Tag Archives: compassion

Are You Still Wearing a Mask?

Posted on October 2, 2025 by mitchteemley

‘Self-Portrait With Mask’ by Felix Nussbaum (1928) “We are intensely attached,” Matthew Kelly observes, “to being perceived in a positive light. Even by people we don’t know and will never meet. Perhaps most telling, we even want to be perceived … Continue reading →

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Grace Is a Living Stream

Posted on September 21, 2025 by mitchteemley

Grace isn’t a private pond It’s a living stream and if it doesn’t keep moving into us and through us into others it stagnates It was never meant to be hoarded ≅

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Ugly? Or Uniquely Beautiful?

Posted on September 18, 2025 by mitchteemley

“He’s not ugly, you’re just looking with ugly eyes,” said the 4 1/2-year-old daughter of a friend. And I’ve never forgotten that sagely observation. After all, variety really is the spice of life. And in the world’s pantry the spice … Continue reading →

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Hope Is the Thing With Feathers

Posted on September 11, 2025 by mitchteemley

When all seems hopeless, hope takes flight. We learn this again and again. Hope is always there, waiting. And when it’s needed, it spreads its wings. In memoriam: 9/11/2001. Click on any image to enlarge it, to read caption, or … Continue reading →

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Where Do Babies Come From?

Posted on August 23, 2025 by mitchteemley

Old Myth: When a lady wants to be a mommy, a stork magically appears overhead with a baby in its beak and drops it into the lady’s house! But if the lady doesn’t want it–poof!–the stork takes it away! New … Continue reading →

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Our Calling: Be the Good News

Posted on July 20, 2025 by mitchteemley

One of the fundamental rules of storytelling is “Show, don’t tell.” The same rule works well for followers of Jesus. Unless we show people the good news, it won’t ring true. And the best way to show it is to … Continue reading →

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Our Call to Free the Oppressed

Posted on July 6, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Is not this the fast which I have chosen: To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to free the oppressed and break every yoke?” ~Isaiah 58:6 Note: Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a founding member … Continue reading →

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A Love Beyond Forgiveness

Posted on June 22, 2025 by mitchteemley

Imagine meeting someone who is so breathtakingly good, so kind and intelligent that you fall instantly in love with them. So you beg them to come and live with you. And they say, “Yes!” Now imagine they’ve acquired videos of … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Posted on May 21, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” ~Matthew 5:9 ≅

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Hope Is More Virulent Than Fear

Posted on May 10, 2025 by mitchteemley

Five years ago, my wife and I ate at a favorite local restaurant and saw a movie, The Invisible Man. It was an excellent film about an invisible enemy. And speaking of invisible enemies… COVID-19 was spreading. Rapidly. We heard … Continue reading →

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