He’s short of stature, slight of build. He’s youthful, informal, and seems a bit like the comedian he once was. He looks more like the guy standing next to you at the pizza place on a Friday night, waiting for his take-out order, than a head of state.

Whatever seemed ordinary about Volodymyr Zelensky a mere fortnight ago is suddenly eclipsed by a courage that is truly extraordinary.

Her eyes. They were beautiful. That’s what I first remember. They were some of the prettiest eyes I’d ever seen.

At my parents’ farm in Pittsfield, Maine, on May 4, 1981, I knew I was really in love for the first time in my life.

That this young woman had come into my life, and loved me too, I regarded as a miracle akin to the parting of the Red Sea.

It was exciting. Feelings I’d never had before this day flooded over my heart as cascading waterfalls.

Do you believe in things you can’t see?

I hope so, because there is an abundance of real things we experience in the physical world that we cannot see. Take a minute and think of a few of them. What did you come up with? Some examples are the wind, radio waves, and the force of gravity. But there is another part of life, a whole dimension past the physical, that we cannot see or smell or feel, and yet it is the most real part of life. It’s the spiritual realm.

On Thursday of the outreach – our afternoon team met Tony.

Tony served in the army in Vietnam. He has been searching for truth all of his life in different religions.

He really believed that sin was forever, and the devil controls the world and there is nothing that we can do about it.

“Hi Mister! I’d like to see your puppies.” The young boy smiled broadly. The farmer led the boy to a pen where a litter of puppies scampered eagerly about their mother. The farmer was selling them and the boy had been saving his money.

The farmer watched as the lad carefully scrutinized the black and white pups. After a few moments, the boy pointed to a quiet puppy sitting alone in the back of the pen. He called him and the little dog gingerly limped toward the boy, wagging its tail. “I’d like that one,” the boy said.

In the modern church very rarely - if ever - do we hear a message on God – the Judge. But the truth is this – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment….” - Hebrew 9:27.

Judgment Day is coming, and everyone will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of God.

God did not create multiple races, He created one human race. The idea that there are multiple races is entirely false and unbiblical. The Bible never groups people by skin color or other physical characteristics. The Bible never describes or defines a race or races. In God’s Word all people are part of one family, and we are all equal biologically. There are no superior colors and no superior blood lines.

But there are legitimate categories utilized by Scripture to classify and group people.

Even though the word “racism” never appears in the Bible, God’s Word takes an incontrovertible stand against this sin. It is not mentioned specifically because it is actually a subset of other sins which are directly and strongly opposed: favoritism, partiality, and injustice.

Jesus came to bring healing in the midst of extreme social division and hurt. He was acutely aware of the fact that, while he was physically thirsty and in danger of death, this woman was desperately thirsty spiritually, and in danger of spiritual death. And Christ knew that he himself was the only possible solution to her problem.

Being a Christian separates us from the rest of the world in a GOOD way – we have a refuge. We have hope and life because we know where to run and how to protect our souls. This is a constant training for us because we are always going through shaking in this world.

The gentle breeze whispered through the tall trees and played with the setting sun. The peace was palpable.

This was a beautiful place. Its serenity lingered with its sacredness.

I’ve always loved visiting cemeteries. Where do you find such a rich and diverse history gathered in a single plot of earth?

The charges of racism levied against the United States of America are deadly serious. Many are wounded physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as a result of the division and injustice that come from this sin. In light of this, the most important questions we can ask are, “What does the Bible say about racism? What is God’s prescription for healing, peace, and reconciliation in our culture?” Let’s start by reading John chapter 4.

Have you been in a situation where your enemies are hounding you ALL day long? When you feel like you never get a break from their pursuit – how does that wear you out? Whether these are physical enemies like people on your job, neighbors who don’t like you, opponents on a campaign, people on social media who constantly attack your beliefs, whatever that looks like for you in this moment – it can feel constant.

Who is your favorite Bible character? 

For me – it’s Joseph.

I asked myself why I like his story so much, and I guess it’s because he was the original comeback kid.  Joseph never seemed to let all the bad things that he went through get him down. 

Joseph realized that God was with him even in the difficult times – even in a foreign land.

How many of us during these difficult days are having to fight off restlessness? We are hearing the voice of the enemy louder and seeing the oppression coming from the “wicked” – those who are in rebellion against God. It feels like it is never ending. It is difficult. It is not easy. David felt that restlessness and oppression and voiced it in Psalm 55.

How should Christians go about voting in a Primary Election? Check out our voter guide to find out.

God’s presence is more than desirable - it is indispensable to the child of God. With God, his people may go to the uttermost parts of the world. Without him, we dare not venture across the street.

The way God sees things is SO different than the ways we process truth. We overcomplicate, over think, and justify our weaknesses, but God sees it simply like this – are you foolish or wise? He asks in this passage of scripture – is “there any who understand, who seek God”?

This was going to take courage. It was going to take conviction. It was going to take perseverance. The struggle for liberty and justice has never been for the timid.

The story from 1 Samuel 21 and 22 where David goes into the tabernacle in Nob, talks to the priest Abimelech, takes some holy bread from him and Goliath’s sword as well, has always been fascinating to me.