The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, where EJAE and Andrea Bocelli performed together, became an unexpected signpost to deeper spiritual realities. Drawing on Peter Berger's "signals of transcendence" and C.S. Lewis's Sehnsucht, the post posits that such moments stir an eternity-shaped longing God has placed in every heart.

Jesus didn't only call His followers to love God and others — He also pointed them toward the motivation of treasure and reward in heaven. This post answers four common questions about heavenly rewards: what they are, whether it's right to be motivated by them, whether comparison will steal our joy, and how seriously we should pursue them.

While preparing a sermon I was struck by a surprising conviction: to repent for my lack of enjoyment. God has not only approved our enjoyment of life—He may actually hold us accountable for failing to enjoy His gifts. God invites us to hold reverence and revelry in beautiful tension.

What do we do when we’re obeying Jesus but joy feels absent? When faith feels more like obligation than delight? Rather than abandoning duty, we need to expand our Christian imagination and rediscover the beauty already embedded within it. The good and the beautiful are not rivals — they are really the same.

Pastors can quietly assume their people don’t have the appetite for theological depth—but real conversations tell a different story. God’s people are often more curious and hungry for clarity than leaders expect. Pastors may be surprised by how eager their people are to grow when given the chance.