by Garris Elkins | Sep 20, 2014 | Faith, Holy Spirit, Ministry, Peace, Prophecy
As I write this, I am in a hotel room north of New Orleans grabbing a few hours of down time between ministry sessions. My host church has put me up in a nice hotel where I can relax, think and write. The first thing I do when I travel and enter an...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 18, 2014 | Discipline, Honor, Joy, Mercy, Trust
This week a small town in Northern California was devastated by fire. Many homes in the city were lost and hundreds of people displaced. Video footage of the fire’s aftermath looked like a warzone. In the days following the fire, I would discover what gave the small...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 17, 2014 | Apostle, Church, Culture, Identity, Leadership, Transition
When I came to Medford, Oregon 15 years ago to pastor what would become Living Waters Church, I remember one particular day shortly after my arrival when the Lord gave me a distinct assignment for our church. I remember the day well. I was driving on an...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 16, 2014 | Church, Faith, Family, Fear, Love
Your unique ethnicity, gender or social status does not provide you with superior insight into the issues of life. Your humanity is what makes your contribution valuable. Paul told the church in Ephesus that God created “one new people” in Christ to become a...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 15, 2014 | Freedom, Honor, Love
When I was thirteen years old, I traveled with my family into the Deep South where my mother grew up. This was in December of 1963 just weeks after President Kennedy was assassinated. We flew to our destination, picked up a car and then drove back home to the...