‘Tis the season of spiders and witches, graves and ghosts. Tonight, kids across the country head door to door for free candy, and others will head to harvest parties or press Play on the scary movies. With all the skeletons, zombies, and gravestones decorating the country, death—or the presence of…
Author: Elizabeth Buege
Idolizing the Fear of Loss
Fear is uncomfortable at best and unhealthy at worst, but it’s something we all face. The majority of people can confess to being afraid of things like spiders, public speaking, heights, rejection, or death. Some fear is necessary—it can stop you from getting stuck in a dangerous situation (like getting…
What Wonder Woman teaches us about justice
One of the biggest movies to hit the theaters this summer is Wonder Woman, which tells the origin story of one of DC Comic’s most well-known heroes. Many viewers are ecstatic about getting their first well-written movie about a female superhero, and countless young girls have embraced Wonder…
Christmas: God with Us
Matthew 1:20–23—But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son,…
What Now? Living for God in the Wake of the Election
In the days leading up to the election, Christians prayed for our country, prayed about the decision they were faced with, and made their choices. Children looked to their parents for answers, and the answers weren’t easy. Some parents told their children that you sometimes have to pick the policies,…
Hidden in My Heart: 6 Benefits of Scripture Memorization
Why memorize? At First Free Maplewood, our fall sermon series comes with a special challenge: memorize 1 Peter 2:9–10 and Matthew 28:18–20 as a community. Church memorization may seem unfamiliar to many outside of children’s ministries, but it isn’t just for kids. It’s an important part of walking with…
6 Ways Working in Children’s Ministry Changed Me
The aim of children’s ministry is exactly what it sounds like—to minister to children—but I’ve always felt that I gain just as much as a volunteer. Between my teen years and now, I’ve worked with kids through vacation Bible school (VBS), Awana and Sunday School. It takes commitment, and it’s…
Marvel’s Question: What makes a hero?
What is a hero? Captain America: Civil War wants to know. The latest superhero film in the Avengers series has everyone—including the heroes themselves—asking this question. All the Avengers want to do is help people, but in Civil War, they find themselves at odds with the public—and ultimately each other—over…
New Every Morning
Why today is better than New Year’s for starting fresh It has been almost four months since January 1. Did you make any resolutions for the new year? Did you keep them? Sometimes, it’s nice to have a fresh start. Maybe you’re not living as healthily as you know you…
5 Reasons We Need Intergenerational Relationships
As humans, we tend to prefer the familiar. We want to eat our favorite foods, listen to our favorite music, and wear our favorite clothes. We often treat our relationships the same way. We spend the most time with the people we feel best understand us, whether it’s because we…