Jim and Nell Hamm were about to celebrate their 50th anniversary in February 2007, but that celebration almost got canceled. They were hiking in a north California state park in January when Jim was attacked by a mountain lion. Nell grabbed a log to hit the lion repeatedly, but he wouldn’t let go of Jim’s head. Jim […]
I Didn’t Have Time To Do It – Colossians 4:2, 5b
(Below is a devotional message written by one of our members. Ronn Bisbee is an attorney in Dana Point, California, whose primary area of expertise is child support. His email address is below the message, if you want to communicate directly with him. With these words, he challenges each one of us to make an […]
Practical Christianity with a Capital P – James
The New Testament book of James is poignant. Convicting. Very, very practical! Only 5 short chapters with 108 verses, but it contains 54 imperatives, one for every 2 verses. Described as a series of pearls on a string, it does not flow with neat transitions, but it does encourage and challenge. For this devotional, I am […]
Up, Up and Away! – Luke 9:23-25
Ewa Wisnerska, a German paraglider, was preparing in Australia for the February 2007 world championship competition. She was flying around a rapidly developing storm front and was being tracked by her personal GPS and computer, when her greatest adventure began. She was swept up, up and away! Trapped in the merger of two storm cells, she […]
What Do You Cherish? – Ephesians 5:5,8-10
Mladen Jovanovic is my friend who preaches for a church in Zagreb, Croatia, which was a center for benevolent work during the years of conflict between Serbians and Croatians. They resolved not to throw food to people out of the back of trucks, but to interview each recipient and listen carefully to each story. They […]
You Do Not Even Know – James 4:14
I was among those who received an email message asking me to pray for the outstanding Christian author Philip Yancey. He was in a serious auto accident on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, in New Mexico. Driving home to Denver after speaking in Los Alamos, his Ford Explorer rolled several times when he entered a curve with too much […]
Man’s Best Friend? – John 15:15-16
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved dogs. For most of my life, I’ve owned and cared for one, but I’ve never expected one of mine ever to do anything heroic. And, they haven’t, except to put up with me and try to please me, even when I’ve been hard to please. In […]
He Was Lost And Is Found – Luke 15
How many variations of Jesus’ story of the lost son can be told! Many of us can tell our own versions, sometimes as the lost child, sometimes as the welcoming parent, amazing ourselves at what we learn about ourselves in both roles and at what we learn about God’s love. What might be regarded as […]
On My Knees Before the Father – Ephesians 3:14-21
I’ve been surprised how many people have asked me to teach them how to pray. Actually, it’s an honor, I suppose, that they think I might know. His disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and He gave them what we often call “The Lord’s Prayer.” (Luke 11:1-4) Many have memorized it and recited […]
Beyond Generosity – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Everson Walls arrived at the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp in 1981 as an undrafted rookie from Grambling, but he led the NFL in interceptions in 3 of his first 5 seasons. He picked off 57 passes and made the Pro Bowl 4 times over his 14-year career which later had him with the Giants and […]