Category Archives: Religion/Faith

Forgetting What Lies Behind

Posted on January 23, 2022 by mitchteemley

Photo by Michael Atkins “Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 3:13-14 † Note: British American actor, biographer, film producer Douglas … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Return and Rest!

Posted on January 19, 2022 by mitchteemley

Originally posted on Unshakable Hope:
I know we are all wishing right now that this post was coming from Bill Sweeney, but instead, I (Lauren, his eldest daughter) will share a little post in his honor. Last year, we were…

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

God’s Factory Recall

Posted on January 16, 2022 by mitchteemley

Factory recalls from product makers are common, and should never be ignored. Avoiding them can produce adverse and sometimes devastating consequences. It seems we too have received multiple recall notices from our Maker (due, in this case, not to design … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Give Up Yourself

Posted on January 9, 2022 by mitchteemley

“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A New Beginning

Posted on January 2, 2022 by mitchteemley

Photo by Andy Carne “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” ~2 Corinthians 5:17 Happy new beginnings! †

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Blessed to be a Blessing

Posted on December 26, 2021 by mitchteemley

Today is Boxing Day, a day with its roots in the medieval tradition of placing alms and small gifts in the church Poor Box on Saint Stephen’s Day, the day after Christmas. By the early 1800s Boxing Day had become … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Merry Two Christmases!

Posted on December 25, 2021 by mitchteemley

Like many believers worldwide, our family celebrates two Christmases. First, we celebrate God’s gift to us. And then we give gifts to others. It’s the first that makes the second possible. Why? Because without His gifts of life and redemption … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 49 Comments

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lost Christmas Poem

Posted on December 23, 2021 by mitchteemley

Many are unaware that the Lord of the Rings author was a lifelong Jesus-follower. Tolkien not only spoke openly of his faith, impacting the lives of many, including his close friend C.S. Lewis, but was also one of the translators … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Poetry, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Was Jesus’ Birth a Miracle?

Posted on December 20, 2021 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week Christmas commemorates an “impossible” event–the miraculous birth of a child to a woman who’d never “known” (had sexual relations with) a man (Luke 1:34). It is commonly believed that miracles are events outside, i.e. in violation … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Overlooked Birthdays at Christmas Time

Posted on December 19, 2021 by mitchteemley

Image by Angèle Kamp Some of my friends’ birthdays fall on or near Christmas day, and so, sadly, they tend to be overlooked. Take my friend Jesus, for example. Hey, here’s an idea: What if we were so much like Him, … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments