Blog Posts

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NASB) The speaker shared how much weight a draft horse can pull, comparing the amount one can pull to the weight two can pull. Surprised, I later googled “weight a draft horse can pull.” The online article* compared the…

“‘…Be strong … and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God…is with you.’” 1 Chronicles 28:20b A new year. A long time ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions for two reasons: First, if it was important enough to make a resolution to do it, I needed to do it today,…

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.”  Deuteronomy 30:11 NASB When I was in school there were times when I dearly wished the teacher would grade our papers “on a curve.” The “curve,” that famous grading system that allows what may have…

Complicating Faith “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said … ‘Do not fear, only believe.’” Mark 5:36 (NRSV) As I deal with the almost overwhelming “what if’s” of the day I am reminded of something our pastor said: “Sometimes we just need to trust and not complicate our faith.” How do I complicate my faith?…

“Will You Pray About It?” “‘…We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.’” 2 Chronicles 20:12d (RSV) I was being asked to serve in an area of the church in which I had no interest, no skill and even less time to commit. This activity was never on my radar,…

“‘”…how I [the Lord] have been hurt…”‘” Ezekiel 6:9b (NASB) Turning on the TV to watch a DVD I caught a portion of a war movie. It was near the beginning of Pearl Harbor and the adversary was launching planes to attack. One pilot says, “I will gladly give up my life for my country.”…

“‘ … He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.’” (Deuteronomy 31:8b-c) For months Gail* had wrestled and worried about a debt that had fallen to her. Years ago to help Kevin* (one of their children) her husband had cosigned a loan for graduate school. There had been changes in…

“…so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid….’” Hebrews 13:6 NASB I heard an advertisement for a missions group that provides food for the hungry in very remote areas. Their motto is “We go where the road stops.” They travel many miles into isolated regions to feed people…

“There is an appointed time for everything, And there is a time for every event under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB Autumn. Each time the wind blows, dying gold-brown leaves flutter like snowflakes to the ground. Next will be bare brown trees; from a distance, they’ll look like a man with a thinning crew-cut. But there was brilliance.…

“’…truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible to you.’” Matthew 17:20 NASB A year ago the Lord gave me a hard nudge directing me to give up my job (the one with a regular paycheck). It wasn’t clear what He wanted me to do…