Most children growing up in Nigeria know what “hear word” means. It’s the expression your parents use when they mean to say, “listen to wise instruction because you so often don’t!” This saying would sometimes be followed by the ominous “a word is enough for the wise”. Of the many Nigerian-isms I love, “hear word” is one of my favorites for …
My office outlawed hugging years ago. I work in a big newsroom, part of a huge corporation, and hugging, in general, is not encouraged at work. I’m a hugger, so I know all about HR’s specific hug-time allowances, like if someone gets a promotion or if they are leaving the company. You can offer to hug them then, if they’re …
Did you know that there are at least 10 different kinds of figs: mission, belmandil, bourjassote grise, colar, milagro, negra gigante, lampa branca, velez, ficus carica, and aberdin? Mission figs are my favorite (possibly because they are the only kind I can pronounce properly). They are dark purple on the outside and have a nice plump, sweet inside. Recently, figs …
There are many stories from the Bible that have gripped me in such a way that I have imagined how great it would be to see them played out on a movie screen (the actual event, not a reenactment!) if not actually seeing it in person. The parting of the Red Sea; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace; Angels …
Most of us recognize prayer to be a central part of the life of a disciple. But sometimes we tend to think of prayer as more of a duty—something that we should do. It can feel like an external requirement or burden, and it’s easy for us to feel guilty about our prayer life. That is not God’s intent. Part …
My family is no stranger to mental illness and dementia. We’ve had several family members over the years who have found their mental faculties declining due to mental illness or age-related dementia. It wasn’t (and isn’t) easy to watch these family members decline and forget even the most basic things like their children’s names, the concept of numbers, or lose …
Many of you know that I’ve been back in school, starting a Master’s of Divinity degree at age 59. What I can tell you is that the mind doesn’t work as well now as it used to, but you can not improve on the subject matter. I’ve had the joy, yes, it is really a joy, to study Biblical Hebrew. …
Most people have heard of Patrick Henry’s defiant call at the second Virginia Convention of 1775: “…give me liberty or give me death!” This was a call to form armed militias in resistance to British law, and in order to repel and repulse a potential incursion by British troops. It was unquestionably an exhortation in favor of rebellion. Other political …
When Steven and I joined the Youth Group team in Summer 2019, we were excited about many things: serving in a ministry together as husband and wife, the team itself of servant-hearted, Christ-centered individuals, and getting to know a demographic of our GRC family that, up until then, had flown under our radar. What we didn’t realize was how deep …
What is your definition of the grace of God? For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us …