John van de Laar

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Sometimes, as followers of Jesus, we can be extremely naïve about the way the world works. When we neglect the work of reflection and mindfulness, [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK The Gospel reading this week speaks of the joy when lost things are found. Jesus used the image of a lost sheep and a lost [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Jesus' promise of abundant life can trip us up if we view it through the lens of our world's values. If we think of abundant [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK In our celebrity-obsessed world, the quest for recognition, influence, wealth, fame, and the praise of others drives all too many of us. Ultimately, this pride-filled [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK What does it mean to rest? The ancient Hebrew idea of Sabbath offers an answer, but it's far more than just stopping our activity for [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK As followers of Jesus, we may be tempted to believe that we should never be involved in conflict or disagreements. The call to be people [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK What does it mean to receive God's blessings? That may sound like a silly question, but in the Bible the way blessing works is very [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Where do we find meaning? In what do we place our trust? These are central questions in every human life, and there is no shortage [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK In our world of instant solutions and instant gratification, the idea of persistence can seem extremely quaint and outdated. When we respond to God's call [...]

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK There is no shortage of voices to listen to in our society. Daily we are bombarded with thousands of messages promising us all sorts of [...]