Jethro TOOLS - Blog: Signal Light

Steps of Faith

5/31/2026

Genesis 12
In September of 1846, Sir John Franklin’s expedition to find the Northwest Passage came to an ominous halt in ice. The two ships, Erebus and Terror, began the journey in 1845, but now they were ensnared in the ice of northern Canada around King Island. Franklin, the expedition leader died in 1847. By April 1848, the remaining crew decided to avoid a similar fate by walking across the frozen ground. They were lacking in proper provisions, and preparation, and as a result, they all died trying to escape. Have you ever looked at your situation and realized that your resources were short and your strength was limited? In Genesis twelve, God spoke to Abram and told him to leave where he lived and relocate (1). This was not a move across town, but a move across literal countries. Abram responded by faith and arrived safely (4-5) under God’s faithful provision and protection. His response upon arriving was to build an altar and worship God (8). Like Abram, God still calls us to leave our comforts and follow Him by faith. The difficulty is that we want God to tell us where He is taking us and how it is all going to work out. That is not faith. God desires that we trust His plan completely and follow His process obediently. The struggle of practicing our faith is that we have a tendency to only go halfway with God. We want to know that we have at least one foot on solid ground while we gingerly test God’s direction with the other. God is all powerful and always faithful. We can trust Him at all times in every situation. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God and His righteousness first and He will provide all that is needed. How is your faith? Are you taking the steps to follow God in obedience to His direction? We believe by faith and live by faith because God is always faithful.

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The Value Driven Life

5/24/2026

Genesis 10-11
Our values seem to change depending on our circumstances. For example if you are building an emergency shelter you may only use a tarp to provide protection from the weather. However, if you are building your home you want to make sure the roof is waterproof, the walls are insulated and it is warm inside. One structure is built on the value of survival while the other is built on sustained living comfort. In other words what we do and how we act is based on the values that we hold. In Genesis 11 we see the issue of values played out in real life, but in an incorrect manner. In the account of the tower of Babel humanity tried to gain access to heaven on their own. They set up their government under their own rules with their own values in opposition to God. They had a self centered plan to build for their own recognition and significance rather than God’s (4). Their construction project was their way of gaining access to God on their terms rather than coming to God on His terms by grace through faith. In the end God displayed His sovereignty over minuscule man by personally analyzing and judging their work and motives from His all knowing standard (5-6). This resulted in God enacting His plan by sovereignly halting their collaborative work through the introduction of various languages (8-9). God’s original plan was for humanity to spread and fill the earth and thus spread His glory around the world (see Genesis 1:28 & Genesis 9:7). Instead the people remained in one location with those that were just like them and believed like them. In doing so they disregarded God’s command and distorted the worship of God into a self centered experience. Like them our values will impact where we go, what we do and who we talk about. May our Biblical values direct our humble service to God and our purposeful conversation about God.

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The Choice of Worship

5/17/2026

Genesis 7-9
This week I had cancer surgery… again. The spot had been a growing irritation, but I had grown accustomed to the bother and eventually ignored it as a new normal. However, a doctor determined otherwise. So, after further consultation, the solution became clear. The only viable option to the cancerous invasion was surgery. Radical action was required to remove the cancer. If allowed to remain, the cancer would continue to grow and spread unchecked. The same is true of sin. Sin can creep in and subtly take over and lead to death. The book of Romans tells us that the wages, or pay off, of sin is death (Romans 6:23). As we turn our attention to Genesis 7-9, God takes drastic measures to address the infection of sin that had taken over the world. The one sin of Adam and Eve had completely contaminated the whole of humanity. God now steps in and uses the drastic surgical method of a flood to address the infection of sin. In the midst of the corruption of sin, God looks for those who were righteous, and finds only Noah (Genesis 7). The totality of sin leads to God’s judgment through the flood (Genesis 8), yet God is faithful despite the sin (Genesis 9). Noah was a righteous man who followed God when everyone else rejected God. Can the same be said of us? Noah was righteous because of his faith in God and obedience to God (Hebrews 11:7). Noah made the choice to worship and honor God by living a life devoted to God in the midst of sin. Even today, God is still looking for committed disciples who will turn from sin and follow Him. You may wonder if following God is worth it. God is looking for people, like Noah, who choose to worship Him and not their sin. These are the type of people that God will use to make a difference in a sinful world.

