by Garris Elkins | Dec 22, 2012 | Faith, Honor, Identity, Obedience, Trust
For years, I have heard some of my brothers and sisters in Christ appealing for a totally non-violent approach to life. I like the idea and wish somehow this could be our reality in every circumstance. I dislike the thought of having violence as an option...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 8, 2012 | Future, God, Hope, Trust
With the Mayan Calendar promising an end to life as we know it on December 21, and with the current condition of the world going through its normal cycles of life and death, it is easy for some to allow their hope in Christ to be hijacked by the doom-forecasters....
by Garris Elkins | Oct 20, 2012 | Future, Hope, Prophecy, Transition, Trust, Vision.
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...
by Garris Elkins | Oct 13, 2012 | Future, Hope, Leadership, Transition, Trust, Vision.
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...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 15, 2012 | Church, Family, Forgiveness, Hope, Love, Trust
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...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 9, 2012 | Faith, Family, Hope, Humility, Leadership, Love, Tranistion, Trust, Vision.
Thirty-one years ago I was a struggling young pastor. Jan and I, along with our two little children, left all that was known and familiar to us and journeyed north to Montana to plant a church. This was our first attempt at starting a church and our first...
