“For God is my witness how I long for you all and think of you with love and the tender mercy of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:8 Separated by Miles But Not Spirit: I receive nice letters from time to time from those who enjoy this weekly prayer devotional. I do not share them usually as they are mostly personal and private. But…

Once in awhile I find prayer challenging. Why are some prayers answered and others not? And occasionally I struggle with God, wondering why He allows what He allows. A terrible accident. Cancer. Broken hearts. How does it work? Why is Peggy Hank paralyzed from a seemingly minor surf accident and I’m not. I bodysurfed some big waves in the early 70’s off…

Refuge & Impact: I admire a number of people in my life and right at the top of my list is Pastor Sam and his youth leaders, KJ, Billy and Taylor as well as a number of volunteers. I watch how they reach out to the hundred or more kids who attend Refuge and Impact every week and I never cease to…

My Version of Psalm 23 You are my Shepherd, You will always care for me, Laying me down in green meadows, near soothing waters, Refreshing and restoring my soul, leading me in the right way. If I plunge into darkness, I will not fear for You are with me, Protecting, correcting, guiding and encouraging. You will honor me before my enemies, anointing…

Taking a Moment to Pray: Starting off this devotional with prayer needs. In a world full of challenges, this week has quite a few… Caleb Scott– who left for Lebanon yesterday to serve as a missionary for an extended time, reaching out to Syrian refugees; his skin has recently flared up with a bad case of eczema making him really uncomfortable Billy…

She sat directly across from me in the Upper Room on a beautiful, warm Saturday morning. A white handkerchief covered her bare head, hiding the effects of massive amounts of chemo. A yellow shawl was draped loosely around her thinning body. A Bible rested comfortably on her knees, open to Psalm 29, the passage we had just read. Head tilted slight upward,…

This is the story of beauty coming out of ashes, how something extraordinary can emerge out of the most intense suffering. Young Francis Thompson, unable to fulfill the aspirations of his father, who dreamed his son would become a doctor, dropped out of Oxford College in late 19th century England and began writing. But his efforts brought menial remuneration and gradually Francis found…

Almost four hours to the minute after posting last Tuesday’s prayer letter, beloved Beverly Blumenfeld took her last breath here on this earth and transitioned right into God’s presence. 2 Corinthians 5:8 states for the believer, “That to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” It’s such a reassuring verse. Most of you have read the Facebook…

A week ago Friday, a little after midnight, hospice nurses caring for my sister-in-law Beverly, switched shifts but inadvertently allowed both house cats, Jack and Tiger, to slip through the door and bolt out into the night. A few minutes later Beverly’s husband Mark realized the cats were gone and ran outside calling them. Jack quickly returned but no Tiger. Mark called…

A Response – to the article on teen suicide I wrote last week:  “I will be praying for all concerned. My heart/compassion is with those teenagers.  I am praying that Pastor Sam receives wisdom from God on how to help each one. Nothing is impossible with God. Taking the authority that we have been given, I bind the spirit of death and loose the spirit of…