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Prophetic Horizons
Aligning people with their God-Defined identity.
THE SEAT OF TRUE POWER
With all that is taking place in our nation and on the world stage, it is important to understand that none of what is happening has ultimate authority over a follower of Jesus. These things can make life challenging, in some cases, even under the threat of death....
LOVE PROTECTS
In Paul’s definition of love, he writes, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (I Corinthians 13:6-7). The word “always” is repeated four times including the duty...
“Pastor – Can we dial it down?” by Garris Elkins
It is early Thursday morning and I am reflecting over our Wednesday night service. We have been doing something different on Wednesday nights. Last night our time together, not much more than an hour, was simple - I read Philippians from start to finish, no preaching...
“The Miraculous Environment of Honor” by Garris Elkins
Honor creates a supernatural environment. Without living in honor with all people, the Church can never rise into the fullness of her calling and see the miraculous transformation God has planned for the nations. Honor is a word that means, “to value someone or...
“Challenged Authority” by Garris Elkins
Almost thirty years ago I was sitting around a table with five other young and inexperienced pastors. We were in a small meeting room at Montana State University in Billings, Montana. Seated with us was Jerry Cook, the author of the tremendous book, "Love, Acceptance...
“Vision Cast In A Cloud” by Garris Elkins
For years I taught people how to create mission statements for their lives and how to develop a vision along with a personal set of values. It was good, but I don't do that anymore. At first these vision planning sessions excited me. Then something changed. A hunger...
“The Purpose of Old Wounds” by Garris Elkins
Yesterday, Jan and I went to see the movie Valkyrie. The movie was based on the true story surrounding the events of a failed assassination attempt on Hitler at the infamous Wolf's Liar. It was good cinema and Tom Cruise did a great job acting out his character. Many...
“Watch The High Places” by Garris Elkins
Places dedicated to prayer attract me. When I was a student at Multnomah in Portland, Oregon I enjoyed walking into the prayer chapel and sitting on the wooden pews. The chapel is as old as the campus. At one time someone proposed removing the old chapel to make way...
“A Prepared Crossing” by Garris Elkins
Last week I took a hike. Most of the time I like to hike alone so I can talk with God. My hike began in the historic mining town of Jacksonville that is located in southwestern Oregon. After walking across town I went through the pioneer cemetery and then linked up...
“Re-commissioned Lives” by Garris Elkins
As I look out from my hotel room in Long Beach I see the great Queen Mary passenger ship docked across the harbor. She is visible through an urban forest of yacht masts, man-planted palm trees and large dock cranes. In the distance freighters inch across the horizon...
The “Until Times” by Garris Elkins
When God makes a promise there is always that space of time that exists between God speaking the promise to us and the promise becoming a reality. Sometimes that space of time is a moment and sometimes it can be a lifetime. How are we supposed to live in the “until...
CAR SHOW PRAYERS
As a kid, my dad would take me each month to one of those real old-time barbershops that had a revolving barber pole out front and a barber who smelled like hair cream and had a couple of long thin black combs poking up from within his breast shirt pocket. For the...
“A Little Boy’s Prayer” by Garris Elkins
My father has been gone for over 20 years. Tonight, my thoughts linger around the memories I have of the last months of his life. When I was a nine year old boy I cried myself to sleep one night thinking that my father would die some day. I don't know why I thought of...
God Remembers Our Promises
In our family, I grew up hunting and fishing. Each fall we would make a man-trek into the wilds to pursue deer. I loved the coming of fall. The preparation and plans for the annual hunt was something that occupied my boyhood thoughts from the start of hunting season...