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A God Centered Life

5/10/2026

Proverbs 31
There is wisdom in the saying used by many in various trades; “Measure twice cut once.” This simple truth is the reminder to take a second look and reaffirm that the irreversible action you are about to take is correct. That simple wisdom is the truth that guides a repeated practice leading to success, not failure or frustration. Repeating that kind of practice leads to a lifelong perspective that carefully evaluates every situation. That is a worldview based on an experienced truth. Worldview is like a pair of glasses through which we see the world. It is a consistent filter that guides our action. A biblical worldview is the lens through which we understand all that we experience, and guides the action that we take. In Proverbs 31we see the God centered life, or worldview, illustrated and exemplified, in the description and measurement of a God fearing mother (10-31). This book provides the repeated and contrasting examples of applying or rejecting God’s wisdom in all situations. The closing chapter of Proverbs contains a summary of living by God’s wisdom that has been presented in the first 30 chapters. The woman described in Proverbs 30 has taken and applied the key factor of honoring God in every situation (see Proverbs 1:7). In the end she has consistently lived a life to honor God and she is worthy of praise (30). Her life is credible and she will be rewarded (31). Like the example of this Godly woman our beliefs will direct how we think. What we think will affect how we live, and how we live will impact our world. Do you believe that God is worthy of your honor and obedience in every situation? Wisdom is not knowing the right answer. Wisdom is understanding and believing what is right and doing what is right. A God centered life is not just knowing about God, but honoring Him by applying His wisdom to every area of life.

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God's Boat Builder

5/3/2026

Genesis 5-6
Have you ever thought about building a boat? I have seen boats made from wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass and even concrete. What ever the boat is made from, the greatest concern is stability and safety in the water. Will the boat stay afloat? Will it remain steady and balanced? Safety and stability are the focus of the boat building process. So, what does it take to build a boat? We might come up with a list of tools, some plans and a list of materials. Technology and electricity will accelerate the process. But what if you were Noah, and God told you to build a boat? Noah did not dream of being a boat builder, but it became his God given job. This was an assigned task and an exercise of faith. In Genesis six we see the sinful corruption of the worldwide population. Yet, in the midst of sin, Noah was living a righteous life that pleased God (1-8). God recognized his character and commanded that he build a boat (9-22). Noah had 120 years (Genesis 6:3) to build a boat that was larger than a football field and he had to do it all by hand without power tools and today’s technology. What does it take to build an unsinkable boat? Noah held to an unsinkable faith in God and unsinkable resolve to complete the task that God had assigned to him. Hebrews 11:7 records that Noah was a man of faith. How is your faith? Noah remained unwavering in his commitment to God in a hostile culture. He continued with an unmovable resolve to complete what God had called him to do. Time can wear on our perseverance and faith. God called Noah to be faithful in a faithless culture. God still calls us to walk with Him and work for Him. What boat has God called you to build in a faithless culture that needs to see our unshakable faith in our faithful Savior?

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Identity

4/26/2026

Genesis 4
Upon hearing a report that some owls were moving into the area, a local bird watcher decided to try and identify them by communicating with them. So, promptly at 8pm each evening, the man would walk out his back door and begin hooting like an owl. After a couple days he heard an owl hoot back. Excitedly, the man began keeping notes about his nightly interactions with the owl. This hooting conversation with the owl went on for quite some time. One day the man’s wife was having a conversation with one of the neighborhood women. She told about her husband having a regular conversation with the owls each night beginning at eight. “That is interesting,” said the neighbor, “My husband does the same thing at the same time.” Just because you sound like an owl does not make you an owl. In much the same way, we can go through the religious motions of worship, but not be a genuine worshiper of God. In Genesis 4, we read the infamous events surrounding the first murder, as Cain killed his brother Abel. The problem began in the preparation for worship. Cain brought some of the fruits (3), while Abel brought fat portions (4). Cain had a religious heart that only brought a selection to God. Abel, on the other hand, had a right heart that brought God the best of what he had. The spiritual direction of these two men shows their spiritual identity and their true motive for worship. Cain was self-centered, while Abel was God-centered. Like these two men, who took approached worship differently, we are also identified by who, and how, we worship. We can worship the God who made us or we can worship what we make of ourselves. True worship declares that God is deserving of our honor and service through the activity of our lives, the words of our mouths and the dedication of our hearts. Your life is defined by who you worship.

