Category Archives: Discipleship

“Comedian Nate Bargatze says his career isn’t just about getting laughs — it’s about living out his belief that he is ‘second to God,’” wrote Leah MarieAnn Klett in the Christian Post.

I have to admit I’d never seen his act—or even heard of Nate Bargatze. Yet he’s been performing stand-up comedy since 2002. In 2024, he was the highest-grossing comic, selling over 1.2 million tickets at sold-out venues across America. Continue reading →

Our Wednesday night class at West Citrus is studying “Major Lessons From Minor Bible Characters” based on a workbook by Matt Hennecke.

Last night’s character might not seem so “minor” to those who grew up attending Bible classes and singing about him.

Can you guess who he is? Here are two hints.

He was a “wee little man.”

He climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Continue reading →

While we have been on our blogging break, we’ve again been reminded how easily people justify violence—even in the name of faith.

A recent act of political violence involved a highly educated young man who targeted a member of a presidential administration. In a manifesto sent to family members just minutes before the attack, he listed numerous grievances and attempted to frame his actions as a defense of the oppressed—even appealing to Christian reasoning. Continue reading →

At a recent Gospel Meeting, the preacher’s wife gifted my wife some washcloths she had knitted. Apparently, this is more than a passing hobby, as she knits for her family and for others.

While in the mountains, I came across the story of a woman named Grace who knitted blankets—not for profit or recognition, but for people she’d never met. Continue reading →

Last night I finished a gospel meeting with the Kemper Heights Church in Nashville. This followed a meeting with the Woodland Hills church in Marion, Indiana.

We enjoyed being with both congregations where we’ve ministered in the past, renewing friendships and fellowship with some wonderful brethren. It has been encouraging to us and, hopefully, edifying to them. Continue reading →

“What’s in a name?” opined Juliet in Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet.

Her answer: “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Continue reading →

Greetings from Music City!

It’s good to be back in Middle Tennessee, where I’m beginning a meeting at the Kemper Heights Church, just North of Nashville in Madison.

We’ve been with this good church many times over the past 25 years, so it’s a real pleasure to return and renew our friendship and fellowship with these dear brethren. My good friend and former intern, Mike Richardson, is the local preacher and is doing a wonderful work. Continue reading →

Imagine discovering a bear living in the crawl space under your house.

That’s what happened to Ken Johnson of Altadena, California. When he first noticed bricks scattered beneath his home, he assumed it was a raccoon or a stray dog. But after installing a camera, he woke up to a shocking discovery: a 550-pound black bear had moved in. Not for a visit. Not for a night. It had settled in. Continue reading →