Bret Hammond

"Disability." "Disbelief." "Discontent." "Dislike." The prefix "dis" comes from the Latin meaning "apart" or "away." So to have "disbelief" is to move away from belief. To be "discontent" is to be apart from contentment, and to be "disliked" means you probably shared your opinions on Facebook. "Discourage" . . . "to part with courage." When you're discouraged, you lose your bravery—your ability to...

"Don't pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs." I like that quote, even though I would prefer lighter burdens. In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes, "I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." It almost sounds like a promise of lighter burdens, or at the very least burdens God bears for us. Paul's confidence is in the God w...

Jeff was a good friend, an active member of our church, and a wonderful volunteer. He will be missed.

"How did you two meet?" That's a question often asked of married couples and good friends. I can tell you where I was and what I was doing when I met my best friends. Likewise, I can tell you exactly where I was when I met Trish (she disagrees on this point, of course). None of these stories seemed life-changing at the time; they were just encounters, handshakes, and hellos. Paul writes to his fri...

The table shows up in the strangest places; you don't always find it in a kitchen or dining room. Back in April, when our family had COVID, the table showed up on our porch. I'd look out the door, and there would be people with food, drinks, and friendly faces, bringing the table to us. I've seen the table show up in hospital rooms, funeral homes, and even by the side of the road in a broken-down...

"DoubleThink" is a term first coined by George Orwell in his book 1984. DoubleThink is defined as "the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them as true." Sound familiar? On any day, you can find plenty of examples of DoubleThink on the news, in social media, and our conversations. We are a mass of contradictions, whether we recognize it or...

There are some words we use almost exclusively in church settings. I call these words "Christianese." If you weren't brought up in Sunday school, you probably don't know how to define them. Well, honestly, even if you were, it might still be a stretch. You know the words I mean; words like "justification," "holiness," and one of the biggies, "righteousness." "Righteousness" just sounds entirely be...

Did you "like" and "share" that post? You know, the one that said if the sick little girl's picture got 1000 likes and shares, then the doctor perform the surgery that would save her life? Did you share it?? You can't sign online today without someone wanting you to like and share, pass it on. Do we stop and ask whether or not it's true, though? Do we ever wonder what kind of doctor would base his...

Genesis 1 kicks off the creation story with those familiar words, "Let there be light." The first thing God does is provide us with the guidance we need to find our way in this world and, ultimately, find our way to him. What does the Bible say about the way we welcome others? How do we become more intentional about showing hospitality to our visitors and guests? Genesis 1 is all about how God mad...

Doctors have found that laughter is good for you. One study showed that "a good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease." It turns out Reader's Digest was ri...

Proverbs 17:3 says, "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold." You've had times in your life when you felt like you were going through the furnace, difficult times that put your faith to the fire and tested if it was really there. The imagery of refining metal doesn't work without the presence of the refiner. So the refiner sits, almost hovering over the silver, carefully observing...

This past week I asked the question, "What makes your best friend your best friend?" So many of you gave me excellent, heartfelt answers. Some mentioned loyalty and faithfulness; others said honesty, accountability, and transparency. In all your answers, it was apparent to me that you not only have a best friend, but you also have a friend for whom you want the best. Proverbs 27:17 is one of the m...

We're spending the summer looking at the book of Proverbs at Kansas Christian Church. This morning, I can't help but think of Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Notice that everything about this verse is active. It doesn't say that past righteousness brings us glory, nor does it say that today's failings always haunt us. We're very fond of saying...

"Stir the pot!" If you do it while cooking, it's a blessing. It produces perfect pasta and savory soups. But when it comes to conversations and relationships, stirring the pot is never a blessing. Proverbs 15:1 warns, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We don't have to meditate on that one very long to understand its meaning, do we? We've seen it, experienced it, an...

I see the commercials all the time; a happy family, running in slow motion, enjoying a day in the park, while the mother struggles along with a dark cloud over their head. Speaking in soft, soothing tones, the narrator says, "Does anxiety keep you from enjoying the simple things in life?" The mother continues to lag behind the family, with rain falling on her alone. The narrator concludes the comm...

We sit down to eat our meal at the Chinese restaurant, the bill comes out, and everyone cracks open their fortune cookies. Then, we read those short sentences aloud to each other and ponder their meanings. I've kept track of a few of the more interesting ones I've cracked open: "No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living." Wow! I felt that one! "Do not dwell on differences with...

I wouldn't want you to tell my mom this, but sometimes I talk to strangers. I ask them how they're doing; I ask them if I can help. Sometimes I buy them lunch, and I even get to pray with them. The word in the Bible we translate as "Hospitality" literally means "love of strangers." That's where loving like Jesus has to start. Before we can love one another, before we can love our neighbors as ours...

What would Stephen do?

Together Each Accomplishes More!

When I was in school, the church in Jerusalem in the book of Acts was often lifted up as the model church. This is because they did everything right: they broke bread together, cared for one another, proclaimed Jesus, and saw tremendous growth. So if you want to have a good church, make sure it's a New Testament church like Jerusalem! Oh, and they also had Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5 introduces u...

In Acts 4, Peter and John are put on trial for the things they've said about Jesus. Then, in verse 13, we read, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." This verse is an excellent reminder for me on a day after I witnessed degrees and doctorates handed out. The d...

Serve and Change a Story; Acts 3:1-10 by Bret Hammond

Unity Builds on Unity; Acts 2 by Bret Hammond

You Have One Job; Acts 1:6-11 by Bret Hammond

The Easter without an Easter; Mark 16:1-8 by Bret Hammond