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The Change

4/19/2026

Genesis 3:8-24
Years ago I ended up taking care of a rescued dog that my daughter had befriended. She did not have a living situation that allowed dogs so I ended up with a tricolored Australian Shepherd named Sky, that had definitely been abused. Despite being about 50 to 60 pounds he cowered in my presence when we first met. I learned very quickly that he had a streak of stubborn independence, and that he did not like men in particular. As I watched him and worked with him, I began to assemble some of the puzzling pieces of his past life. He probably had an owner that cared very little for him and so Sky developed the bad habit of an independent streak that opposed his owner. After various forms of abuse the owner seems to have hauled the dog to the middle of the woods and dumped him to fend for himself. That is where my daughter found him at camp. An owner that did not care, and a stubborn dog who refused to obey, was a recipe for disaster. The dog that cowered before me was broken and needed the loving, but firm hand, of one who was trustworthy. Similarly, we as people stubbornly insist on our way, just like Sky, or Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter three. I had to pursue a relationship with a broken dog just as God pursued a relationship with stubborn and sinful humanity (8-9). God refused to turn away from the creation that He made and the people that He loved. In His love, he moved toward the sinners calling them back to Himself. In sin, Adam and Eve ran and hid from God’s presence (10). Sin caused the separation from God and from enjoying His good. God is good, His word is true, and His way is right. We, like a broken dog, need to listen to Him, trust Him and follow Him in order to experience His goodness and rest.

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Downward Spiral of Sin

4/12/2026

Genesis 3:1-7
Beliefs mattered to the early church. Around 400 AD there were two men who took opposing views on the issue of the original sin that started in the Garden of Eden and the sinful nature that has been passed down through generations. The first man is Pelagius. He rejected the idea of original sin and instead argued that humanity has the capacity to obey and follow God’s law perfectly. On the other side of the debate is Augustine, who believed in the complete sinfulness of man and the need for man to completely depend on the grace of God for salvation. Today, we face a growing and concerning trend in that people believe they are basically good. Studies show that even church attenders do not believe that they are sinful and in need of God’s grace. This trend is worsening in the younger generations. The deceitfulness of Satan still reigns as he still tries to convince people that they are good without God. The problem is this the same argument that was used in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. The opening verses of this chapter describe a downward spiral of sin. First there is Satan and the deceptive temptation (1), which is followed by the distortion of God’s words (2-3). The next step down involves doubting God (4-5), which leads to desiring other things apart from God (6). Finally, the first human couple disobey God’s direct command and thus commit the first sin (7). Their broken moral character is now passed down from generation to generation. We can choose to follow sin or we can choose to follow Christ. I exhort you, as does Augustine from the pages of history, call out to Christ for the forgiveness of sin and the salvation of your soul. We are not able to fix ourselves. We as sinners (Romans 3:10-11, 23-24), must depend on a gracious God who loved us and gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2).

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Appearing of the King

4/5/2026

John 20:19-23
A new movie was released in December 2019 called Togo. The setting is the 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska. A dog musher by the name of Leonhard Seppala was sent to pick up a bundle of medical serum. Together with his dog team, that was led by Togo, they raced over 250 miles to bring the life saving serum to the dying people of Nome. Like Seppala we as believers face many problems in this life. John writes, in John 20, that Jesus sent His followers out with a task to deliver the life saving message of forgiveness and salvation through Him. His presence with them brought peace regardless of the present problems. Jesus promised His continued power in their lives through the present working power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were sent to live out His purpose in their life as they proclaimed the message of forgiveness through Jesus to those dying without Him. We too have been sent to deliver the life saving message of Jesus. Like the disciples we may wall ourselves off from society out of fear of confrontation, and accusation of being connected to Jesus. Notice that Jesus shows up when least expected and most needed. The disciples were filled with fear. Easter Sunday reminds us that because of the resurrection of Jesus we can live a new life with God’s power. Do you believe that Jesus rose from the grave to change everything? The reality that Jesus is alive changes everything. The peace that comes through believing Christ overcomes fear. The power to serve is found in God’s enablement. We are given a purpose to live for Him and proclaim freedom and forgiveness through Jesus. As you look at your life and your world, what is unsettling and uncertain for you? Jesus came to forgive sin and give new life and new power to live for Him. What we believe will change the way we live.

