Spring/Joy by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 6, 2026 by jrcoggins

Last year, I published a collection of devotional meditations written and delivered by my mother in the previous century. She was a devout Christian and a devoted Bible teacher. Her meditations offer a window into a former era but continue to be relevant today. The following  meditation is excerpted from that book.

Spring seems to be a joyous time of year when all around us we see evidences of new life springing up after the storms of winter. No matter how long the winter, we are reassured by the promise God gave Noah in Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (NKJV).

There seems to be a certain monotony as we think of the seasons following each other in such an orderly manner, and yet no two springs are exactly alike. We get some idea of the greatness of God as we realize the infinite variety of weather that we get.

God’s mercy is something like the springtime too. One blessing follows another, and yet there is a great variety in them. Lamentations 3:22-23 tell us: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

In spite of all the joy and gladness of returning life around us, is this joy always reflected in our lives? A lovely spring day comes along with bright spring sunshine and soft breezes blowing, and instead of saying, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24), we probably think of the many chores to be done.

Happiness seems to be a very elusive thing. The more we seek it, the more it eludes us. Have you noticed how many articles there seem to be trying to tell people how to achieve happiness? And they all seem to offer a different solution. I was reading one recently where the writer observed that it had been a long time since he had heard anyone going down the street whistling, and he said that people used to get more fun out of life than they do today. I don’t remember much about people whistling, but I do remember how some of the neighbor women used to sing as they went about their housework. Nowadays, instead of hearing singing, we usually hear the TV or radio.

I wonder, too, if nowadays so much emphasis seems to be placed on getting instead of giving. Everyone seems to be out to get as much as he can for himself. In earlier days, everyone seemed to be more willing to share with their neighbor. When a woman grated the first horseradish, there was always an extra jar or two to be given away. And in the preserving season, the jars of jam and pickles used to pass back and forth.

So often, worldly people seem to get the impression that Christians are very gloomy people and that when people become Christians, they give up everything that is joyful. Is that because we consider Christianity to be a burden (and give people of the world the impression that Christianity is a great burden)? Perhaps instead of trying to carry this great burden around we should see our faith as wings and use it to mount up as eagles (Isaiah 40:31).

Have you ever noticed how many times in the Bible we are told to rejoice? In reading the Psalms, we cannot help but notice how many are songs of praise: “Bless the Lord, O my soul” or “Give thanks to the Lord” or “Praise the Lord.”

Paul, too, was an example of a joyful Christian. Few, if any, have endured more for their faith, yet, as we read the letters he has written, we notice how joyful he appears to be. Do you remember how, in the prison at Philippi at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God (Acts 16:25)? It would take real joy to sing praises then.

What were the reasons for Paul’s joy?

1. Paul said he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in (Philippians 4:11). “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

2. Paul had chosen to forget past mistakes and look forward to the future. “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13). Note that Paul said, “One thing I do.” Calvin Coolidge said, “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.”

3. Paul put his trust in God. In the first chapter of Philippians, Paul told how the trials that had happened to him had worked out for “the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). Therefore, he was able to say, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul said in Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”

Jesus, too, must have been a joyous person, even though he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). He seemed to expect us to have peace and joy in our lives if we love Him and believe in Him. Through Him, we have received “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3).

In spring, we think of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Before His death, Jesus told His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). If Jesus had left His disciples a pot of gold, it would soon have disappeared, but He told them (and us) in John 16:22: “I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” Finally, let us remember Jesus’ words in John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

May God grant that each one of us may experience the true joy that comes from God.

What Is God Able To Do? The Devotional Meditations of E. May Coggins was published by my Mill Lake Books imprint and is available through bookstores and online retailers such as Amazon.

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Being the Hands and Feet by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Billie on Unsplash

A few weeks ago I was discussing the war in Iran with another Christian. We were talking about the people there and the hardship this places on them and their country. This was at the outbreak of the war and before the bombing of the school where so many children died. Still, there were many people adversely affected.

The person I was talking with finally said something that stunned me. They said something like this, “We know the end of the story. The Bible tells us what happens, so there’s nothing we can do.” 

I’ve heard Christians say something similar before and it always gives me pause. Who are we to laud our Christian destiny and sit back while we watch the world burn, saying, “Oh, well. There’s nothing we can do.” It seems like a cop out to me. As if we are backing away from a need with our hands raised, shaking our heads.

