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
Several months ago while I was in my study at church a dove landed on the sidewalk just outside my office. I like doves so I got up from my desk and went to the window and spent some time enjoying the bird. The next day the dove showed up again. This went on for the...
As Jesus was about to leave the earth after His resurrection He set in motion the final preparation of His disciples to carry out His mission on earth. Pentecost was coming soon. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said to His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit...
When Jan and I were getting ready to go out and plant our first church our pastor, Roy Hicks Jr., called us into his office for an appointment to solidify some final details before we were deployed. In that conversation Roy asked us if we were ready to pastor and...
I don't know how many times I have read Hebrews chapter 11 - the faith chapter - maybe a hundred times? Each time I savor it's truth. This morning I just finished reading it again. Part of verse 27 jumped out to greet me in a fresh way. The last part of the verse (in...
Fear is not static or lifeless - it is a presence that wants to draw us into a process of death and separation. The process of fear starts by creating suspicion. Suspicion leads to judgement, and once a judgment has been made, and allowed to create an alternative...
Every life has that "one thing" God is after. That one thing is what holds us back from moving into the calling and destiny God has planned for each of us. In Mark chapter 10 a sad story about a rich man takes place. This man comes to Jesus and asks, "What must I do...
As a young pastor-in-training my ears strained to listen to leaders who seemed to shepherd the church with wisdom. My pastor, Roy Hicks Jr., who pastored Faith Center in Eugene, Oregon, and who is now with the Lord, said something to a group of us about thirty years...
Last week I walked out of my office and down the hall into the lobby of the church. As I stepped into the lobby a man called out to me and asked if he could have a moment of my time. I just so happened to be free and invited him back to my office. There was great joy...
I have a pastoral coach. In years past I have had those wonderful relationships with other believers where we walked with each other through the seasons of life. Our iron sharpened each others iron. But this is the first time I have ever had a personal coach - someone...
Please don't let the title of this posting offend you - I will try to explain. About 30 years ago my brother, Dwain, built a beautiful laminated wood cross for me that hung in the sanctuary of the first church I pastored. The cross was a combination of beauty and raw...
Each week I get a note from our bookkeeper letting me know the amount of our Sunday offerings. I was humbled at the giving of our people considering the condition of the world economy. I went back into my office and got down on my knees and thanked God for His...
For a year God had parked me in the Book of Acts. Acts was my yearlong assignment. For a year I read Acts in my private time with God. Each day I studied its history and culture. I soaked in its revelation and wisdom. Since Acts was the clearest picture of the church...