Blog
Last week, I had three unique encounters with different people. The first happened as I was walking through our small town, and a vehicle pulled alongside. A young man rolled down his window and asked, "Are you Garris Elkins?" I said, "Yes, I am." The young man told...
Your trust will be tested in the coming days. Some of those you thought would remain faithful will not. You don't need to pray for protection from your betrayers. Pray for your heart's attitude when you experience the pain of betrayal. This time of testing will...
When we slowly eliminate the truth of God's word from our lives and accept human opinion as truth, we will experience a form of self-induced torture that resembles something called lingchi. Lingchi is a form of Chinese torture, meaning "death by a thousand cuts." The...
I once walked along the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. As I walked across those famous names embedded in the sidewalk, the memories of those individuals were now passing under my feet. About the time I walked on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Mother Teresa...
The massive fires in Los Angeles have revealed failed policies that have hampered firefighters' duties. Those called to protect and serve have not been able to fully protect and serve their community in its time of need. The same can be true within the Church. Those...
Until the time comes to fulfill God’s promises in our lives, we will enter seasons of testing to see if our character is aligned with God's promise. Some of those tests can derail the fulfillment of God’s promises if our character has not been aligned with God’s word....
Knowing where we stand with God when we have been forgiven is critical to our faith. Without that understanding, we will be trapped in a prison of self-condemnation and fear. Gaining that understanding will remind us what the Lord did when He redeemed us. “Praise...
In the late 90s, Jan and I were visiting missionaries in Tirana, Albania. We attended a Sunday church service held in a large multi-story government building. Outside, unknown to us, was a large crowd estimated by CNN to be over 30,000 people. They were protesting...
Where we are willing to stand in our life of faith will reveal the condition of our hearts. In that place, if our heart is aligned with the heart of God, we will come to realize we would rather serve God in a place of humility than pursue the things of this world and...
When it appeared that wickedness was on the rise without restraint and limitation, the Lord has always been faithful to make Himself known: “We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near” (Psalm 75:1). The Lord has always been near to His people. He will...
After our death, the life we chose to live will become a memory. Death leaves behind only memories. I was reminded of this by reading John L. Moore’s collection of memories from his previous writing, recounting those in his life, both family and friends, who left...
When culture's turmoil and people's sins surround us, they become a heavy burden on our lives. In those burdened times, the Lord will answer our prayers using anyone or anything to remove the burden. We need to be willing to look beyond our judgments of who and what...
When fear and terror are on the rise, people want honest answers on how to wisely live their lives. Our awareness and preparedness should never be allowed to displace our trust in Jesus as our Deliverer. However, He never wants us to become so naïve that we dismiss...
King David had it all: the prestige of his office and the power to do as he wished. The undisciplined possession of those two things is a deadly combination if they are not submitted daily to God. The repeated misuse of prestige and power has been revealed since time...
As 2025 begins, we need to make an adjustment. We need to adjust how we respond when people attack us for having a differing opinion. These attacks are especially painful when they come from within the Church. Those who speak such things will eventually bring shame...