Imagine, if you will, David looking at Goliath and all the Israelite soldiers who were fearful of this massive enemy. What if he said, “Oh, well, this is their fight,” and left them there to be defeated? How different that story would be. And, there are many Biblical examples of times when people could have stepped away saying this wasn’t their problem.

The Bible encourages us to reach out to those in need, not to reject them. Jesus reached out to the underprivileged and those society thought of as less than—the Samaritan woman, the lepers, the blind, the woman caught in adultery, and so many more. 

What if Jesus looked down from His seat beside God and said, “I’m comfortable here. They don’t deserve salvation.” He didn’t say that and we are saved because of his compassion and grace. How can we react differently? 

We must be more Christlike every day. We are called to be His hands and feet to the world. In Matthew 25: 31-46, the righteous are those who fed the hungry, gave a drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and visited those in prison. Jesus said this was the same as doing these things to Him. 

These actions are reaching out in compassion to those around us. We are not to judge the circumstances, but to give what is needed by those in unfortunate circumstances. Whether it’s a neighbor who needs a meal or a country that is in dire straits, we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

What does this mean in relation to the war in Iran? I don’t know. I’m certainly not in a place where I can change events. But I can pray for those people whose hearts are not compassionate—for those who make the decisions that cost innocent citizens their lives. I can pray for the people who are suffering—for the soldiers whose lives are at risk.

Instead of resting in our salvation, we should be fighting for less cruelty and more grace. We should pray for those in Iran and Ukraine, and other war torn countries in the world. Saying we know the end of the story and there’s nothing we can do is the same as saying Christ has no power in the situation and that is not what we want to project. 

Let us all pray for those who are struggling. And if God gives us a concrete way to help other than prayer may we rise up and follow Him.

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Who Jesus Is, and Who We Are by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 29, 2026 by jrcoggins

The apostle Paul urgently wrote a letter to the Christians in the city of Colossae in Asia Minor (what is now Turkiye). What was it that Paul wanted to convey to the Colossians? The gospel, the good news that Jesus has brought Christians “forgiveness of sins” and “reconciled” them to God (Colossians 1:14,22, 2:13-14 NIV)? Well, yes, but more than that. There is a cosmic vision here. Paul said that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created” (1:15-16). That is, Jesus is the Creator of the universe and therefore Lord of the universe. To the Colossians, this meant that He was superior to all of the Greek and Roman gods and also the Roman emperor and all of his officials. The Colossians Christians were not just saved from their sins. They had changed sides in the great cosmic struggle. They had been transferred from “the dominion of darkness” to the kingdom of light ruled by the Son of the only real God (1:13). They had been raised from death to life (2:12). And it wasn’t just the Colossian Christians who had changed sides. It was a global phenomenon. Paul said that “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world” (1:6). Further, Paul said, Jesus’ kingdom of light had defeated the powers and authorities of the kingdom of darkness and led them in triumph (2:15). The image comes from Rome, where Paul was in prison as he wrote this letter. When Roman generals defeated another nation, they would have a big parade in Rome, the conquering general and his army in front, followed by the defeated kings, officials, generals, and soldiers of the other nation, who were now prisoners. Paul was saying that Jesus had publicly defeated the Roman Empire and all other religions. How? By dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. This demonstrated that Jesus was more powerful than the Roman Empire that had tried to kill Him. And Jesus had defeated even more powerful enemies, death itself and sin.

Given all of this, it is remarkable that some of the Colossian Christians were thinking about switching back to serve the defeated kingdom of darkness. They were in danger of being taken “captive” (2:8) by those who had been defeated and led in triumph by God. They were being tempted to follow a “hollow and deceptive philosophy” based on “human tradition” and “the elemental spiritual forces of this world” (2:8, that is, the defeated and discredited Greek and Roman religions). Paul was asking why they would choose to go back and follow these lesser powers rather than the cosmic Jesus Christ, the Creator and Lord of the universe.

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In Praise of Steeples by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 22, 2026 by jrcoggins

In the late Middle Ages, cities in Europe competed to build the tallest, most elaborate, most ornate, most beautiful cathedrals. These massive buildings pushed the limits of architectural knowledge, and some took over a century to build. They were decorated with gold furnishings and paintings which are still admired today. Included in these cathedrals were tall steeples, which pointed the way to heaven and reminded people of the importance of eternal things. Often the steeples included a bell tower, whose bell would call parishioners to worship in an age when there were few clocks.

