“Close” Isn’t Close Enough
March 27, 2025Scripture: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 7:21 (NIV) We’ve all heard the saying: “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” It’s a humorous reminder that “almost” doesn’t really count—except in rare exceptions.…
Luke – The Historian
March 7, 2025Continuing my reflections on influential figures in the Bible, I turn to Luke—a physician, historian, and the author of two key books of the Bible: the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Although not one of the original twelve apostles, Luke played a crucial role in documenting the life and ministry of…
Accepting the Pain: The Cost of Love
February 15, 2025There is a moment in every believer’s life when we wrestle with the pain of loving deeply and receiving hurt in return. A friend once asked me, “Why should I put up with everything others throw at me when all I do is give them love? What am I supposed to do?” All I could…
What is Life Expectancy?
December 7, 2024Without becoming overly somber, this question has been on my mind lately. Turning to the Bible, we find a fascinating perspective on longevity through the lives of various characters, especially in the Old Testament. Longevity Before the Flood Before the global flood, lifespans were extraordinary by today’s standards. For example: These extended lifespans enabled early…
In memoriam: Shannon “Renee” Gray
September 23, 2024December 8, 1984 – August 30, 2024 Funeral Service September 22, 2024 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [NIV] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with…