Soup With the Savior-Day 4


Thursday, 2026 Journal Entry — Vietnam, Central Highlands

Today the pace was slower but steady. We didn’t experience the crush of people we did yesterday nor the numbers we expected in this village. But it was important — important to each person in pain with medical needs looking for a little healing, kindness, and hope.

Each person was greeted with gentleness, smiles, and honor…

At the first station nurses, Madison and Myra, took blood pressure, vitals, and recorded those on a dual copy record with the patient’s printed name. They were then seated in a small waiting area by an indigenous helper who spoke the dialect. This local helper, then escorted each to a chair in front of Dr. Ron or one of the two Vietnamese M.D.s and their translator assistants as spaces became available.

After the doctor’s exam, prescriptions were recorded, and the patient escorted to the pharmacy station. They were seated while the pharmacist, Ân, and her team of Linh, Thái, and Dwayne, filled and double checked each prescription. Then each patient was given their prescription with the medicines and escorted to another room where someone explained to them what the medicines are for and how to take them in the proper dosage and sequence.

The process for people needing dental help was similar. Patients were directed to doctors, Stan and Isaac, for numbing, and extraction of problematic teeth. Then they were escorted to the pharmacy for pain meds and antibiotics.

These patients are people who would likely never have the opportunity to see a dentist or a doctor, nor the finances to do so if they could. So, the community of faith is being led to bring those services to them. God’s Spirit is working through people to bring others needed mercy, help, and grace.

Apparently, the only two metal folding tables owned by the church or the pastor were being used for our pharmacy to spread out and organize medicines. So when it came time for lunch, we moved our medicines in an orderly fashion to red, plastic chairs, so our hosts could serve the lunch they had prepared for us.

In keeping with the Vietnamese tradition of hospitality, they served the best they had. It was rice and a little green vegetable soup. It was the most humble, but maybe one of the best lunches we had, depending on how you look at it.

My main memory of this village and these people is their joy and gratefulness for our coming and anything we shared.

There were bent-over grandparents and elderly people from years of hard work in the rice patties, and mothers with young children on their breasts. There were strong, muscular young men and teenagers. You could tell by the way they interacted with each other that they were a tight-knit community of friends and relatives.

In the end, we served about 170 people today. It’s not about the number. It’s about being here, and touching people with kindness, love, and hopefully some healing. I had a sense that Jesus was here with us and among us at every moment enjoying what was going on with His children—those being served and those serving.

“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
(Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬)

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬)

Say a prayer for the Vietnamese government and people of Vietnam.

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬-‭27‬)

More photos of the Day

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This was day 5 of the mission, since we attended chruch in Saigon, and began the long bus ride to the Central Highlands on Sunday. After we saw the last patient in the village mid afternoon, we headed south to Da Lat, a beautiful resort town at almost 5000′ elevation with an alpine feel. We arrived in time to check in our hotel, take a group photo, walk the town a bit, and have dinner. The next day was to be a recreational day for most of the team, while three of us who came early headed south to Saigon the next morning so we could fly home the following day. The rest of the team enjoyed a day of recreation and rest. We had become really close and it was sad saying good bye, but there was also a smile on our lips and in our hearts for all we’d been able to see and do with old and new kingdom friends–the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. His Name be praised. :):)

“He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3).

Vietnam’s Central Highlands Day 3

Remote M’nong Village
Wednsday 2026, Jounral Entry

[Before leaving the hotel Dr. Le captpured the photo above on a sunrise walk. Then back at the hotel before our evening meal, we wittnessed a local wedding party preparing for the special day–the sort of beautiful serendipity one often encounters when traveling abroad.]

Today our team of two American Dentists, one American doctor, two Vietnamese doctors, an American Vietnamese pharmacist, nurses and support volunteers served about 200 people with medical needs in support of a local indigenous pastor and his small church.

Our team members are from Fort Smith, Arkansas, Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, Newport News, Virginia, and Saigon, Vietnam.

At our last stop, we served primarily church members and a few non-churched villagers, at this remote village we served a small part of the church community and a large number of non-churched villagers.

The pastor was genuine, warm, and really has a heart for serving his community and leading as many people to Christ as possible.

