Tag Archives: encouragement

Set Aside Your Fears and Walk!

Posted on March 16, 2025 by mitchteemley

Moonrise over the Sea of Galilee, the same body of water upon which Jesus called Peter to do the impossible, to set aside his fears and walk. ≅

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

New Year’s Resolutions: Two Weeks Later

Posted on January 12, 2025 by mitchteemley

Resolution (with apologies to the Beatles): “You say you made a resolution, well, you know, We all want to change our ways, But to really be a resolution, well, you know, It’s got to last more than twelve days.” About … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Don’t Read This, You’ll Only Encourage Me

Posted on January 11, 2025 by mitchteemley

My 3rd Grade Notebook (with 5th Grade photo “enhanced” by 5th-Grade-Me) How to Choose a Blog Name Ten years ago, I launched my blog site with this quip: “Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. Is this thing on?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

What We Will Be Has Not Yet Been Revealed

Posted on January 5, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being.” ~2 Corinthians 5:17 “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” ~John … Continue reading →

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

Is It OK to Believe In Myself?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by mitchteemley

Photo by Emmanuel Avila Thought for the Week I usually cringe when I see “Believe in Yourself” articles. Because, while valid in theory, in practice they often feature empty self-affirmations. Not meaningful correctives like, “I deserve to be loved.” But … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Movies, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

Our True Colors

Posted on October 27, 2024 by mitchteemley

I love to see the leaves change color in autumn, don’t you? Except that it’s a myth. Leaves don’t “change color.” My wife and I often walk in the woods. We’re blessed to live near Mount Airy Forest in Cincinnati, the oldest “urban forest” in the U.S., and what we’ve learned … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Where You Live Matters

Posted on October 16, 2024 by mitchteemley
Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Ruffled Feathers and Unanswered Prayers

Posted on October 13, 2024 by mitchteemley

“God is in the discipleship business, not the insurance business.” But that doesn’t mean he ignores our prayers. Quite the opposite. For God, answering prayers is “an inside job.” Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 45 Comments

My Journey Into Darkness

Posted on October 10, 2024 by mitchteemley

My Age of Anxiety A true story It began with the childhood obsession, “Don’t step on a crack.” Sixteen years later, I fell into that crack. I’d awakened, badly hungover, at three in the morning, and begun thinking, “What if … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Do You Have Mixed Motives?

Posted on October 7, 2024 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week Honestly? If it weren’t for mixed motives I’d have no motives at all. True, I’m an idealist. I want (earnest cliché alert) to make the world a better place. But I’m also a hopeless egoist, and no … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 33 Comments