by Garris Elkins | Sep 10, 2017 | Courage, Death, Discipline, Faith, Freedom, Hope, Peace, Restoration
In the Spirit, I saw a person walking across a high-wire stretched between two destinations. They looked like a circus performer midway between two supporting poles inside a large tent. There was no safety net below to catch them if they fell. People were gasping as...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 8, 2017 | Forgivness, Freedom, Humility, Peace, Pride, Reformation, Relationships
There can be petty divisions from time-to-time in the Church. This needs to be confronted in love because it wounds and does great damage. Yet some of what gets labeled as divisive can actually be a fresh revelation from God. Martin Luther divided the Church with the...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 2, 2017 | Apostle, Church, Courage, Deliverance, Fear, Peace, Revelation, Spiritual Warfare
When we are personally under attack it is too easy to circle our wagons in fear and stop moving forward in faith. The term, “Circle the wagons!” was a command issued by wagon masters in real life and later dramatically depicted in western movies when a wagon train...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 31, 2017 | Courage, Creativity, Deliverance, Forgivness, Future, Kingdom of God, Obedience, Peace, Pride, Redemption, Restoration, Spiritual Warfare, Transition
Along the ridgeline above me, I saw the remains of an old barbwire fence. Only a few of the posts survived. Those that did were pockmarked with holes the work of decay and weather. On the north-facing side of a solitary post grew a layer of green moss. Tacked to the...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 28, 2017 | Apostle, Church, Courage, Discipleship, Fathers, Five-Fold Ministry, Gifts, Humility, Kingdom of God, Obedience, Peace, Revelation, Word
I read a sad social media interchange between a church leader and the people responding to something he posted. The comment he made appeared flippant and out of tune with God’s heart. I assume it is a comment he now regrets making, maybe not in content but in his...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 26, 2017 | Discipline, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility, Leadership, Mercy, Obedience, Peace, Prayer, Reconciliation, Relationships, Wisdom
As a young cop, I had to learn about the judicious use of firearms. In my training, there was a term called, “Pray and Spray.” Pray and Spray means that when a threat appears that could cause death or great bodily harm, the undisciplined person will start praying and...