A pastor from a neighboring village came to participate and help as needed. He was imprisoned a few years for his faith. He was also beaten so severely that he doesn’t have use of his right arm and a few other physical issues, but he started a church about a year ago with 50 members and now has grown it to 150 members. Church leaders here are very inspirational. They have suffered, and seen a lot of suffering.

The team continues to stay healthy, motivated, and strong with resolve to serve, whatever it takes. It’s good to be a part of a troop like this, and also feel the Lord‘s presence and pleasure as we serve.

The food continues to be a little different in every region, but very delicious with delicate flavors and quite a variety that we are totally not used to. I may send a few photos. The people are friendly, hospitable, and kind.

I sent this journal entry back to our prayer team, along with: “Thanks for your prayers and continued support that the kingdom of God would come to Vietnam and His will be done here as it is in heaven.”

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” ‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬)

More of the day’s photos…

Elephants! Day 2

Tuesday, 2026 Journal Entry
Central Highlands, Vietnam

We are leaving the hotel after two nights. They’re bussing our team to a different location today and we’re spending the night elsewhere. The dental team is splitting off from us today, for today only.

In fact, the authorities only let Dr. Stan, Dr. Le, and two Vietnamese dental and medical personnel with American passports work with the dental team today. The rest of us American passport holders were not allowed back.

I awakened this morning praying for the local pastors, and the church in Vietnam, especially the Highlands.

The people of the Central Highlands seem to be much more open to the gospel and come to faith much easier than the populated areas of Vietnam. They seem to have a simple, child-like, faith, and not so much indoctrination as those in the cities and more heavily populated areas.

I had an impression to leave some T-shirts that have Christian messages for local pastors as I go. I asked Pastor Ngoc, and he said that would be fine, but not here, due to the scrutiny. In the next villages it should be fine.

One interesting thing happened at a public restaurant last night. The local pastor prayed over our long table of about 30 people (mission team plus local church members), a long passionate prayer in Vietnamese. A table of men drinking beer at the next table clapped loudly when the prayer was finished. So we did too. One of them looked me in the eyes and said in broken English, “Good prayer!” :):)

That was a new mission experience!

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In the early afternoon our dental team of four rejoined us. We boarded our bus and drove a few hours to our next location.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” I’m not sure where that pharse comes from, but out leader, Pastor Ngoc, must take it to heart, because at our next hotel in the Central Highlands, we were suprised by two Asian elephants giving rides next door! What a sight, and experience! All this was in the middle of a beautiful agricultural valley on the shores of a very large lake. It was an incredibly beautiful and peaceful setting we were to enjoy morning and evening for two days before and after serving in nearby villages.

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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”(Galatians 6:18)

More Photos of the Day

Central Highlands Day 1

Monday, 2026 Journal Entry
Central Highlands, Vietnam

Wow! Nice first day in the central Highlands.

We have excellent team chemistry with everyone working together with joy and goodwill. One miscue — the Vietnamese dentists, who were supposed to come, backed out, and they were to bring all the instruments and dental tools. Thankfully they weren’t needed today and will be shipped overnight on a nine hour bus ride from Saigon for tomorrow’s ministry. Our dentists did other things today with Dr. Le doing a good bit of translating for the doctors–our own Dr. Ron and two Vietnamese doctors.

We saw 167 patients today. I worked in the pharmacy with Thai Le and Linh Pham under direction of our pharmacist An Tran from Atlanta. She kept us organized and busy handing out meds that our doctors prescribed in bags with the patient’s name and instructions which were explained by a nurse in the next room.

All this ministry took place in the humble church atop a hill with the Pastor’s living quarters in the back.

Everyone, patients and providers, seemed thankful and pleased with the processes and ministry.

Many of our team simply posed with locals in the waiting shelter outside, who wanted their photos with Americans. There were lots of smiles, laughter, and hugs. “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Pro 17:22).

The movement and actions of churches and Christians are much more closely monitored in the rural, indigenous areas that in the cities. The authorities showed up to see what we were doing. Then they forbade us going to our planned location tomorrow. But they would permit those villagers to be bussed to where we were today.

“Father have mercy on these people we came to serve and help us find favor to do what You have for us to do. Amen. ‘Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands'” (Psalm 90:17).

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Psalm 90:12 was painted on the wall at the front of the church. “So teach us to number our days,
that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

More Photos of the Day

Vietnam 🇻🇳 Tourist 2026

I was recently invited by a young Vietnamese dentist to visit Vietnam, where he was born and grew up, along with an American dentist who is a friend of mine. My friend mentored the young Vietnamese dentist, and ended up selling him his practice. Both are believers and were to be a part of a medical and dental mission team to the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So this particular opportunity for travel and adventure had two parts. First, the opportunity to visit a unique and fascinating country, and see it through the eyes of a local who speaks the language. Secondly, to be a part of a team of faith-motivated people who want to serve local churches, pastors, and their flocks by providing some much-needed medical and dental attention.

This two-week trip may merit several blogs. I’m still processing what I experienced there. But I’ll begin with the tourist part of the trip by describing some of the things we saw and did and came to know about Vietnam.

I love history, the study of kingdoms, leaders, and the political science of different types of governments as described in the Bible and history. But I’ll confess that since I’m not too much into current events these days, and I purposely stay away from mainstream media for the peace it affords, I was in the dark about what has happened in Vietnam during the last few decades. In my mind, it was still a war-torn nation recovering from the Vietnam war that ended in 1975, 50 years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In preparation for the trip, I went to the local library and checked out a Lonely Planet tourist guide for Vietnam, and discovered the following facts:

[1] Vietnam is open to tourism and hosted 22 million visitors in 2025.
[2] Vietnam has a population of a 102 million people.
[3] It’s a long, skinny country, 1000 miles north to south, with a long, beautiful south-Pacific coast line.
[4] Vietnam is composed of 54 different ethnic groups.
[5] Vietnam is the world’s leading exporter of cashews and the second leading exporter of coffee, after Brazil.
[6] Vietnam’s population is young and vibrant with 70% of it below the age of 35.
[7] The street food is delicious, safe, and inexpensive. There are a large number of tech startups in Da Nang, an other urban centers.
[8] Hanoi (pop. 8 million) established 1010 AD is the cultural heart of the country, while Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (pop. 13 million) is the economic heart and engine of the country. The country is about 38% urban and 62% rural.
[9] Modern Vietnam is heavily influenced by 1000 years of Chinese occupation, 100 years of French occupation, and a 25 year civil war between the northern part of the country desiring communist rulership allied with the former Soviet Union, and the southern part of the country wanting a democratic-republic government, allied with the United States. Diplomatic normalization between the US and Vietnam occurred in 1995.
[10] Vietnam ranks 34th in the world by GDP, and 23rd by purchasing power parity—its economy in a steady climb since it embraced private ownership of property and encouraged free trade, inviting international investors. There are many billionaires along with large numbers of poor.

Spiritually speaking, Vietnam is reportedly 13% Buddhist, 6% Catholic, 1% Protestant, with 73% reporting as non religious—practicing folk traditions including ancestor worship. The spiritual landscape will be the subject of subsequent blogs as I process my experiences and reference my journal.

We spent time in Da Nang, visiting the beach, driving about the city over the amazing Dragon Bridge, and visited nearby Ba Na Hills for the views, the architecture, and to experience the iconic Golden Bridge held by giant hands. The French discovered the area in 1901 and built a French village in the mountains to enjoy the cool air, and to escape the heat of the coastal jungles. Today it has become an exhibition of where East meets West, and a Disney World-type venture that is remarkable to behold.

We also visited Hoi An about 30 miles south of Da Nang called The Lantern City because the ancient town glows with thousands of colorful silk lanterns every night. It’s a UNESCO site. No cars are allowed in the old town. There’s a river where folks release floating lanterns—super romantic at night. It’s been a trading port along Vietnam’s coast since the 1500s, and has special historical ties with Japan.

As an airline pilot I had many opportunities to travel as a tourist for short stints. But whenever afforded the opportunity to visit a country and culture and see it through the eyes of a local person, who speaks the language, and wants to show you their favorite places—that’s special! We had plenty of unhurried time to dine, sit for coffee, and talk about life, family, history, culture, and beliefs. That’s sort of what short-term mission trips are like too—guided by a friendly local into their world. I’ve been on more than twenty such adventures. Each one is special in its own right. This one certainly was special!

To be continued…

Ba Na Hills – The Golden Bridge

More photos

Happy Birthday 🇮🇱 Israel

May 14th mark’s Israel’s Independence Day. On that day in 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the modern state of Israel in Tel Aviv, just as the British mandate over Palestine ended. It was the rebirth of the Jewish state after 2000 years. This is unique in history. No other nation has been without a state to call its own for 2000 years and maintained its language, religion, and culture, then returning to it’s native land.

The next day it was attacked by Arab neighboring states, but survived and thrived, as it has, to this day. There have been a few other major wars during this present history, with Israel being attacked each time, but victorious each time and gaining a bit more of thier land back each time.

There is really only one plasible explanation — the Bible and the God of the Bible, who gave the land to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants forever, and has caused it to be so. Shalom, Israel. May all who love you enjoy peace.

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“Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” (Exodus 32:13 NIV)

“I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.” (Leviticus 26:42)

“Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.” (Zechariah 10:9)

“Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” (Isaiah 66:8)

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure.'” (Psalm 122:6)

Stop!

“Stop in the Name of God” by Charlie Kirk…

That’s the name of a new book written by one of the busiest men in America. It’s about the ancient practice and biblical command to observe the Sabbath. The ancient Hebrew word, Shabbat, which translated into English as Sabbath means literally, “stop” (your labor, and rest).

Has it ever occurred to you that the Sabbath was first observed by God Himself, at creation? He rested Himself after six days of creating, not because He was tired, but because He was finished. He then blessed the Sabbath, the seventh day, a mystical act that held some importance to all humans who would inhabit His earth.

This was millennia before the Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and that additional-Mt Sinai-insight into the Sabbath was given millennia ago. This mystical Sabbath celebration is ancient and enduring. Why do you think we might be so blind to it? Is it possibly important to our lives today? Might observing it be a lens to finding our way out of spiritual darkness in our day and culture?

Have you ever wondered why Christians pause for worship and rest on Sunday instead of Saturday? Have you ever wondered why Sabbath is so important and central to Judaism and the Jewish people? Its ancient and constant practice prompted one famous Jewish thinker, Ahad Ha’am, to say: “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”

Have you ever wondered or read what the early church fathers said about the Sabbath? Men like Ignatius and Augustine? Or more recent church fathers like Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and Pink?

I have some wonderful news. All those questions and more are answered in a concise and beautiful manner in a recent (2026) book. It’s a fascinating read, geared to the modern reader. Charlie Kirk may have been even a better writer than speaker, famous for thinking on his feet in college debates.

The real genius of a person shows itself in brevity, simplicity, and the concise sharing of complex information and ideas. Charlie Kirk hit a bull’s-eye here and it’s one worthy of hitting. I recommend it to you wholeheartedly, even before I’ve had time to process it all. I finished it yesterday and I’m still in shock about the possible power and importance of what I read. You’ll be informed, blessed, and challenged to think about it too.

Shabbat Shalom, Dwayne

A Good Friday For Us

It wasn’t the nails that held Jesus on the cross, it was the joy set before Him. It was the thought of His soon-coming resurrection, and the joy that would entail for us, the family of God, His bride, from the time we believe throughout an eternity with Him. He even told His twelve disciples with a grin on His face and in His heart, “I’m going to die, but I’ll rise in three days, and meet you in the Galilee.” But they didn’t get it. They couldn’t see it. He did.

He didn’t defend Himself before Pilate or the High Priest. He simply told the truth, and went resolutely to the place of the scull as hundreds of passover lambs were being led up, bleating in His hearing, to the Temple Mount on preparation day, April 3, 33 AD. He knew the pain and suffering would be great, as was the humiliation, and now he was feeling the full weight of it, quietly.

He knew He could have stopped this injustice in the Garden the night before when He was arrested and betrayed, and He could stop it now. I suppose He was still thinking of obedience to His Father, and of the Joy set before Him.

He heard of Barbarbas, a convicted murderer going free while He Himself died in his place. He granted salvation and eternal life to criminal dying beside Him. Then shortly thereafter, He summoned what air He could in His collapsing lungs and told His Father in a quiet prayer that He was finished, and sending His spirit back to the Father from where it came.

Earthquake

God the Father wasn’t finished honoring and testifying about His Son. It was about three in the afternoon, and dark for some reason. Then at the moment of Jesus quiet prayer and expiration on the cross, there was a violent earthquake. These manifestations of supernatural power, and revelation from the Spirit of God, caused Jesus’ executioner, a gentile Roman centurion, to come into the family of God confessing the truth of the matter to all who could hear, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Resurrection Tied to Joy

The resurection was Jesus’ goal and the joy of His heart. At our Wednesday Nehemiah men’s meeting we watched a video teaching by John Piper that made the best case for this I’ve heard from the Bible and history. Jesus said, “No one takes it [My life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” He also said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” in the context of suffering. Then we’re told to keep, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1993 Years Ago

This evening, about 250 people filled the space where our community of believers worship together on Sundays. We were a bit late and it was dark in the room except for the stage when we entered. As our eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting of the seating area, we could see almost all the seats were taken. There were children, youth, college students, young adults, and older adults — generations, worshiping, singing songs, reciting Scriptures, and remembering what happend on that Friday in Jerusalem on this very date. On a Friday night in the USA in 2026 we experienced this. That was 1993 years ago, almost two millennia, and people still remember, reverence, and revere “the Lamb that was slain” and raised from the dead for all who believe. It would be a joy to know how many were celebrating this day around the globe. Someday we will, in His presence, and experience even more of the Joy set before Him.

His name be praised. Amen.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

An Easter Hallelujah

Chris Tomlin – Resurrection Power

Operation “Just Cause”

I awakened this morning with the war in Iran on my mind, and the Lord’s decision to remove an evil entity from the Earth, in whole or in part. I felt like I should blog about it. It’s almost as much about words as bombs seemingly, in the world’s media. But what aspect of the complex but simple issue would the Spirit have me communicate, if any? I tried to communicate about it simply in the midst of “Rising Lion,” saying a simple way to see the correct side of the conflict, God’s side in the conflict, is, “Love Israel, and hate violence.” Or, “Love what God loves, and hate what God hates.”

Operation “Just Cause”

I’m somewhat conflicted in writing about the war. The Lord tells us to seek to live quiet and peaceful lives and work with our hands. The Scripture also tells us that Jesus, with spiritual warfare often swirling around him, simply “Went about doing good.” He stayed connected to His Father by early morning prayer in solitude and in nature. That’s what God wants for us, and of us, in our day of devices, distractions, speed, and screens. So we can live our best lives now in healthy relational, emotional, and spiritual ways. Those are the realms of the soul. We must care for our souls with intentional focus, actions, and habits. That’s the main thrust of my most recent book, God Stays Near.

It’s for these reasons I unplugged from TV news years ago and never looked back. It’s one of the best things I ever did for my soul and my relationship with God and others, as well as, enjoying life.

But this regional war waged against Israel for several years has erupted into a war with Iran. That has captured my attention for a number of reasons. I’m a former fighter pilot (F-4 & F-16), and the air-war tactics and execution naturally interests me. Anything to do with Israel on the world scene interests me from a prophecy standpoint, and because God’s faithfulness to the nation in preserving it and fighting against her enemies is a historical and biblical lesson on God’s faithfulness. This attribute of God is of the utmost importance to Israel, but also to the whole household of faith—Christ’s followers who enjoy the same promises, protection, presence, and provision from the same God.

To those who read the Bible often, the war makes perfect sense. It fits with how God has dealt with nations from ancient times to the present. That’s why I named this war “Just Cause.” I also like the fitting names Israel gave to “Rising Lion,” and to the present operation “Roaring Lion.” The US operation name “Epic Fury” also is fitting and descriptive. Yet behind it all is the God who rules and reigns over nations, and by his grace keeps us from destroying ourselves. He does so as he executes His judgments and justice, according to His Word, the Bible, and His plan stated in the same.

Purim 2026

This war kicked off during Purim. So it could be called the “Purim War.” Read the book of Esther in the Bible to gain a historical perspective of a war against the Jews in ancient Iran (Persia) circa 474 BC. You will see where and how the Jewish feast of Purim originates, celebrating the faithfulness of God through the millennia.

I find myself wondering how much Americans know about the ancient origins of the conflict and the modern landscape of nations and players in this struggle. I asked two older navy vets at my barbershop recently. They replied in similar fashion, “Well, we can’t let Iran get a nuclear weapon.”That’s true and probably the very biggest reason for the war.