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Presentation of the King

3/29/2026

Matthew 21:1-11
In 2023 England crowned a new king. It was fascinating to observe the coronation, the regalia and ceremonies tied to becoming king. In some ways it seemed like quite a drawn out process. Charles immediately became the king upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. However, he had to go through a very formal ceremony where he was officially given the title of king. Then on May 6, 2023, Charles was officially crowned the king in a special coronation ceremony. His whole life led to this moment. The ceremony was the culmination of expectation that ended with the presentation of the king. Matthew 21 records a far less spectacular presentation of a king, yet it is even more important. Matthew records Jesus entering Jerusalem before the Passover and His death. Before He enters the city, he stops outside a small village, and displays His kingly power through His command to His disciples (1-3). He then presents Himself as the King (6-9) by fulfilling the prophetic record of Zechariah chapter nine (4-5). However, the crowds were interested in a political king and a military savior. They could not accurately tell who Jesus was (10-11). Their answer lacked the insight and belief in Jesus as God’s promised savior. They desired a king for their purposes who would do their bidding. In the same way our message of Jesus must include that He is the one sent by God to save us from our sin. Jesus presented Himself as the King who came to sacrifice Himself, to serve us, and to save us. That leaves us with several questions. What do we believe about Jesus? Do we believe Him to be the promised one from God? What will we do for the King? Will we serve Him obediently? What will we say about Jesus? Will we accurately declare Him to be the Son of Gd and savior of the world? The world needs to know about Jesus the greatest King.

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The Connection

3/22/2026

Genesis 2:4-25
The wind outside turned a normal evening into a lack of connection. It did not matter where, but somewhere between the power station and our house a tree fell on the electric line, breaking the electrical connection. Growing up this was a common occurrence as our home was plunged into darkness. It is interesting how connection to one line makes all the difference for most of our homes. An electrical connection is used for lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, washing and a myriad of other daily activities. Electricity is central to our society and infrastructure. Likewise, as we have seen previously in Genesis, God is the central figure giving life by connecting all that is living to His proper order. Genesis 2:4 begins by giving the account of God making the heavens and the earth. The following verses describe three ways that God provides people a connection to His creation. First, God provides connection with what He has made by giving life to the man (4-9). Second, God provides purpose for the man by giving physical and moral responsibilities (10-17). Third, God provides relational connection by giving the man a woman as an opposite but indispensable companion (18-23). God was the essential link giving life, purpose and relationship. The same is true today. The problem is that we often think that we create our own life, define our own purpose, and select our own relationships. This chapter closes by describing how God created marriage to communicate His connection with us (24-25). We are to leave the old life and start a new life by intimately connecting to Christ. We are to daily live lives of obedient submission and commitment to God’s rule by living God’s way. Simply put, marriage is to be a picture of the Gospel lived out in living color for all to see. Let us boldly proclaim our life giving connection with God who made us, loved us, and gave Himself for us.

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The Rest

3/15/2026

Genesis 2:1-3
I find it interesting that we view rest as an escape from the present. We isolate ourselves from others and we insulate ourselves from normal surroundings to find rest. We leave for vacation to find rest from our daily hustle and bustle. We want to leave the snow, so we book a vacation to some place warm with sun and sand. Yet, it is a curious thing to examine Genesis 2 and see that God completed His work and stayed right where He was. He did not create a separate place for rest. In completing all of creation and making it perfectly good, God paused, stopped work, and rested. His creative goodness was on display because of His great all surpassing power. Everything was in perfectly completed just as He prescribed (1). As the work of creation ended God set aside one more day for the purpose of rest not work (2). This day was set apart as different from all the other days (3). Rest is a blessing after the labor of work. Rest is blessed by God, and by taking a day a week to rest we imitate God. Where do you find your rest? Do we travel to places we can hardly pronounce much less spell? Rest is not found in where we go, but in who we place our trust. We need to trust in God daily for strength, and be renewed by Him regularly through a day of rest. In creating the world God rested, not because He needed it, but because it was good. God is good, His work is good, and resting in Him is good. All creation is made to be a reminder of God’s good and perfect work that brings new life. All that God has created continually points us to His good work for us and in us. The beginning of all rest is based on God taking a day to rest. Are we taking time to rest?

