When I was in seventh grade, I decided I no longer wanted to go to Sunday school. I explained this to my parents in no uncertain terms. I had confirmation class at school AND at church. I was getting quite enough religious education, thank you very much. I didn’t need any more. My parents listened…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, I think we can all definitively say that we know Jesus. We may have met him through different paths, but we know Jesus. It’s a fact. And now it’s time to ask, “What do we do next?” Let’s look at the first chapter of the book of John to answer…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley You’re used to Jesus saying, “Follow me.” You’re not used to Jesus saying, “I’m following you.” But Jesus is following you – just in a different sense of the word. He’s keeping track of you. He knows you well. He never loses sight of you. Psalm 139 puts it this…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley A sprinkle of water, some words spoken, the sign of the Cross, and baptism is done. It’s a simple thing, and sometimes we don’t think too much of it. But if we examine the Scriptures more closely, we can see that baptism is truly a miracle. For example, check out…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley We’ve been given the voice of God. Just take a minute and process how awesome that truly is. After our salvation, I don’t know if there’s a more awesome gift. We speak with the power and authority of God. As Jesus put it in Matthew 17:20, “If you have faith…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley I’ve finally found a Bible passage that is all about me. Listen: “The voice of Mary flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of Mary shakes the wilderness. … The voice of Mary makes the deer give birth and strips the forest bare.” That’s totally legitimate, right? When I speak,…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley At first glance, this Psalm makes the Psalmist sound like a conceited jerk. I am “wiser than my enemies,” he says (verse 98). “I have more understanding than all my teachers” (verse 99). “I understand more than the aged” (verse 100). I hold back my feet from every evil way.…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley Have you ever been given a gift that you didn’t understand? Something that looked nice, but had no foreseeable purpose for you? My family and I have received many such gifts. We open them together and then stop to examine them from all angles. What is it? What is it…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley Who comes to mind when I say the word “wise”? Maybe a celebrity, politician, or talk show host – someone who seems to know all the answers. I’m here to tell you that anyone who considers themselves all-knowing is wrong – and definitely not wise, at least in the biblical…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, When I was a kid, I thought brushing my teeth was the silliest thing in the world. I didn’t like the taste of the toothpaste, and I hated going to the dentist who gave me the toothpaste in the first place. My parents insisted that I brush my teeth, but…