Blog
There is so much happening in our world that fights against God and His truth. While we are all called to fight the ongoing battles of personal purity and integrity on a daily basis, some will be called to step out from a personal expression of their faith to become...
It’s one thing to commit to following Jesus when we are young in the faith and just starting out. It is another thing to choose to follow Him once again after we had lost our way and lived a lifestyle that denied His presence in our lives. It all began one day when...
I’m beginning to get an inkling of what is coming in 2024. Here are my thoughts. https://www.facebook.com/garris.elkins/videos/837016268071110
(The following letter was given to the congregation of Living Waters Church in Medford, Oregon, on Sunday, November 11, 2012, announcing a coming change in pastoral leadership that will take place in 2015.)...
Recently, I took part in a conference with people attending from all around the world. The worship was powerful. During one of the morning worship sessions the Lord began revealing to me a developing image of a father’s heart. I saw a father gently pushing one...
Recently, I was channel surfing and came upon the end of a NASCAR race. The winning driver crossed the finish line and took his victory lap. After the victory lap he pulled into the Winner’s Circle. What happened next was interesting. Once his car...
I live in an area surrounded by beautiful mountains. This area used to be part of the old Oregon Territory that was comprised of the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and bits of Montana and Wyoming. Before statehood, if someone was “going to Oregon”,...
Today, there are many formulas floating around the American Church promising success. If you do this – that will happen. They don’t require much faith – you simply follow the formula and you will arrive at your spiritual Disneyland. Most of these so-called formulas...
I am tucked away in a lodge outside of Bend, Oregon on a writing retreat. For the last three days I have been assembling and editing my personal God-experiences and testimonies, an exercise I have been encouraged by the Lord to do over the last two years. For...
In the late 1980’s and early 90’s many pastors in America hung out in the business section of their local bookstore. In those aisles stuffed with business knowledge were books that drew their titles from subjects like swimming with sharks, searching for...
As young church planters, Jan and I knew very little about what it meant to plant a church. We had a calling and a measure of faith and that was all. When we entered the ministry very little was available in resource materials on how to plant a church. I think...
Living in Berlin, Germany brought to me many memorable moments. One of those moments took place because of a decision I made to stop and buy some fruit. After World War II, the Soviets were one of the major powers to occupy postwar Berlin along with the United...
Social media can be a powerful tool when used properly. Along with a Facebook account, I also have a Twitter account. I am coming to appreciate Twitter more because it forces me to be concise. Twitter only allows 140 characters for a user to craft a...
Most of us have been stung - by bees and by people. Both experiences hurt. Just the other day, I was riding my scooter home from the church office. I came to a tricky intersection where I would need both hands on the handlebars to safely make the turn....
When our kids were in grade school we pastored a wonderful church on the coast of Oregon. The coast culture is a great place to live. We still look back on those years with great warmth and affection. Shortly after we arrived, we sensed that God was beginning to...