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The Pattern

2/22/2026

Genesis 1:3-31
Have you ever failed at making something good? It may be a craft project, a carpentry project or a cooking project. From my early years, I remember one time when my mother made a German Chocolate birthday cake for my father. Everything was going well, until Mom had to assemble the layers. Everything started to slide. It was not good, but Mom had a creative solution. She reasoned that a rubber band can hold all kinds of things together. Therefore, it should be able to hold her cake together. It partially worked. The problem came when she went to cut the cake and could not find the rubber band. In Genesis 1 we see God record His process of creation. These verses contain the repeated pattern of: a command from God, a response to God’s command, a statement naming what has been created, followed by an assessment and marking of sequential order. In six days God created the heavens and the earth. The later days are used by God to fill what He had previously made. The heavens are filled with the moon and stars. The waters are filled with fish, and the earth is filled with animals. But, on the sixth day we see God’s crowning achievement of creation: people. This is noted as distinct and different as humanity is created in God’s image (26). God, the originator, still brings order and purpose to our lives and our world. God, as the source of all that is good, makes what is good. As people, we can worship and praise Him for giving our lives purpose and meaning. We worship Him for His goodness. God has formed our lives, and our world so we can be His representative image bearers who display His goodness. By faith, we believe God is our creator. Today, our belief in Jesus, as our Savior, makes it possible for us to celebrate His goodness for all eternity.

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The Chaos

2/15/2026

Genesis 1:2
Chaos is an interesting word that describes disorder, confusion of direction and lack of correct function. One way that we try to keep the chaos at bay in our life is through our societal emphasis on organization. We purchase file folders for organization. We utilize storage systems in an attempt to keep our things organized. We even use calendars with reminders to keep our life in order. Then we read books on organization that hopefully keep us from dysfunction. Why do we have a strong tendency toward dysfunction? The root causes of dysfunction and disorder lie in sin and the rebellious opposition to God and His ways of proper function and order. In Genesis 1:2 God describes the world before He made it as disorderly, dysfunctional and chaotic. The earth did not have a form, it was not filled with life of any kind and it was covered in darkness. The words used to describe this paint the picture of chaos. Yet, Genesis records that God was hovering above all of this, watching and preparing for what He was about to do next. That was God in the beginning before our world was made. What kind of chaos exists in your world today? Sin has distorted the order of our world and the submission to God’s rule in our life. Jesus told us to pray for His perfect order and rule (Matthew 6:9-10). As in the beginning, we can discover God and His work, all we need to do is look up and call out to Him. Perhaps we may doubt God’s power. Remember that in the beginning God formed the world out of chaotic nothingness. He is a delivering God. We need to discern that God is at work even in the chaos of our sin sick world. God is at work making all things new. Trust in God as your creator and savior. Tell others how He has changed your chaos to calm.

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The Beginning

2/8/2026

Genesis 1:1
Years ago I had purchased a home that was made in a factory and hauled by a truck to my property. The problem was that that there was no foundation for the home to sit on. So I hired a someone to help me drill twenty holes in the ground. Now, from a construction standpoint you need a house foundation to set on hard ground or rock. We drilled holes that were sixteen inches across and six feet deep and found nothing but soft ground. With nothing else to do we filled the holes with concrete and placed the home on the pilings. That first year was an adjustment because we lived right next to a main train track. Every time the train rumbled past the house would shake. Why? All the ground that the house sat on was soft, so when the train shook the ground it shook the house. Just as our homes need a solid foundation so also we need a foundation for life. In Genesis 1 we see God provide that for us. Verse one provides a summary statement about the beginning. God was there before the world and people existed. Genesis 1:1 tells us that God was the starter who started and ordered our world. He is the all powerful originator who created and ordered our world. Genesis 1:1 records God describing Himself and His work. God created without the advice, instruction or help from any other source. From His life giving position of supreme authority He created life. We as people and our world did not evolve. The living God of life creates life. You can never have something that is dead make life. We may struggle to understand how creation happened because it is beyond our realm of normal, yet Genesis lays the foundation that God does not act according to human standards. Genesis calls us to worship God alone as the creator who provided our foundation for new life.

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Challenge the Culture

2/1/2026

Colossians 1:9-12
What can weigh over 100 pounds and is known as a semi aquatic rodent? If you guessed the beaver, you would be correct. A beaver will work tirelessly to build dams that create and expand its water habitat. This increase in water allows the beaver greater mobility, protection and access to more abundant sources of food. However, a busy beaver will also create conditions that attract incests, birds and fish. As beaver influenced wetlands increase so also do the benefits for migratory birds, deer and moose increase. A simple beaver will work tenaciously to bring lasting change and influence its surrounding community. Believers in Jesus Christ are to do the same. We are called to bring the message of Jesus to a world that is dry and in desperate need of His life giving water (see John 4). We influence our world for Christ by appropriating His power and seeing Him use us to bring His lasting change within our community. In Colossians 1 Paul prays that God would supply this church with an abundant supply of the knowledge of His will (9). He prays the they would find spiritual stability in living for God (10), and the spiritual strength to patiently endure under pressure (11). The disciple who understands that their past is paid by Christ, and their future is secure in Christ, is presently able to live a life of joy that honors Christ (12). Regardless of the circumstances the believer finds their secure standing in Christ. Knowing that we belong to Christ we therefore have hope in all circumstances. From the position of spiritual security we are able to give joyful thanks to God. We are called to challenge our culture by living counter to our culture and spread the contagious joy of knowing Christ within our culture. When we do, God will use us to leave a lasting spiritual legacy that will influence our culture for Him.

