October 28, 2026 I love country music. I connect with many of the songs. Some lead me to think about God and the many things for which I am grateful. Others lead me to think about my wife and the relationship—the love—we share. Still others lead me to think about my children, the woods, rivers, and mountains I love, and how special each moment can be if we simply open our eyes to see and our hearts to experience. One country singer I really enjoy is Ella Langley. She has a so

October 21, 2026 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul wrote these words, his letter to the Ephesians, while imprisoned in Rome around 60-61 AD. (Ephesians 1: 1-2, NKJV) Paul had visited Ephesus earlier (Acts 18:21) in 55 AD. In Acts 19: 8-10, Paul ministered to the Ephesians for over two full years. This is t

October 14, 2026 To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. (I Thessalonians 1:1, NIV) Thessalonica was the capital and a city of about 200,000 in the Roman province of Macedonia. More importantly, it was located along the Roman highway which ran from Rome to the Orient; therefore, men and women from countless nations, with countless beliefs and faiths, filled the city. For many, Christianity was seen as a thre

October 7, 2026 The May 1987 edition of National Geographic included a feature about the arctic wolf. Author L. David Mech described how a seven-member pack had targeted several musk-oxen calves who were guarded by eleven adults. As the wolves approached their quarry, the musk-oxen bunched in an impenetrable semicircle, their deadly rear hooves facing out. The calves remained safe during a long standoff with the enemy. But then a single ox broke rank, a

September 30, 2026 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks

September 23, 2026 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1, NKJV) Paul had preached to the people in Galatia on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:14–14:23). Shortly after Paul left Galatia a group of Jewish believers arrived and insisted that the Gentile Christians submit to Jewish law, the Law of Moses. This group said believers would need to be circumcised, follow Je

September 16, 2026 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2: 1-4, NKJV) Back

September 9, 2026 Many years ago, while on a mission trip with Kids Alive in Pucallpa, Peru, I wrote in my journal: I am amazed at the missionaries’ faith and envious of their lives. They have nothing I have at home, but they have much peace...purpose...less distractions. I haven’t seen a television, not worried about the next item to purchase or vacation to plan. The missionaries are not fighting over trivialities but are focused on two things: Christ and th

September 2, 2026 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Joshua said to all the people, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him

August 26, 2026 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.” So, Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” After an all

August 19, 2026 This past week, I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit my brother, Daric, in Alaska. My brother moved to Anchorage with his family a year ago and this was the first time I was able to make the nine hours flight from Baltimore, Maryland to see him. We had an amazing four days together. First, he took me on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward. It is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the country, and I would certainly agree.

August 12, 2026 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So, the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So, the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to

August 5, 2026 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests

July 29, 2026 Jericho wasn't just another city. It was one of the oldest and most heavily fortified cities in Canaan. Massive walls surrounded it. From a human perspective, Jericho looked unconquerable. It represented everything standing between God's people and God's promises. And yet, before God brings down the walls, He reaches into the city to save one unlikely woman. Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especi

July 22, 2026 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite countr

July 15, 2026 “I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3 This week, I lost an amazing friend, one of the finest people I have had the privilege of knowing on my journey. Without question, he ranks among the top ten people I have met along the way. His name was Dickie Porter. I met Dickie when I was appointed pastor of the Rock Hall, Maryland, a town of 1500 people. I was to serve three small churches: Raum Chapel, Wesley Chapel, and Rock Hall UMC. Dickie wa

July 8, 2026 It was a terrible time…a time of blood and hatred…a time of great persecution and torture. The Roman Emperor Nero was on a rampage…demanding the public to worship him as god…torturing and maiming those who refused. Then the fire broke out…the year was 64 A.D….Nero used the fire of Rome as an excuse to build a grand palace, “the gold house,” but Nero also needed to find a scapegoat for the fire…and he found his scapegoat in the Christians.

July 1, 2026 Read Matthew 13:44-52 Reading the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price, I am reminded of walking along the beach, looking for Sea Glass. I was introduced to Sea Glass by good friends of our who live in Bethany. On the table in their living room is a bowl filled with pieces of glass of every color. Many times one side is frost covered and the other shiny, the effect of sand and waves. As I researched Sea Glass, I found out that purpl

June 24, 2026 Read John 10: 11-15 and Luke 10:30-37. One summer a few years ago, our family once again traveled to Shenandoah, Virginia, to the Skyline Drive, and camped and hiked atop the mountains above Luray, at Big Meadows. That year we did something new and exciting, something we had never done before. I joined my sons, Nate and Matthew, Rock Climbing and Rappelling off Little Stony Man cliffs. Here I am struggling up the rocks (remember...this was several years ago).

June 17, 2026 Read Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus makes it clear that there must be a direct correlation between how we have lived our lives and our relationship with God. If we truly have a relationship, if we truly have opened our hearts to Christ, to our Father in heaven, it will be reflected in our actions. Once we recognize our own sinfulness, the fact that we are a mess, and realize what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross two thousand years ago, if we wrap our minds arou