The Gospel

Our Only Hope to Avoid Hell is Jesus

Heather Hart · October 21, 2020 · Leave a Comment

I was crying over a Facebook comment on a post I didn’t post, about an article I didn’t write.

Romans 12:18 says we should do our best to live at peace with those around us so far as it depends on us. Thus, I generally try to avoid social media arguments.

Now, I’m far from perfect. I definitely read, write, and delete more than my fair share of social media commentary. However, you won’t often find me getting on a soapbox or ranting about pet peeves. It’s one of those areas where I try to catch myself before it’s too late.

Anyway, this was one of those times.

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4 Reasons Why I’m Comforted by Jesus’ Death

Jessica Schneider · September 16, 2020 · Leave a Comment

I have another confession: I can’t handle when beloved characters in a movie die.

I can’t even handle when I know they are going to die. Let’s take for example, the movie Charlotte’s Web. It was one of my favorite movies growing up, and thought it was a great idea to let Olivia watch it. She immediately fell in love with the pig.

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Dear Suicidal Me…

Valerie Riese · September 9, 2020 · 14 Comments

Dear Suicidal Me,

Hey there! It’s me—um, I mean you. I’m so glad you found this letter. I know you’re frazzled, so I’ll cut right to the chase.

I know what you’ve been thinking. You wonder how cold the water would feel as it fills the car. Will it hurt as the water fills your lungs? Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll hit your head on impact so you’ll never know what the bottom of the bay looks like.

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6 Promises of God for When You Feel Inadequate

Valerie Riese · July 1, 2020 · 4 Comments

I found four publicly published errors before 7:00 AM. I’d literally screwed up everything for the Candid Moments launch. Luckily, I could fix them before too many people noticed.

Then I left for an errand and realized I’d forgotten to put my teeth in. Again.

Since the cognitive damage and memory impairment were worse than normal that day, I planned a simple supper: plain baked chicken, box dressing, and canned corn. And I under-cooked the chicken.

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What Good Friday Means to Me

Valerie Riese · April 6, 2020 · 10 Comments

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins .
Colossians 1:13-14

Not The Usual Good Friday Service

The church slowly went dark, drawing the small group of worshipers closer to the mood of that first Good Friday. All eyes followed Pastor Eric’s silhouette across the altar and behind the 10-foot projector screen. Our ears traced his footsteps to the stained glass window until we heard the flip of a switch followed by a few seconds of white noise as an old cassette played.

Then it started. The hollow, high-pitched sound of metal striking metal in perfect rhythm. Ting… Ting…

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Jesus Died On The Cross and What That Means To Me

Heather Hart · December 2, 2019 · 4 Comments

Jesus died on the cross. He didn’t just die, He was beaten. Flogged. Whipped. Tortured.

I can’t imagine the pain that He endured.

And He did it all for us. He endured all that pain because of His love for me.

That was my thought process as I stood in church that Sunday morning with tears running down my face.

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The Ways I Want My Life To Look, And The Truth Of The Gospel

Jessica Schneider · March 6, 2019 · 13 Comments

This past weekend, my husband and I went on a one-night marriage retreat. There was a lot of material that was covered, but there was one lesson that stuck out to me.

About if our marriages are an advertisement of the Gospel.

Hmmmm… how many times do I want our marriage, well my life in general, to look good? But that isn’t the truth, and my marriage looking good isn’t the Gospel. My life looking good isn’t the Gospel.

And in what ways do I want my life to look good? Well, let me tell you.

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Oh No He Didn’t! …When Mother Doesn’t Know Best

Heather Hart · February 25, 2019 · 29 Comments

The off-handed comment was followed by laughter as the two guys exchanged looks. The only purpose to that remark could have been to rub salt in the wound and I could feel the anger building in my teenage son who was standing next to me.

All three of them were oblivious to me at this point. But I was there. Oh yes, I was there in all my motherly glory, and I was taking names and keeping score.

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When My Mama Bear Instincts & Faith Collide

Heather Hart · September 27, 2018 · 33 Comments

“Pass him! Pass him!! Pass!!! Him!!!!” I screamed louder and louder until my voice grew horse.

The cross country runners were less than twenty yards from the finish line and closing and my boy was just inches from passing the runner in front of him. I knew he could take him. And he did.

(Okay, full disclosure, he isn’t actually my son, he is my son’s best friend. However, I love and feed him like my own, so I feel like I can claim him and even embarrass him if the need arises. He’ll thank me later. Anyways, back to the moment at hand…)

I cheered even louder as he crossed the finish line, beaming with pride. I knew he could do it.

It was then that I realized I was getting some dirty looks from the other moms who were gathered to watch the runners finish the race…

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Opening The Door On The Good News About Jesus

Heather Hart · September 24, 2018 · 21 Comments

As I closed the door I realized that I had failed again.

The sweet ladies I had just told I wasn’t interested in what they were peddling had been nothing but kind. And I was dismissive.

Worse yet, I had suggested I already had what they were promoting. But that was a lie.

They said they were there to share the “good news” but their good news wasn’t really good. It was conditional. It was false. It wasn’t really good at all.

And I let them walk away.

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