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Cure for the Culture

1/25/2026

Philippians 1:9-11
When we think of a broken heart we often think of a love that is lost and the individual flounders searching for a personal emotional cure to a failed relationship. However, there is actually a health issue called broken heart syndrome. This heart problem is caused by some sudden stress that is placed upon the individual. This stress may come from a physical event like a car accident, an emotional event like grief or fear and even perhaps from consuming certain strong or spicy foods. The symptoms of broken heart syndrome are very much like a heart attack with chest pain and shortness of breath. However, broken heart syndrome is reversible within a few days or weeks because its cause is tied to the body and its production of a large amount of adrenaline. As we look at our world we see people with a spiritual heart issue. We see people living with a broken heart and not knowing the cure, and yet searching for one. As Paul says in Philippians chapter one there is a cure, and we as believers in Jesus Christ carry the cure. Paul is praying for the Philippian church that their love will thrive and multiply (19). This is an admission that they are a loving church, but also a petition asking God to step in and work in the life of this church even more. This love that the church has is a love that imitates God’s love in its sacrifice and service. This is not a romantic love or even a love between friends. God’s love is to be lived out by His followers because He has loved them first and therefore the church has the ability, capacity and example of how to love (1 John 4:19). We carry the cure of Christ and His forgiveness and love to a world full of people with a broken heart. God displays His cure for our culture through us as we love like Him.

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Call to the Culture

1/18/2026

Ephesians 6:19-20
What is an ambassador? If you are a car enthusiast you will recognize that Nash Motors and later AMC produced a full size car called the Ambassador. There is also a widely popular Indian vehicle named the Ambassador. However, an ambassador is more than just a car. An ambassador describes a type of person who plays a specific role as an official appointed representative. On the governmental side, this requires a wide array of knowledge, language and communication skills and then being sent to a specific country. A person could also be a brand ambassador who promotes a certain product as an influencer. In general, an ambassador is sent by an official, to represent them, and communicate for them. In Ephesians six, Paul states that he is an ambassador (20). He understands the role of an earthly ambassador and he transfers that idea into the spiritual arena. Paul is asking that the Ephesian believers would pray for him to be a faithful ambassador of Jesus (19). He has a responsibility and a privilege to be given the role. Paul has gained this position because of his belief in Jesus as His Savior. He now carries the gospel message of good news that Jesus forgives sin and reconciles the sinner to God. The sole desire of Paul is to complete the mission as an ambassador and deliver the message of Jesus faithfully, with boldness. But notice that Paul is in chains. He has been imprisoned because of his belief in Jesus. Even though his circumstances are limiting, his only concern is fulfilling his duty and carrying the message of Jesus to others. We, as believers, are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). We are to be like Paul and faithfully deliver the message that Jesus has changed our life. Our purpose as ambassadors is to be on God’s mission, delivering His message of hope and forgiveness to our culture. Our world is waiting. We must be faithful ambassadors.

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Courage in the Culture

1/11/2026

Ephesians 3:12-21
Obstacles and opposition; these are the problems that courage overcomes. However, as I stood shaking, my courage was gone. Zip, zap, gone. It all started with an invitation to an obstacle course. Two unimposing poles stood in the clearing. The challenge was to climb the first pole, stand on the top and then jump and grab on to the second pole. Sounds easy, right? Even with safety ropes and a harness strapped to me the pole still swayed. Somehow I managed to climb up and stand on the flat top of the pole that was no larger than a small dinner plate. That is when it hit. I lost all courage and excitement for this insane adventure. It is amazing how I could stand on almost nothing and the eight feet to the next pole was an impossible leap of faith. I froze in fear. I had lost my courage to overcome the obstacle. The same in true in our lives. Fear keeps us from moving forward, while faith motivates us with the knowledge that nothing will harm us. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, chapter three is the transitional hinge from theological truths to practical application. Paul closes the first half of the letter with a prayer for their inner strength (16). He does not pray for external or physical solutions, instead, he prays for their inner perspective. He desires that they know Christ and His power and love for them (17-19). At the point of salvation the believer in Jesus positionally comes into instant possession of all the resources available in Christ. Paul is challenging His readers to not only believe in their head, but know experientially by faith, the vast resources of Christ that give freedom to live courageously for Christ. Knowing Christ is like the safety line on the obstacle course. That relationship allows us to courageously take steps of faith in obedience to Christ call. That perspective and practice is counter to our culture.

