by Garris Elkins | Jul 7, 2017 | Honor, Identity, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Pride, Promise
If you want to impact an emerging generation or a group of people you will need to remove complaint and criticism from your conversation. No one lends an ear to a negative spirit. Phrases like, “The youth of today…” or “Those people…” are introductory phrases that...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 30, 2017 | Courage, Jesus, Ministry, Power, Spiritual Warfare
This morning, I awoke to a strange, yet familiar feeling. Forty-three years ago as a young rookie cop in training, I experienced my first car stop. I was riding with a training officer and relied on his wisdom to survive. Car stops present a vulnerable situation...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 18, 2017 | Freedom, Jesus, Obedience, Rest, Trust
I was sitting in the early morning light with my dog, Abby, reading the hard copy proof for my new book. I love this time of year when the mornings are cool yet warm enough for shorts and bare feet on the grass. As I continued to read, a bird flew past me and through...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 13, 2017 | Faith, Hope, Intimacy, Jesus
Sail with the fair breeze of a simple faith. Leave behind the docks of despair, judgment and the slavish structures of a rule-based faith. Find your rest on the gentle swells of God’s love. Let no one sell you a cheap ticket in the dark caverns of steerage where many...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 13, 2017 | Death, Eternity, Father, Freedom, God, Hope, Jesus, Marriage, Peace, Relationships, Transition, Worship
A friend of mine was talking with Jack Hayford a few weeks ago. Jack’s lovely wife, Anna, had passed away after they shared 62 years of marriage and 60 years together in ministry. My friend posted a single sentence on his Facebook wall from that meeting with Jack. The...
by Garris Elkins | May 24, 2017 | Church, Courage, Discipleship, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Truth, Word
Have you ever heard someone say, “If it’s not in the Bible, I won’t believe it!” While I understand the desire for truth expressed in that statement, we need to understand a much larger reality about Jesus who is the Word and the partial presentation of His life given...