What about the fruit, which she knew was off limits, caused her to throw caution to the wind and end up in such a mess? There were…

What we desire says a lot about us. How often have you had to answer the question, “Why in the world would you want that?” Of course, we can answer why we want something, but we may also realize the other person would never understand the answer.  As it has been said, “The heart has…

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/ Most people know that spiritual practices such as reading scripture, spending time in prayer, singing, and Bible study are vital to strengthening their…