But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
Evangelist and missionary, Ron Hutchcraft introduced me to the ‘3 Open Prayer’ many years ago. This prayer is based on 3 verses from Scripture and is a way to begin praying as we think about sharing the gospel with others. 1. “Lord, open the door” (an opportunity to share the gospel) Colossians 4:3 “And pray…
Mother’s Day, 2020: a day set aside to recognize the great influence and impact of moms in our lives. The old saying is true, “the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world”. I would like to take a moment to tell the story of 3 moms who have influenced my life. These moms are/were…
The Apostle Paul spent lots of time confined either in prison or under ‘house arrest’ and yet, in the midst of confinement, he writes a letter to the Philippian church. The theme of the letter? It is known as the Joy Epistle! Can we really experience joy in the midst of confinement? Let’s briefly examine…
Most of our nation is living under some sort of ‘stay-at-home’ order that has resulted in a lot of “extra time” on our hands. Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to “redeem the time” or “to make wise use of every opportunity”. How can we make wise use of this time of confinement? The apostle Paul spent…
There has been a lot of discussion amidst Governor Whitmer’s “stay-at-home” order about the topic of essential workers and non-essential workers. I think in one sense, we all like to think that our jobs are essential! But what are the essentials we need spiritually in our relationship with God during this time of national emergency…
One of the most popular daytime TV game shows for many years was the show “Let’s Make a Deal”. It debuted on December 30, 1963 with Monty Hall as its host. He went on to host the show for almost 30 years. The premise of the show involved selected members of the audience who could…
Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear …” Psalm 34:8b – “… blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him”. Most of the Psalms were written during times of crisis and distress. The Psalms can be a great source of comfort…
In the midst of our 3 week state mandated “stay at home” order from the governor, Diane and I had the privilege of Face Timing our son, daughter-in-law and our 2-year-old grandson, Liam. I am so very thankful for today’s technology of connecting with others, in the midst of ‘social distancing’ (which I prefer to call…
GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU, in the midst of an unprecedented time in our lives. Over the course of the next few days, I am attempting to connect with you either by snail mail, an e-mail or through our church website. Perhaps you will get all three, if you are connected through technology! I am…
The late Truett Cathy, who founded the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A in 1946, left a remarkable legacy! Not just a business legacy that benefits millions of customers each year, but an incredible spiritual legacy. Truett had a deep love for God and family, which is reflected in the ‘closed on Sunday’ policy so that employees…
Just before Thanksgiving, NBC Today Show host, Savannah Guthrie temporarily lost the vision when her young son accidentally threw a toy that hit her in the eye. She recently had surgery to repair the damage. We hope and pray that all goes well for Savannah. Our vision is something that most of us take for…
Max Lucado’s latest book is entitled How Happiness Happens subtitled ‘Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment and Unmet Expectations’. In his research, he discovered that fewer and fewer Americans are experiencing happiness. Only 1/3 of Americans, in a recent Harris Poll, responded that they were happy. As we embark on what is…
Diane and I recently returned from a celebration of our friends’ 25th wedding anniversary. It was an extravagant event held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. I had the privilege of leading a vow renewal ceremony on the front porch of the hotel, overlooking the straits of Mackinaw. Following the ceremony, 50 family members…
AUTUMN! My favorite of the four seasons. Warm days, cool nights, changing leaves and the aroma of pumpkin spice in the air! Among the many reasons I like fall is the rhythm and routine that fall and school/work schedules bring into our lives. I trust that part of your rhythm and routine is to schedule…
Psalm 90 is the oldest of the 150 Psalms. It was written by Moses in the midst of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. The Psalm begins with a contrast of God’s infinite eternal nature and man’s finite nature. “Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth…
Welcome to my initial blog! Who said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Twenty years ago, no one knew what a “blog” was… Here is the definition of a blog. Noun- a regularly updated website or webpage typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational…