Category Archives: Bread And Spirit

New Book – God Stays Near

Here in the mid south we are in a deep freeze that’s a bit unusual for us with 4-8 inches of snow blanketing the area and temperatures near 0º F or -18º C! It’s a great day to stay by the fire and read.

I’m announcing the arrival of my new book, God Stays Near – Faith and Flight, which became available as a paperback from Amazon February 17th. A hard cover and eBook version will follow shortly. The short blurb on the book’s cover reads:

“A former American Airlines captain and USAF fighter pilot tells stories about faith and flight during the retirement chapter of living and how God has stayed near for joy, protection, and adventure. Included are stories of flying to Alaska, Idaho, Honduras, and picking up a new airplane from the factory in the Pacific NW with a friend—all flying adventures he never saw coming when retiring professionally. Intermixed are stories of current and past faith adventures that continue to shape flight through life as God stays near. Woven in the mix is advice to peers and the next generation on how to experience God and enjoy life to the full until the end via the spiritual disciplines—the habits and rhythms of the ancient-future faith in Jesus Christ. You will enjoy these stories of faith and flight and be inspired to adventure in your realm.”

The book is very real and personal too, as it may be my last, except possibly photo books, for meditation and devotion. I tell about an airplane crash I had in January two years ago, about some of my most personal spiritual experiences, and God’s faithfulness and leading through these chapters of life — staying near.

The cover is from a painting by a treasured friend Ralph Irwin (1936-2019), an artist who did the art work on my first book, A Friend of the King, and was by my side on many kingdom missions in our communitty of faith in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as in Belize. I had a strong spiritual impression to use this artwork even before I knew which direction the book would take. The book is largely about “soul care” or practicing the ancient spiritual disciplines or habits and rhythms that serve to keep our souls healthy, vibrant, and knowing God better each day and year of our sojourn. There are spirits involved, angels light and dark, from a different realm, but active in our realm and interacting with us, many times without our notice, especially if we neglect these practices and fail to maintain spiritual sensitivity.

I think when you read the book, you’ll get it as you go. We’re all on a journey, to enjoy and live the gift of life and choice that is magnanimously given by our Father in heaven. We travel, as the title to Ralph’s painting suggests, “From Portal to Portal.” There are spirits involved. It’s best to understand how they operate, especially those who are enemies, and stay connected to the Father of Lights.

Here’s a quote from the book: “As an international airline pilot, I had the opportunity to spend many days in Paris, London, and Madrid. I would frequent the Louvre, the National Gallery, and the Prado art museums. The number of paintings of angels and demons in conflict from the early Middle Ages to the Enlightenment in these world-famous art repositories is staggering. I used to think, ‘Wow, these people were superstitious!’ But now I think they were more in touch with reality and the spiritual realm than modern humans.”

That’s a tiny, but important aspect of the book. I hope you’ll give it a look and profit from it spiritually for the rest of your soul and the rest of your days. Reading is a spiritual discipline, as is solitude, slience, meditation, and taking time alone to think and hear from God. So stay warm, cozy up somewhere with a blanket or cup of coffee, and read a good book. Godspeed on your journey.

Click here to order

Joyful Epiphany 2025

Yesterday was Epiphany, but it’s never too late for an epiphany while you have breath–the gift of life and your spirit from our Creator God.

I like history so I spent some time this morning researching “Why January 6th?” What the western chruch celebrates on January 6th each year is the wise men from the East who were the first Gentiles to have an epiphany, realization, revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Annointed One–the King of the Jews, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth (Matthew 2:1-12).

It was interesting research leading me to chruch councils in the first millennium, the differences between solar and lunar calendars the ancients contrived to track our days on the planet, and more. It’s interesting but still a mystery to me, and perhaps it’s meant to stay that way. The fact that it happened, was recorded in the Bible, and has been celebrated for two millennia is significant and fun to ponder.

I do think the mystery of the December 25th date we celebrate Christmas may have been solved by a lawyer with presently available astronomy software, and I gave you a link to that information in my last blog. It doesn’t take away any of the mystery, but only adds to the awesomeness of our Creator, Redeemer God—His power and His plan.

So I finished my history research amazed at the infautation of God’s family with knowing Him, and all the bread crumbs, along with the interaction with His Holy Spirit, that blows among us like the wind in our quest to know God, ourselves, and our destiney. I watched the three YouTube videos below in the order I share them as I worshiped the Holy One.

Listen, quietly, in stillness, and see if you have an epiphany.

Godspeed and Bon voyage in your journey to know God, yourself, and your destiney better in 2025.

Megan Woods – The Truth (Official Lyric Video)

Casting Crowns – Praise You In This Storm (Live from YouTube Space New York)

My Deliverer – Rich Mullins

“for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—”

(2 Corinthians 6:2)

Why Christmas? Why Hanukkah?

““Or let him rely on My protection,
Let him make peace with Me,
Let him make peace with Me.’
In the days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will blossom and sprout,
And they will fill the whole world with fruit.”(Isaiah 27:5-6 NASB).

Israel ישראל 2024

My friend Dwayne Russell sent me this Scripture today along with these comments: “Israel has filled the whole world with its fruit! We have been touched by this one nation more than any other. Our laws were taken from the law given to Moses! God gave the Jews the scriptures even the majority of the New Testament. In a sense we are Jews by faith in the promise given to Abraham! I believe the millennium will be God fulfilling His Promises to the Jewish nation! So we need to make sure we are staying the right side of Israel.”

I didn’t intend to start this blog with Israel, but I also included two chapters about Israel in my latest book, God Stays Near, which should be available in January or February 2025, saying: “It seems I can’t write or understand history without referencing Israel, because of the central place she plays in God’s plan for the planet and our day-to-day lives.”

You can start with Adam, or start over with Noah, when looking at God’s plan. Or start with Job, the oldest book in the Bible, written between the times of Noah and Abraham to see what the ancients knew and thought about God. But starting with Abraham about 2000 BC, the path recorded in Biblical and secular history, gets more clear. We can trace God’s steps on our planet throught the steps of one small ancient nation one-fifth the size of Arkansas and still at the center of world history, appearing in our headlines every day.

The Jews were bearing God’s image to the most ancient and powerful cilivizations like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. It appears to have been God’s plan to use Greece to give the world a common language and then Rome, with it’s worldwide lines of communication, to prepare for the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God to make His appearance and bear God’s image further into world history and the hearts of men and women by His most Holy Spirit, to both Jews and Gentiles — those who could see Him and choose to believe. It’s a wonderous story beginning in Israel, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, as foretold by the Hebrew prophets, extending to the whole world as described in the Acts of the Apostles, and the history of civiliztion.

Why Christmas?

So why Christmas? Why Jesus Christ? Why Yeshua the Messiah or ישוע המשיח? The word messiah literally translates to “anointed one” or “chosen to rule.” Yeshua in English is Joshua and translates to “Yahweh saves.” You can meditate on that if you wish.

The arts and sciences point to His beautiful story in the stars, the Scriptures, and the records of mankind and civilizations. It’s all there for men and women who will hear and believe. One of the most beautiful tellings of the story I have enjoyed for the last few years is “The Star of Bethlehem” by Rick Larson. It’s available on DVD here, or by streaming within another movie “God of Heaven and Earth.” This telling involves astronomy, science, history, with beautiful art and music, as a lawyer puzzles out clues from Matthew (2:1-12) about the Magi. Who were they? Why did they come? How did they know when to come?

After it’s telling, one feels like worshiping! This is a season for worship and retelling the most wondrous story ever told engulfing God and mankind in a sweep of creation and history. Oddly, Christmas and Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, both occur this year on December 25th. The Jewish Jesus celebrated this “Feast of Dedication” as it is also called (John 10:22-23) in Jerusalem.

Why Christmas? Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us succinctly what the whole of Scripture tells us in many stories and an easily solved puzzle. The Jewish prophets said Yeshua would come like He did, telling us many facts about His birth and death. The Disciples and Apostles, mostly Jewish, would explain to the world what had happened, was happening, and some future events to come. And they would explain and demonstrate the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit being poured out into their lives and realms from on high. We have the incarnation so we could have the cruxification — our Father, Creator God, making a way to draw us back to Himself and dwell with us now and for eternity as Emmanuel.

I pray all of us enjoy the light of His revelation and dedicate ourselves to His person and purposes during this magical, mystical season we call Christmas or “Mass of Christ” since before 1050 AD, and celebrated on December 25 as early as 200 AD. Gloria in ecelsis Deo to the timeless One, who sent His only Son.

The most famous Jewish king, save One, who ruled, wrote, and prophesied around 1000 BC said this about God: “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness [humility, meekness, condescension] makes me great” (Psalm18:35). Walking around our lake this frozen morning, I had the Christmas thought, “What I treasure most about the Lord is His mercy and His majesty — what undoes me is His mercy.” Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and may the shalom [peace] and joy of Christmastime be poured out in our hearts. Noel. ✨

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“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, roo little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them…For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,” (Isaiah 9:2,6.7).

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth’ ” (Isaiah 49:6).

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

The Star of Bethlehem website

“Why Christmas?” by John Piper

The Christ Child meets Chris Tomlin’s Noel ft. Lauren Daigle

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Barlow Girl

One King Point of Grace

Go see “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in theaters now

Advent 2024 Begins Today

Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday. (Wikipedia)

I pray this December is a time of waiting, preparation, and celebration of Jesus’ coming for you and your household. Today my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year portions were from the books of Job and Revelation. That’s the oldest book in the Bible, and the last book in the Bible. It seemed fitting for pondering the advent of Jesus Christ.

From the Book of Job:

“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.”

“But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.” (Job 23:6,10,13)

From the Book of Revelation:

“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood….” (Apocalypse 1:5)

You might wonder why one might think Revelation is a good read for Advent. The first four words of the book in Greek are: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This could be taken as revelation from Jesus Christ or revelation about Jesus Christ. Both are true and appropriate, and that is the unified theme of the book. So what better way to celebrate and think about Advent than reading the Apocalypse or Revelation–even with its swirling timeline and mystical accounts of events in eternity past, present, and future. It celebrates the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth–Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In a parallel universe, or the same one, I sit by the fire watching my wife of forty-nine years putting the ornamants on our tree. They are almsot entirely crosses and crowns, with a simple golden crown adorning the top of the tree–a beautiful decision she made several years ago. At the same time, I am reading, His Cross and Ours by H.D. McCarty. He’s one of my main spiritual mentors, and the book just came out. He finished it at ninety-one years of age, this spring. I highly recommend it if you know H.D. or not–most of NWA does, as his mentoring fingerprints are on many in Arkansas and around the world.

Buy it for yourself or someone you love for Christmas! Here are some of H.D.’s remarks from the preface:

“I have no fear, only a relaxed urgency to fully please our dear Savior while I can!” “My hope is that my story in this book–the culmination of a long life of public ministry, personal struggle, theological reflection, and increased “yieldedness” to our Lord Jesus–may inspire, instruct, and guide you on your own journey of cross discipleship. Joyfully stay in the battle, my brothers and sisters in Christ.” — H. D. McCarty

Christmas Peace to you and yours, Dwayne.

“We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders” (Psalm 78:4 NLT).

New Book Coming Soon

Happy Thanksgiving! We are in Houston with our adult children and it is lovely to be with family and just relax, rest, and be thankful for all of God’s good gifts–life, breath, relationships, and grace. Also celebrating flight, as we flew the new airplane here.

I’ve been working on my fourth book much of this year, and sent it to the publisher just last week. It’s not totally finished, but they never are. One could keep tweaking them and adding pertinent content ad infinitum.

The latest book is a sequel of sorts to my second book, God Came Near. That book recounted several encounters with the Holy Spirit, that changed our perspective, paridigm, and worldview of how the Spirit of God works with humans during their earthly sojourns–Biblically, historically, and personally. We were living the decades of our thirties and forties.

The new book is a continuation of similar stories framed in our fifties and sixties entitled, God Stays Near (subtitle to be determined. :)) This is how the book jacket or cover will possibly read: “A former American Airlines captain and USAF fighter pilot tells stories about faith and flight during the retirement chapter of living and how God has stayed near for joy, protection, and adventure. Included are stories of flying to Alaska, Idaho, Honduras, and picking up a new airplane from the factory in the Pacific NW—all flying adventures he never saw coming when retiring professionally. Intermixed are stories of current and past faith adventures that continue to shape flight through life as God stays near. Woven in the mix is advice to peers and the next generation on how to experience God and enjoy life to the full until the end via the spiritual disciplines—the habits and rhythms of the ancient-future faith in Jesus Christ. You will enjoy these stories of faith and flight and be inspired to adventure in your realm.”

I appreciate all prayers for the book as it enters it final phase before distribution and being available for purchase. And I welcome any suggestions or comments. There is still time for minor additions or changes during the next month, and hopefully it will be available in January!

I spent some quiet time meditating on John 14 this morning, and was amazed at the simple, clear truth Jesus shared about who hears spiritually and who does not–who comes to faith, what that looks like, and those who do not. This passage also includes some of the most important revelation on the purposes and working of the Holy Spirit in the whole of Scripture. Then, after all of that, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Get up, let us go from here” (John 14:31b).

Seems like the Spirit just spoke that to me, “The book is finished; let’s get up and go from here to the next adventure, living life today, while there is light.”

Unite Arkansas

“Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.” — Margaret Peters

Last night’s UNITE in Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arknasas campus in Fayetteville was awesome! Ten thousand college students gathered and heard a blistering word about sexual purity and the Gospel of Grace — the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was a call to holy (set apart) living, and Jesus was worshiped until after 10:30 PM. The meeting was about to be over, so my wife and I left to walk a friend who had driven in from another city an hour away to her car. We learned later the meeting went on in some fashion until 2:00 AM in the morning, moving across the street to the south in an outdoor setting were many students were baptized.

We were there from 5:15 PM with some people from our community of faith who had set up a tent for food and fellowship before the event. Some of us had been asked to go into the venue a few minutes early to walk and pray. I heard the Spirit really moved in similar events at Alburn, the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, and Ohio State, but I didn’t know what to expect. The straight talk about sexual issues, sexual purity, and sexual healing was shocking to me. But judging by the response of thousands of students–it was very needed and refreshing, accompained by the Gospel of Grace for forgiveness, and the promise of the Holy Spirit for healing and transforming lives to live on a higher plain.

In the previous month, I heard in the spirit similar messages and blogged about sexual freedom and the self control available as a fruit of the Spirit. But to hear this forceful message to ten thousand college kids and see their reaction in embracing it with their lives was mind blowing.

The musical group Elevation Rhythm led the crowd in vibrant worship, which at times was loud, powerful, blasting with the college kids dancing and singing after rushing the stage area, then quite and still–so melodic and calm you thought you might touch heaven or be touched by the same, with a hush over the crowd.

Speaking of the crowd, one of my college friends just called me. He and his wife were there doing the same thing we were. He told his wife earlier in the day, “They have only issued four thousand advance tickets for the event, and are secretly hoping and praying for ten thousand attendees–that’s just too big a gap and not going to happen.” Durning our phone call he said, “I’m going to have to stop under estimating God.”

One phrase repeated in one of the songs was: “There is no waste at the altar.” I don’t recall that phrase in the Scriptures and found myself wondering what it could mean. Maybe it speaks to all the sins, sexual and addictions, being brought to the altar last night? That’s certainly no waste, as they are accepted and burned up–forgotten by the One Who matters as an act of mercy and grace. You can come as you are with your idols to the altar, and leave as a son or daughter for the courts of the King, ruined by His love, ravished by His magnanimous generosity and good will.

What you lay at the altar you get back if it was a promise from God, only with the unhealthy attachment burned away–a bit like Abraham offering up his son Isaac, and getting him back, both of them now having the realization that “God will provide the Lamb.”

So there we were, a few grey eagles, who had attended the same university fifty years ago, watching lots of young eagles experience God in similar ways we did, under H.D. McCarty, with the promise of change and soaring through life and into old age with adventures galore and relationships to make, mend, and restore.

“Time has a wonderfful way of showing us what really matters.”[ Click here for a few more photos of the event!]

Sex and Freedom

Happy July 4th! I recently stood with an eighty-something friend on his wooden deck sticking out in space from his home atop a mountain perched on a cliff. After standing in silence for a good while peering over mountains, lakes, valleys, and forests beneath an azure sky punctuated with white clouds, he pipped up and said, “I liked your book [Puzzling 2020], except for one thing — that three-letter word you used so often.” I smiled at him quizzically and said, “What word, John?” “S-E-X,” he spelled out for me.

Smiling, I shook my head and told him the book was written for a multi-generational audience. And I couldn’t be sure that the younger generation even knows what the Bible says about sex. This book was a 70-chapter devotional that describes the Christian or Biblical worldview and hopefully makes it as compelling as it is.

I wrote a few chapters on the subject based on history, philosophy, psychology, and the Bible, hopefully expounding the truth and what God reveals to us about the gift of sex—its best, most enjoyable, and highest uses. My overall summary was: “Sex is a beautiful servant but a terrible master.”

Introducing Thessalonica

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece (one million people), was founded in 315 BC by the Greek general Cassander, who named it after his wife, Thessalonike, sister of Alexander the Great. By Roman times, it had become one of the most important cities in the empire following Greece. It was one of the first churches established by the Apostle Paul in Europe, and it was the first epistle Paul wrote to any church (50 AD). These Christ followers were important to him relationally and personally, as is clear by what he says and how he says it. It’s also clear that sexual misconduct was common and prevalent in the Roman Empire approximately halfway through its thousand-year existence. It was one of the first things Paul addressed, urging them to lead self-controlled lives as God teaches for their good and His glory. In other words, Rome looked a lot like the West and the USA today.

This makes their story poignant and relative to ours. Last week, before July 4th, I heard the first sermon on sex I’ve ever heard preached in more than fifty years attending chruch as an adult. Our young PhD pastor, Ben Wilson, delivered it right out of I Thessalonians and from the Spirit of God, who gave Paul the message in the first place. It’s well worth viewing.

I’ll give you a summary of Ben’s message, but the facts and details are important to know and internalize, so don’t stop short of hearing him out. God made sex for our enjoyment, and He prescribed how to enjoy it most fully — one man and one woman in marriage. Anything else actually dilutes and divides the pleasure and satisfaction possible. And, one experiences bondage instead of freedom.

Tozer says idolatry is: “Having thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” If you think your ideas about sex are better than God’s, then I would suggest you don’t know God as well as you ought. He’s good and wise and gives good gifts to His children.

About idols, the Bible tells us: “They have ears, but can’t hear, eyes but can’t see, legs but can’t walk, hands but can’t feel — those who worship them become like them.” Don’t let this happen to you! Know and choose God’s ways concerning sex. Self-control isn’t a deterrent to freedom but an avenue to freedom. Godspeed as you journey and live free!

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law [emphasis added]” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline [emphasis added]” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom [emphasis added]” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Charles Simpson Celebration

Charles Simpson, a man whose influence touched the lives of many, bid farewell to Earth on February 14, 2024, leaving a profound legacy in each of us who knew him.

Several hundred folks from around the country and globe gathered to joyfully celebrate his life and legacy. It was a true party, as one would expect. Stephen, Susanne, and the CSM leadership team, guided by the Holy Spirit, orchestrated a gathering of joyful, expectant, grateful, humble, accomplished, spiritual warriors and warrioresses at Covenant Church, Mobile, AL, to celebrate the gift that Charles Simpson was and honor the man he was.

When I received the invitation, I wondered how they would pull this off. Let the people assemble two hours before the service begins to hug necks, tell stories, and catch up on each other’s lives and what Charles meant to them, for starters.

Once the official service started, one got the idea that Charles himself had laid out the plan, and Stephen (and the other speakers) said as much. “I hate long funerals,” Charles said. He gave each speaker a certain amount of time, mostly five minutes, which was mostly honored. His children may have been given a little liberty on the time or taken a little liberty, but it was beautiful and special.

I won’t try to recreate what Stephan, Susanne, Charlyn, and Jonathan said. I will say that what the ladies shared was very real, honoring, candid, relational, and beautiful. The whole service was recorded as a YouTube video, which is worth your time to experience for an inside look at the beauty we all beheld at some distance.

Don Poythress led us in worship. Michael Coleman delivered the eulogy. Bishop Joseph Garlington brought some special music and words of insight about Charles. To the surprise of many, Pastor Aaron Früh, Charles’ personal pastor for the last few years, welcomed us and provided us with some surprising pastoral insights into Charles’ final days.

Most of us were there for four hours, from 10 AM to 2 PM, and it seemed like thirty minutes—also seemed that time didn’t matter. The Spirit moved like a Gulf breeze through the family gathered to honor Charles, warming hearts, giving revelation, and bringing a soul-stilling peace.

It was even more special to experience it with some West Monroe, LA, friends who knew Charles well and had been similarly impacted by his life, teaching, and preaching.

To top it all off, many of the crowd ambled over to the fellowship hall for an authentic Cajun meal of seafood gumbo, cheese grits, collard greens, pork, chicken, and more. Indescribable deserts were centered around a large plate piled high with apple fritters, which we learned Charles enjoyed daily with his dog as part of their breakfast. Who knew?

My heart is smiling, and I’m rambling. The reality is that I have no words to describe God’s unfathomable reach and majesty. I also struggle to find words to describe the depths and impact of a man so given to knowing God, experiencing His Spirit, and making Him known to others most of the hours and days of his life. Such a man and friend was Charles Simpson. To God be the glory.

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[Click here to enjoy some photos and videos from the event.]

