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One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the table at Jesus side… John 13:23 John, the son of Zebedee, a fisherman by trade, was called by Jesus to be one of his followers. This man was given the unique opportunity to be one of three who were given premier access to Jesus—part of his inner circle. He was also the longest living of Jesus’ disciples. He wrote a large portion of the New Testament, eclipsed only by…

I grew up in the Presbyterian Church.  I can recall as a young boy being scared that if I didn’t pray each night for the forgiveness of my sins, I might go to hell.  What if I failed to confess all my sins?  What if I had sinned and didn’t know it?  What if I sinned and died in a car accident?  I lived in constant fear of going to hell if I failed to constantly ask God for forgiveness…

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14) The past two months have been filled with nostalgia.  In early August my son and I flew to San Diego to watch a couple of baseball games.  While we were there, I showed…

Family of God Romans12:5 So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Growing up there was a song that we often repeated: I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. For I’m part of the family, the family of God. Since I heard it so often, I really didn’t think of the significance…

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.’ 27 God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27, CEB) I genuinely love the work and writing of author Andy Crouch. As this election cycle…

There is a tree that grows 40 different fruits on the same tree. Can you imagine how pretty the tree would be in the springtime?  It would be gorgeous.  We have a cherry tree that has three different cherries on it. However, this tree I’m talking about has 40 different fruits.  Peaches, apricots, plums and much more. When the tree was first thought of, it was an art project to reintroduce Americans to native fruit. It takes lots of planning. …

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews…

Recently my wife and I traveled to Europe where we experienced 5 different countries, slept in 16 different beds, and walked over 100 miles. This was not a resort vacation but an expedition. There were two experiences in our travels that were emotional for me.  One was visiting the American Cemetery in France. So many young lives were lost in the battles for the beaches of Normandy on D-day. So many gravesites and so many names of real young men…

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets [makes] me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 CSB My life has been pretty chaotic recently. Moving to a new apartment, trips to see family, helping with VBS, running a rummage sale, getting ready for two weeks of camp, trying to spend time with Lake, and everything…

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9:35-38 I recently returned…

When I was a young boy, I found out that my father had a brother named John.  My father described him as a “hobo”.  When he was 16 years old, he had been involved in a farming accident that cost his best friend his legs.  He climbed into a bottle to ease his emotional pain and never came out of it.  He was an interesting character.  He spent time in a Santa Fe, NM prison for cattle rustling.  I don’t…