Advent, the season of expectation and preparation, turns our hearts toward the marvelous truth that Jesus came so that our joy may be complete. John 15:11 summarizes this profound promise when Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” This isn’t a wishful thought; it’s the very purpose of his coming. More Than a Feeling The joy Jesus speaks of is not the fleeting happiness of a holiday morning

Life can hit us hard. When it rains, it pours. The struggles we face in our modern 21st century are eerily similar to those experienced by people who lived centuries ago. Suffering is a common thread among humanity… and Jesus is the cure—not to remove our suffering—but to give us peace through that suffering. Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept. It’s...

Originally published by So We Speak on January 12, 2022. Susanna Anthony (not to be confused with Susan B. Anthony) is a little-known...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify .  Christian Smith’s book, Why Religion Went Obsolete,  explores why...

In the first article in this series , we explored God’s hesed toward us in the context of grief and despair. Though life is hard and...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . The worst event in Israel’s history was the destruction of the Temple...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Herod is one of the most well-known villains in the Bible. Without...

Hesed. Hesed is a rich Hebrew word and unfortunately it is extremely challenging to find a word that even comes close in English. The...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Sennacherib’s story takes place in the eight century BC. He makes the...

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! The resurrection of Jesus is the pillar of our faith and the foundation of our hope. The...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Historical Background Haman is a character in the Book of Esther...

Scripture often contains statements that are counterintuitive to how we think in our human nature. For example: Life begins when we die...

Why is Tolkien's work so enduring? It's more popular now than it's ever been. There's something about The Lord of the Rings that is real....

Sarah Edwards is known as the wife of famous pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards. To who knew her personally, Sarah was a woman who...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . After World War I, Tolkien was looking to find his footing. He looked...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Note: This is the second podcast in a series on J.R.R Tolkien. Click...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . If there's one theme that runs through J.R.R. Tolkien's early life,...

“ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your...

Check out the So We Speak podcast on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify . Why Celebrate Advent? Advent is a collection of traditions that is...