Then I asked a young mother of three from our church. She replied, “I don’t really know what started it, the issues, or what’s going on.” I told her I wasn’t sure she needed to know those things. She’s caring for small children, her family, and holding down a job. Those things required all of her attention and that’s fine. I told her I’d send her a text highlighting the main points in case she wanted to know, and she said she’d love that.

Issues of the Purim War

Taylor, “It’s a just and needed war to dethrone a violent and evil regime wanting to destroy Israel as their main goal, and an active enemy of the United States. They were about to have a nuclear weapon, and certainly they have the will to use it. The regime is a cancer that needs be removed from the earth. They’ve been responsible for over a thousand US deaths in the past 50 years.

They continue to launch missiles and drones at civilians in Israel and their neighboring Arab states while the USA and Israel only target military targets and military infrastructure. It’s the 10th day of the war. The Lord has given the just-cause forces unusual, even supernatural, success. Hopefully the Iranian people will seize the opportunity to rid themselves of the evil regime and take back their country soon.

There is an underground church in Iran of maybe a million people. Pray in the midst of this Arab/Muslim war in the region, hearts will open to the Gospel of Jesus. And that God will have mercy on innocents and peace lovers as He brings justice on the violent murderers of this regime. That’s a thumbnail summary, and it’s certainly helpful to know which is the right side, and more important to be on the right side of such a war. I hope this helps with perspective and for prayer purposes.”

“…Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NASB1995)

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’” (Genesis 12:1-3)

“Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.” (Lev 26:42)

“O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob.” (Psalm 85:1)

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An Iranian Woman Speaks to the Press

An Iranian Woman in an IRGC family comes to Jesus / Remarkable insight and journey

Undaunted Courage

Three Books

I just finished reading Undaunted Courage by Stephen E Ambrose. Wow! What an interesting book for those curious about American history in the early 1800s! And what a stellar biography of one of the most interesting people of all times, Meriwether Lewis. His story now rests with two others as the best three survival, adventure, and discovery stories of all time for me. The others are Endurance about the Antarctic discovery voyage of Earnest Shackleton and Wager with the Wind about an early Alaska bush pilot, Don Sheldon.

Reading good books is such a healthy exercise for our minds and hearts — our souls. It gets us away from the shallow exercise of scrolling on our devices and into deep thought in a quiet place that’s focused, yet enlarged for imagination, thinking and pondering the meaning of life and the better parts of it, instead of just devouring information and mindless entertainment.

Reading is a spiritual discipline or habit for the enjoyment and development of our souls. It involves solitude and humility. Solitude and silence are almost lost and badly needed in our day for healthy souls to connect with themselves, others, and the spiritual realm. Reading involves humility because you must stop and humble yourself to listen to someone else share their thoughts or stories.

I just finished a season where I read three books. Let me recommend them to you and tell you a little about each. Each was mind-expanding and enriching in its own way. All bought joy, peace, and expanded my horizons as I journeyed with the authors.

Undaunted Courage

I attended a high school with a good curriculum and felt like I had a better than average introduction to American history. I graduated from a university with a minor in history. But when I read this book, I felt like I was reading or learning about this period of history for the first time, and it fascinated me.

Ambrose is obviously a scholar and a good storyteller. But the way he relied on Lewis’ and Clark’s journals and their eyewitness accounts of the Indians they encountered and the descriptions of the terrain and weather conditions on their historic trek, made it a page turner for me. Also the political and relational elements of their lives and times were fascinating. Lewis’ best and closest friends were William Clark and Thomas Jefferson. I’ll share a few highlights at the end of this blog to see if it catches your whimsy.

Catching Whimsy

Speaking of Catching Whimsy, that’s the name of the second book I’ll recommend to you. It’s actually a “365 Days of of Possibility” devotional book of sorts by lawyer and best selling author Bob Goff. His short readings and stories each day will take your mind and heart to some interesting and worthwhile places, making a difference in your day, your outlook, and your life.

7 More Men

An easy-read collection of seven short biographies, 7 More Men, by Eric Metaxas will take your mind away to what’s possible in human history with the stories of ordinary people with flaws and rough starts who became history changers and added to our stories and lives on the planet. It’s inspirational, educational, and will lift your mind and heart out of the mundane and into the free realm of the soul.

