The Plumbline

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:4-5) A deep and lasting sense of belonging is one of the things we hear people say they are looking for in various ways. Some seek it in their career, others in their community. Some will search for 'forever love', thinking that will give them that sense of 'belonging' they so desperately desire. I have to admit, I have fallen into the trap of seeking a sense of 'belonging' on occasion. As a small child, I thought I didn't 'fit in' at school, so I made up all kinds of stories about who I was, what I had accomplished, and what my parents did. I'll be the first to admit, that didn't work out too well. At some point, the truth becomes evident and all that 'fitting in' I had been trying to accomplish didn't really end up giving me any sense of belonging. In fac...

Tax season gets everyone thinking about whatever it is they may "write off" in the interest of lowering their tax base. We search the books, attempting to find the specific expenses we may deduct, finding all the legal 'loopholes' that will reduce the overall tax penalty we are hit with each year. Why? We want all we work hard to acquire! If you have more than your high school diploma, didn't you have to work a little harder for that college degree? If you have more than an associate degree from the local community college, didn't the effort you put into obtaining that bachelor's degree require more than just another two years in school? Now, if you have gone on to achieve your master's degree or even a doctorate, think of all the effort that went into those hours agonizing over your projects, thesis, and graduation requirements. There is something within each of these accomplishments that gives us a sense of satisfaction - but even the best of write ...