As I think of Charles several Scriptures come to mind, like Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Malachi 4:2, and Psalm 112:4. With a heart smile, I’ll end with this one:

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Isaiah 46:4 NLT).

I invite you to pray with me the Aaronic Blessing over Charles’ family, ministry, and closest friends:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

Happy Passover

Sundown today marks the beginning of Passover 2024. Passover marks the deliverance from slavery to freedom by the death of a firstborn and the death of an innocent lamb. It’s also an act of judgment and mercy born in the heart of the gracious, loving, and just Most High God. Amen.

Sin and death seem linked, as do innocent blood and forgiveness — forever.

On Earth at the moment, the scope of anti-Semitism and humanistic rebellion against this magnificent God is noteworthy. Similar situations have had their moments in history but have not swelled to the proportions seen in the past century and at this moment. Nor has it been seen to this extent in people professing faith in God. What does this portend for us as human beings? A time for war?!

Angels, demons, and the people they influence worldwide are players in this cosmic and cataclysmic scenario. The most important part and factor is the judgment of the Almighty—how and when He will choose to act, but act He will, out of justice and love.

There will be deliverance and protection for his own, those who fear him and draw near in fidelity and obedience. And there will be judgment on the evil and the unjust — a removal of cancer, if you will, for the nations and His creation. Selah.

Happy Passover 2024, as you remember the gracious, merciful Holy One who initiated this deliverance and the Passover of the death angel who judged a rebellious, idol-ridden world power bent on destroying God’s chosen people.

Worship the lamb and celebrate the victory he gives and makes possible over sin and death — also over sin and slavery.

“Pesach Sameach”

פסח שמח

Happy Passover

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“’O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NLT).

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, ‘But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.’ …
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2).

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).

Christmas and Hanukkah 2023

On an early-morning, 3-mile walk around our neighborhood with my wife, we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. Soon, our conversation turned to soul care — reading the Bible habitually, praying, staying in a community of faith — and abiding in the Light.

“Soul care” seems to be jumping out to me everywhere. Ron, my neighbor, came into the yard yesterday evening, catching me putting the last touches on our Christmas angel, and he was there for the lighting ceremony just as the sun was setting and Hanukkah was beginning. While enjoying a beautiful moment and sunset, our conversation turned to “soul care” — the habits, disciplines, and rhythms of the Christian faith and subsequent peace.

Hanukkah is from the Hebrew word for consecration. Hanukkah, according to dictionary.com is “A Jewish festival lasting eight days, celebrated from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of Tevet in commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians [168 BC] under Antiochus IV, characterized chiefly by the lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival.” Sometimes spelled Chanukah, it is also called the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights.

Bethlehem Light

On our morning walk, we also discussed that “people believe what they want to believe.” When it comes to Bethlehem, can you really overlook such a carefully placed puzzle piece? You can if your heart doesn’t want to know, see, or believe.

On the same note, if you do want to believe there is a God who cares, Who is there, and always does what He says from generation to generation, then pause at Bethlehem. Open your eyes, your ears, your heart, your soul, your spirit, and peer in wonder at a humble Baby and the very heart of your Creator God.

The sky was full of light that night! Happy Hanukkah.

Christmas and Hanukkah

What do these two have in common? Other than both will begin on the same day December 25, 2024 — light! Those living in darkness will see a great light in Galilee of the Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1-2, Matthew 4:14-15). A prophet, priest, and King is born in Bethlehem, Judah, as predicted by the prophet Micah (5:2). Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” is a fitting beginning for Jesus, who would call himself the “bread of life.” The Lion of Judah, the Son of David, was born in the same town David was, 1000 years earlier. Seems like too big a coincidence, doesn’t it?

The religious (those trusting in their own knowledge and works) didn’t see it. Check for yourself. Does any prophet come from Nazareth? (John 7:52). Who else doesn’t see? And who does? That’s a fascinating study within itself as you follow Jesus’ life and ministry on the pages of the Gospels.

It’s by invitation only! But the guest list is immense, in keeping with the wealth and goodwill of the Host. There is an RSVP stated or implied, and that’s our only responsibility, apparently.

Please, stop what you’re doing. Put worldly cares and your to-do list aside. Enter into the joy of the Lord, where there is feasting without strife and rest — where there is true life.

Take care of your soul. Start living your faith or keeping your faith in an ever-increasing and deepening fashion. There dwells light and life — love and joy.

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“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).

“But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:1-2).

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst’” (John 6:35).

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).