Take courage, and read! Then take courage and live a more rewarding life of love and adventure following your dreams, being lifted and perhaps standing, on the shoulders of those who have gone before.

Undaunted Courage—Quips & Quotes & Thoughts

From my journal on February 11, 2026: “Spending the morning in glorious silence and solitude, reading of the Lewis and Clark adventure. Synchronicities abound in God’s helping the USA as a nation to progress. Also in my personal, spiritual, and natural journey I identify with Lewis in many ways–ways you can only understand if you’ve walked some of those paths of resilience and courage. I’ve ridden horses, explored in remote mountains, canoed with friends in ten heavily loaded canoes on a flooding river, and served in the military.

“Let me be clear, I do not consider myself in the same league or conversation with Meriwether Lewis for toughness, courage, or intellect. But I can see his greatness and genius and faith from where I stand, and his spiritual journey and circumstances, maybe even more clearly than he did.

“That’s an interesting thought! But such is the nature of revelation and spiritual sight. It seems to be a meeting of the minds, and a spiritual synchronicity for me what Lewis recorded August 18, 1805, on his 31st birthday.

“As I and my friends contemplate the brevity of life and the limited time we have left, what shall be our purpose and course in the days ahead? Our characters are mostly formed with the truth we believe, and our thoughts are solidified. But our strength and minds are waining, so it seems a good and timely question to ask. It should be asked all along life’s way.

“It seemed poignant to Meriwether Lewis on his 31st birthday, at a time he felt his mission was most in doubt, but also feeling the hand of Providence in the good favor experienced with the Shoshone tribe, Sacagawea there to interpret, and she being discovered to be the chief’s sister, with 3000 miles of amazing, incredible, adventure, and protection behind them. Meriwether Lewis writes, “This day I completed my 31st year… I reflected that I had as yet done but very little indeed, to further the happiness of the human race, or to advance the information of the succeeding generation… In the future, I purpose to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself.”

“I know he was a son of the Enlightenment and of that generation. But these are major themes of Solomon, philosophers, poets, and thinkers throughout time. There seems to be a strain of “Love your neighbor as yourself” and “He has set eternity in their hearts” in his words, along with faith in God or destiny and the willingness to sacrifice his all for something greater.

“I really found myself loving Meriwether Lewis, and hope to see him in heaven. I found myself wondering if he was a Christian. It even occurred to me to ask that question to Grok, my favorite AI engine. The results revealed some churches he might have attended and the beliefs of some people in his life, but it was inconclusive. Besides religious people try to put people in religious boxes so they can evaluate them, compare themselves with them, and maybe control them. So I decided to look at his character and actions. Jesus said, “By their fruit you shall know them.”

“I looked at how he viewed and treated the Indians, his own men, and how they viewed him. He was honest, kind, fair and very much respected by all. I also looked at his loyalty to his friends William Clark and Thomas Jefferson. He had a respect for authority and practiced obedience to the same. He showed a familiarity with Scripture by some of the things he said, and recorded in his journal. On the Pacific coast, for instance, he spoke of, “Eating the whale instead of the whale eating them,”a reference to the book of Jonah.

“He was complex. We all are, or can be. But based on the points I’ve mentioned and others from his diary and actions. I believe him to be a man of faith, even though it wasn’t his common confession, and even though his life didn’t end well. He loved his mother, his siblings, and his friends. He didn’t often take into account a wrong suffered. He was a man under authority. He lived in amazing times and accomplished amazing feats — almost unthinkable, and unfathomable to moderns.

“And there were many synchronicities which indicate to me divine intervention on behalf of him and the Corps of Discovery, 31 men and a woman over 28 months and 8000 miles of wilderness adventure on a par with any mission of discovery before or since. It’s interesting to consider what God did for them and what he was doing among the nations to bring about his plan. It’s amazing to view the history of the United States and all nations through that lens —the lens of Scripture, given by the God of Creation.

“Remember the former things, those of long ago;
 I am God, and there is no other;
 I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
 and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
 and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7)

“For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:25)

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Another book selection from the fiction catagory that’s a really good read about kindness and goodness that’s recently burst on the scene and wildly popular is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Also a reasonably good book about soul care and spiritual habits is God Stays Near by Yours Truly.