Read: Jeremiah 13:23; Acts 9:1-30   I always enjoy hearing an animal analogy that conveys a biblical truth. This week, I heard the story of a skunk that was lying dead by the side of the road. He had evidently been there for some time because he had decayed quite a bit, and out of him, the chute of a little tree was growing. Life emerging from what would otherwise be useless. That's very encouraging, because it is true that God can surprise us with His joy and beauty in places where we would...

Read: Psalm 32:1-2; Matthew 5:3; Luke 7:36-50   It is that time again. When the old year slips quietly into the background, making room for the new one.  Sometimes, it is a time of pondering, and so, I was once again thinking of a question that I have been asked many times. "Do you think we are doing all we can to tell people the Good News?" My answer? I'm not certain; however, I know each of us who belongs to Jesus have a precious commodity to hold out to those around us. Something that...

Read: Proverbs 13:12; Luke 2:25-35   It is still late December, and there it was among the e-mail messages this morning. An offer to buy tomato seeds. Some are even available at sale prices. At first, I was a bit put off. After all, we just celebrated Christmas. Are they rushing into a new season before I've even had a chance to sample all the different Christmas cookies that I have received? However, as I thought about the descriptions of the different seeds that were offered, I wondered...