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Counter to the Culture

1/4/2026

Ephesians 1:17-23
Fitting in, as people we are created for relationships and desire acceptance. Yet at times we are willing to compromise our values and beliefs to gain the fleeting praise and acceptance of others. This is simply called peer pressure. We often think of this term in relation to teenagers who are pressured by their peers into making unwise decisions. However, we can be pressured to conform even when we are older. It is often said that, “Everything is for sale and everyone has a price.” The book of Daniel records perhaps the best recognized examples of a response to peer pressure. The first chapter records Daniel and his three friends in a foreign land in training to serve the king. Daniel resolved in his mind not to defile himself with the food that was unclean and unacceptable by God’s standards (Daniel 1:8). Later in the book the three friends of Daniel are threatened with death if they did not worship the gold statue of the king. In the face of immense pressure they reaffirm their belief in God to deliver, and their resolute refusal not bow to the statue (Daniel 3:16-18). Where does that kind of confidence come from? In Ephesians chapter one Paul prays that the Ephesian church will know God better (17). He prays that they will know the hope, riches and power found only in knowing God (18-23). Our hope is based on Christ and not on what we dream to achieve. Our wealth is found in a merciful God who lavished on us the gift of His Son who died for us to make it possible for us to become part of His family. The same unmatched power that God used to raise Jesus from the grave is now resident in the one who places their faith in Christ to save them. Through God’s power we can withstand temptations and live counter to the pressures found in our culture.

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Christmas Time: Entrusted

12/28/2025

Titus 1:1-4
What are the similarities between the sports of Football, Basketball, Soccer and Hockey? Each of these are team sports with a goal, and a ball, or puck. The teams strategically battle over who controls the play, and ultimately who scores with the playing piece. The ball, or the puck, is given to a selected player to begin moving toward the goal. Within each of these sports, the players must learn how to protect the ball or puck from the opponents in order to successfully carry the play to the goal and score. Players are entrusted with the most important piece, and given the opportunity to participate in the advancement of their team. To be entrusted with something means that you have been given something, and it is now your responsibility and under your care. The same is true in the spiritual arena. For example, Paul tells Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him (2 Timothy 1:14). Later, in the letter that he composed to Titus, Paul gives a similar message. He says that, as a servant and apostle, he has been entrusted with the message about Jesus Christ (1). Following that thought he then tells Titus that he has been entrusted with preaching the message God gave him (3). Notice that what is most valuable to Paul is that which has been given to him. Paul states it differently, in 2 Corinthians 4:7, referring to us as clay pots that hold valuable treasure. The container is the carrier that has the privilege to display its contents. As believers in Jesus Christ, we carry the message and the power of the gospel within us. Our goal is to be on mission like Paul. We are to be servants of God, daily advancing His agenda, and delivering His glorious life-changing message to others. Like a hockey player, we have ben entrusted with a mission, and a single goal, to honor God and deliver His message.

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Christmas Time: Explained

12/24/2025

John 1:1-8
We are now into the Christmas season. Your mind and your calendar may be full with all the things that you need to accomplish between now and December 25. In our busyness we often forget or neglect the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus born as Savior of the world. The cradle does not exist without the cross. However, the Christmas story begins before the cradle. As John begins the fourth book in the New Testament he highlights six essential truths about Jesus the savior born in the manger. John opens the first chapter by explaining that Jesus is God’s personal communication to us (1). Second, he explains the preexistence of Jesus in the beginning (1). Thirdly, John explains that Jesus is God (1-2), who fourthly gives life (3-4). Fifth, John explains the opposition of the darkness and evil to the light and truth of God’s communication of Jesus as Savior (5). This finally leads John to explain his role as a messenger who declares that belief in Jesus is essential (6-8). God designed and planned to personally reveal Himself to mankind through Jesus. John writes these things so that we, his audience, may believe that Jesus is the Savior and by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:30-31). This message is true for the audience of John’s day and for us today. Has the power of God displayed to us through Jesus overcome your darkness? Belief in Jesus is essential for life in Him. It is only through belief in Him as savior that we find our true purpose in life. We have been designed to reveal His greatness and light to people lost in a dark world in need of the light and life found only in Jesus. May the joy of Jesus fill you with His message. May the light of Jesus guide you as you daily walk with Him. He came to give His life so we can have true life by believing in Him.

