Posts by Darrell Boger
A The Strength to Turn the Other Cheek
Jesus said some things that are easy to put on a coffee mug and incredibly difficult to actually live. “Turn the other cheek” is one of them. In Matthew 5:38–39, Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Our natural response when someone hurts us is to How COVID has affected us
Turning Down the Volume
The world feels particularly loud right now. There are wars being waged, government officials saying things we’re not sure we believe, headlines changing by the hour, and the end-of-summer rush beginning to pick up speed. Calendars are filling up and everyone seems to be trying to squeeze three more weekends out of August before admitting that fall is standing on the porch. Even when life is good, it can still feel mentally overwhelming. When everything around us is loud, I How COVID has affected us
Freedom Worth Celebrating
This week marks 250 years since the birth of our nation. That’s a milestone worth stopping to notice. Like most of you, I’ll probably spend some time around a grill, wave at a parade, watch a few fireworks, and soak up another Northern Michigan summer. And I’ll thank God for the freedoms we’ve been blessed with—especially the freedom to gather every Sunday, open His Word, sing His praises, and share the hope of Jesus without fear. Those freedoms are gifts, How COVID has affected us
What Do You Notice?
It’s honestly pretty easy to be impressed by people. We naturally notice confidence, success, charisma, talent, appearance, money, influence — all the things our culture constantly tells us matter. Even in church, we can subtly give more attention to the polished speaker, the successful family, the talented musician, or the person who seems to “have it together.” Meanwhile, quieter or struggling people can become almost invisible. The problem is that Scripture repeatedly tells us that God does not see people How COVID has affected us
Fishers of Men
There will be a lot of early mornings at ponds and streams in the coming months. People showing up, putting in the time, and hoping for something to bite. And if you’ve ever done it, you know—it doesn’t always work out the way you want. Sometimes you wait a long time and come up empty. Scripture actually meets us right there. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” — Matthew 4:19 Jesus used something How COVID has affected us
In Between Seasons
We had a few days where it felt like spring had finally arrived. The sun was out, the air warmed up, and it seemed like winter had finally loosened its grip. And then, just as quickly, the cold returned. Snow fell again, reminding us that seasons don’t change as cleanly or quickly as we’d like. That’s not just true of the weather—it’s true of our spiritual lives too. There are moments where it feels like God is bringing change. We How COVID has affected us
A Harder Kind of Love
As Valentine’s Day approaches, our culture turns its attention to love. Store shelves fill with cards and candy. Restaurants fill with couples. Social media fills with carefully chosen words and images meant to express affection. Love, at least this time of year, feels warm and easy. But this week I’ve been reminded of another kind of love — a love that isn’t sentimental, isn’t simple, and certainly isn’t easy. It’s hard to miss how divided our world feels. Even moments How COVID has affected us
Don’t Waste the Wilderness
“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness…” Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV) Last year held a little bit of everything. There were moments of joy and moments of challenge, seasons of growth and seasons that stretched us. Some things moved forward, others didn’t move as quickly as we hoped. As we step into a new year together, many of us are still asking the same honest question: “God, what were You doing in all of How COVID has affected us
Good Grief
Winter finally settled in over Kalkaska this week—the kind that slows life down whether we like it or not. And honestly, maybe that’s a gift. Last Sunday we talked about how Christmas can pile on the stress, and I think that stress has a way of pulling back the curtain on the deeper stuff we’re carrying: the weariness, the memories, the grief that sneaks up when the world gets quiet. Winter has a way of exposing what we’ve tried to How COVID has affected us
When Kindness Needs No Defense
These days it feels like Jesus gets pulled into every argument, campaign, and narrative. His words are used to win points, to justify positions, or to back up agendas. But when we look at His life in scripture, we don’t see Him playing politics. We see Him washing feet, healing the sick, sitting with the broken, and even praying for His executioners. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35 How COVID has affected us