We have entered a season of gratitude in our culture. It seems as if the time between Thanksgiving and the end of the year stirs up, even begs, for the recognition of thanks. It begins with our holiday of thankfulness and goes through the Christmas season during which gratitude is (hopefully) expressed for gifts given and time spent together. Even businesses, non-profits, and other organizations express gratitude for their customers, donors, and volunteers as the calendar year draws to a...

1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not...

Everytime we baptize and confirm someone we ask them this question: Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior,...