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Christmas Time: Spoken

12/21/2025

Hebrews 1:1-4
A number of years ago my daughter gave me a short note on a small piece of paper. On it there were nine neatly written items that made up her birthday and Christmas wish list. At the bottom there was a star followed by an explanatory note, “Most Wanted.” Glancing back to the list a star highlighted item number seven which read, “Night Table - made by Dad.” Thus began a journey of cold weather construction in a cramped unheated shed. An individualized night table complete with a drawer was made for each of the kids and quietly placed by each of their beds very late on Christmas Eve. I have saved the note and use it as a book marker in my daily devotional book. It reminds me of the way that I need to come to my heavenly Father and ask for what is needed and that which I desire the most. A gift created by my father’s hands made just for me. Hebrews chapter 1 opens by telling us that God has consistently and repeatedly delivered messages revealing Himself and His plans for salvation (1). His best and most perfect form of communication was personally made through the sending Jesus to be our savior (2). Being God He is the perfect gift that has been communicated, but also provided (3). Jesus, fully God yet in human form (Philippians 2:5-9), is just what humanity needs most. He is far superior to any thing else that could grab our attention (4). Christmas time is often a time of secrets and trying to guess what a gift is. God understood our deepest need. He spoke, promised and delivered the very best gift, Jesus in the form of a baby. The great God who spoke the world into existence now displays the same power to save and transform our life. Jesus, is a gift given directly from the Father. What joy! What hope! God has communicated His love to us.

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Christmas Time: Appropriate

12/14/2025

Galatians 4:1-7
One day a little turtle decided to climb a tree, while two crows watched with interest. Inch by laborious inch the little turtle made his way to the top to the tree. Upon reaching the top he flapped his little arms as hard as he could and promptly fell straight down. Undeterred he decided to try climbing the tree again. As he moved toward the tree one crow says to the other, “I’d sure hate to see him hurt himself. Do you think now is a good time to tell him that he is adopted?” Being adopted often carries with it some residual questions about the past, but the ultimate question that is asked is … Where do I belong? That question was answered at the time of adoption, and that question for each one of us is answered at Christmas. Galatians chapter four tells us that at just the right time God sent His Son Jesus to purchase our freedom from sin and give us the full right to be called His children (4). He gives us a place to belong in His family as one of His rightful children. As believers we can experience freedom from the past slavery of sin. We now experience blessing from God who faithfully keeps His promises and makes adoption possible. He sent His son at just the appropriate time so we could be belong to Him. Just as turtles can never climb trees, or fly on their own, so we can never be good enough to be made acceptable to God. The good news of the gospel message is that Christ makes this possible for us. Those who are outside God’s family are extended the offer to no longer be slaves, but sons, through faith in Christ. Being a son changes everything. We now have access to the Father, who has made it appropriate for us to be His children. Jesus is the best and most appropriate gift at just the right time.

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Christmas Time: Past

12/7/2025

Micah 5:2
The popular Christmas song, Over the River and Through the Woods, was originally written as a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child who published it in 1844. Through the years the words have been slightly adjusted to reflect a Christmas theme. Included in the words of the song is the purpose, a holiday trip to see grandparents. There is a joy and expectation as the travelers await the promise of being with loved ones and enjoying time with them. Promises; we like it when they are kept and we become frustrated when they are broken. On a human level some will say promises are made to be broken. However, God always keeps His promises. Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus the prophet Micah foretells the coming birth of a baby who will rule as king. As Micah records God’s words, under God’s inspired direction in chapter five, he predicts a specific place, Bethlehem, and a specific person who will rule (2). This child yet to be born will have a permanent rule as king who has been sent from God for a specific purpose. Micah 5:2 is one of the prophetic references that points to Jesus. Yet, it was years between the time of this writing and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem; still, God kept His promise and brought about the incarnation through the birth of Jesus. As we enter the Christmas season, I hope that you experience joy as you reflect on God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. We are called to believe God’s Word, trust that He will fulfill His promises and bring us to a joyous reunion in His home. That is only possible by believing that Jesus came to save us (Luke 19:10). The rule of Jesus as King in our hearts and lives will bring true peace. Are you trusting the King and His timing to bring you to His home?

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