Heartbeat

Research shows that the strongest sources of happiness are the people in our lives. Social support is one of the most important predictors of whether people are happy. Humans long to connect with other people. We can all remember how much COVID taught us- that we need each other! Christian author Philip Yancey wrote a book called “Church: Why Bother?” in which he discusses the community in relatio...

Many sports fans might accuse a player of not having their heart in the game when their intensity doesn’t match the intensity of the game. So much so that I’ve heard people complain that the Superbowl is rigged when they see a player not live up to expectations. It’s not always easy but God calls us to be all in for Him. In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus calls us to be fully surrendered in our faith. M...

There’s a difference between renovation and restoration. If you’re renovating, it usually means you’re upgrading, changing the style- making something new and different. A renovation might be starting with an old house, that’s not necessarily historic, and repairing and upgrading it into 2024. But to restore a home- means you are bringing it back to its original condition. 1st Peter chapter 5 says...

There are some things in this world our minds have a hard time comprehending. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Everywhere you look your brain is almost convinced it’s just a picture. The enormous scale is just too much to grasp. Or what about the distance between the Earth and the Moon? Or the size of an atom? Like these incredible examples of scale, we can only imagine a fraction of God’s...

Geneen Roth has written best-selling books on emotional eating. In an article called “The Treat Trap,” she reminds us that in troubled times sweets seem to offer immediate relief; but unfortunately, their “fix” doesn’t last. The sweetness of chocolate lasts for a mere 30 seconds and after we’ve indulged, the original problem is still there. Then we have an additional problem: the guilt of an unhea...

Learning to play the guitar comes with some pain in the beginning. It takes time to build up calluses on your fingers. Calluses are thick layers of skin that build up over time. And in the case of a guitarist are necessary to properly hold chords without pain. Like a guitarist’s fingertips our hearts can become calloused. Through tough times and trials, some people become bitter. They have a harde...

Most tasting rooms in California involve wine, but at Laura Parker’s Taste of Place events in the Bay Area, you’ll find yourself with a glass of…. dirt. The idea is to smell soil from local farms, then eat the produce grown in the same soil so you can see how the aromas in the dirt affect the flavor of the food. During this sampling many have said that you can actually taste the pasture that the g...

In the book of Ruth in the Bible, Ruth was a literal outsider. But Naomi felt like an outsider. Although she was a part of God’s family by birth, she felt like she had been abandoned by Him. Do you ever feel like the odd one in a group? Even within your faith? Maybe you’ve sat in a Bible study before and thought “I don’t belong here”. When we compare our lives to others, including within the churc...

Research shows that we get a “lift” from giving. In fact, MRI studies show that providing for other people activates the brain’s ventral striatum, the region that lights up in response to pleasurable experiences such as seeing an attractive person or winning a prize. Scientists are finding that helping others may be as primal or basic a human pleasure as food. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul...

What quotes do you often hear that people claim are scripture yet you know otherwise? One that I can’t stand is, “God helps those who help themselves.” Many are surprised to learn that nowhere in the Bible does that appear. In fact, God doesn’t want you to be a solely independent spirit.             God often sends others into our lives to help- and… us to help them. In the Bible, 2nd Corinthians,...

Our sun gives off more energy in one second than all mankind has produced since creation began. With a diameter of approximately 860,000 miles, the sun could hold one million planets the size of the Earth. The rate at which its energy is emitted is equivalent to the energy coming from a furnace at a temperature of about 10,340 degrees Fahrenheit. This is one magnificent creation that truly, points...

In the Bible, we find these words written by the Apostle Paul, “…Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” Too often the Christian life is seen as a passive existence, but these words show that it’s quite the opposite. Our faith should lead us to not just...

When Bose introduced their Acoustic Wave Music System in 1984, Sound & Vision Magazine said that it delivered “possibly the best reproduced sound many people have ever heard.” Since then, we now have companies like Sonos, Denon, and of course Apple, who are constantly striving for the best possible audio. Sound has a tremendous effect on people.  This is why in the Bible, in 1st Corinthians 14...

I was at my friend’s house this weekend for dinner. They now have a very cute, 6-month-old puppy named Lucy and they were showing off her tricks. My friend would say sit- and she sat. Lay, and she laid. My friend turned to me and said, “we’ve been working on this one”. He turned back to Lucy and said “roll over!”. But Lucy just gave him a blank stare. He shrugged and said, “Well. I guess she hasn’...

Solar Star is the largest solar farm in the US and one of the largest in the world. This plant has 1.7 million solar panels spread across Los Angeles and Kern Counties in California. Each of these panels can take the energy from a glowing ball 92 million miles away whose surface temperature reaches 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit and turn it into usable energy for over 250,000 homes. In the Bible, 2nd C...

James Allen, author of the book “As A Man Thinketh”, says: “All that you accomplish or fail to accomplish with your life is the direct result of your thoughts. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” Likewise, in the Bible, King Solomon said, in Proverbs 4:23, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” He also s...

How often do you find yourself in the comparison trap? Do you ever see someone with a nicer car, bigger house, fancier clothes and think, “must be nice”. But the truth is, we’ve never walked a mile in their shoes- we don’t know the circumstances that brought them to where they are and there will always be someone else looking to you with the same thought- “must be nice to be you too”. How do we re...

If you’re a homeowner, when was the last time you replaced your air conditioning filter? AC filters remove harsh chemicals and allergens- making the air safer to breathe.  Water filters remove nitrates, bacteria, sodium and heavy metals. We use all kinds of filters in our homes and cars to make them safer for our families. Like these filters, self-examination and repentance help us remove habits a...

I went hiking with a group of friends recently on a mountain I hadn’t been to before. The trail wasn’t steep at all- but the hike was long. After about an hour or so we turned around a bend and the trees opened up to show us an incredible view. We were at the top! It was such a mild slope that I hadn’t realized how high we had climbed. That feels like life sometimes huh? Maybe you’re in a difficul...

Someone wisely once said, “Dream like you’ll live forever. Live like you’ll die today.” That might sound intense but it’s great advice; The question is- HOW do you live each day with that degree of meaning, focus and purpose? Have you ever heard or read the Latin phrase, “Coram Deo?” Coram Deo refers to something that takes place in the presence of God, or before the face of God. The theologian, R...

If you’ve attended church for a while- what do you picture when you hear “Discipleship Group”? Is it a group of people who meet once a week with pizza and a specific curriculum? In Christ, discipleship is people leading each other towards Christ. It’s accountability, praying for each other and bearing each other’s burdens. You may already be a part of a group like this without knowing! Maybe you h...

If you’re anything like me, my days can get so busy- before I’ve realized it, I’ve been stressed about something all day- and never paused to pray about it! On days like these when you feel like you can barely catch your breath- my advice to you is to just- pray. You thought I was going to say breathe didn’t you? Well- you’ll do that too.   A breath prayer is a simple way to interact with God for...

Think of the last really good action movie you saw. The car chases, the crazy parkour moves, the fight scenes… Chances are, the actors you know aren’t actually doing these stunts themselves. Instead, movies rely on body doubles to make these crazy stunts happen safely. A body double is similar in height and appearance- wears the same clothes and even learns to walk the same way as the actor they a...

It’s no secret that poor posture will eventually result in preventable back pain. Our neck muscles tighten, and we start holding a lot of stress in our shoulders too. We simply “forget” to stop slouching and to sit upright. So, a company has created a small gadget that you clip onto your shirt. It analyzes spinal positions and buzzes when your posture needs to be corrected. That’s crazy right?! Bu...

In a study of 37 cultures around the world, 16,000 people were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. Out of all the responses, the first preference was kindness. Above looks, wealth, or intelligence! Kindness is a deep-seated human value and is considered a virtue in most cultures and religions. Part of the biblical definition of kindness includes usefulness, making it clear that being...