These cathedrals are admired today, even though they largely stand empty. Even in their heyday, their construction represented misplaced priorities. They sucked vast amounts of money and resources from the common people, money and resources which could have been better spent elsewhere. The focus was on buildings and gold furnishings while the poor and the gospel were neglected. Cathedrals were often built, not for the glory of God, but to demonstrate the power and importance of the city where they were built. They masked a church that was often corrupt morally and theologically. The builders failed to understand that the church, the kingdom of God, consists of people, not buildings.

We do not build cathedrals today, although there are some churches which still put too much emphasis on material things and devote too many resources to buildings and elaborate furnishings. In the age of email, watches, and cell phones, bell towers are not needed to call people to worship, and steeples are often an unnecessary extravagance.

But…  

Some years ago, my wife and I went on vacation and stopped in a particular city, with the intention of attending a certain church there on Sunday morning. The church building was located on a street parallel to a major highway and just a block away. We knew the address and thought we would go by and find the church the evening before. Our search took some time. We finally located it, a low building at the very back of a large lot. The front part of the lot was a gravel parking area, and the entrance was blocked off by a chain. There was only a small sign along the road. No one traveling on the major highway would ever see that church building, there was no sign there indicating its existence, and the street where the building was located was a little used side street. I don’t know what other things that church was doing to make its presence known in the community, but I concluded that the building badly needed a steeple.

That church reminded me of another church building in a rural area that I visited on another occasion. It was on land donated by a farmer and had been erected behind the farm buildings. It was accessed down a narrow lane beside the farmhouse and was totally invisible from the road. Only regular attenders would even know it was there.

Church buildings are a tool, a means to an end. They should be useful rather than elaborate. But to be useful they must be easy to find. Churches should be visible in their communities (in many ways). Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV). There are times when the church has to exist underground, but that should not be the case in other times. The church exists to be a light to people outside it, and it cannot be a light if it is kept hidden. A church building does not have to be elaborate, but people should at least be able to find it.

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Multiplied Bread

Posted on April 16, 2026 by dtopliff

by Delores Topliff

Reality changed what I planned to write this month. I spend spring and summer each year on a farm in central Minnesota and the remaining time in NE Mississippi. Years earlier, I raised my sons in northwestern Canada near the Alaska Highway helping develop two Christian schools and a good small college. We experienced plenty of ice and snow and -60 F twice. Once, I camped out at -20 F to practice survival skills I taught to my school students. What was I thinking? I’ll never do that again!

When Mississippi locals warned me about severe ice/snow storms, I laughed. I’m not smiling now. I’d never heard thunder booms that sound the same as transformers exploding or like breaking, falling trees.

Everything got covered with two inches of ice topped with tree debris, so travel stopped. But people cooperated beautifully, and I’m very impressed.

The heating systems in most homes need electricity to work, so dwellings cool quickly. Without light, as soon as the sun sets, it’s very dark.

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground here. They talked to me yesterday. Their list is long but they promised to help all who’ve called. The National Guard is here, too, removing fallen trees, clearing debris from roads, and assisting the local and out-of-state power companies all working together. One week later, some rural residences are still without power.

I enjoyed staying five days in a nearby friend’s home who had gas heat and battery-powered flashlights. We celebrated when internet was restored.

Today two men from church arrived with a chainsaw and cut and hauled tree debris to the road from her yard and mine. Saying “thank you” doesn’t convey my sense of well-being from being so kindly cared for.

I’ve donated to Samaritan’s Purse through the years, but didn’t expect to be on the receiving end. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Jesus has a way of multiplying bread. Lately, I’m finding mine multiplied many times over. Keep your eyes open. I suspect your bread will multiply, too. And perhaps after you eat and are satisfied, there will be enough to give to those around you until they are also filled and have enough extra baskets to pass on.

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Colossae by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 15, 2026 by jrcoggins

I recently took time to read and think my way through the apostle Paul’s letter to the early Christians in Colossae, the Bible book we now call Colossians. Colossae was a town about a hundred miles east of Ephesus. Ephesus was a major city on the west coast of what is now Turkey and a place the apostle Paul visited at least three times, on one occasion staying there for over two years. The gospel spread to Colossae, perhaps from Ephesus, just as it was spreading elsewhere in the world (Colossians 1:5-6). But there is no evidence that Paul ever visited Colossae. It was Epaphras who brought the gospel there (Colossians 1:7).

We sometimes think that Paul was the great apostle who brought the gospel to Asia and Europe. Our perception is skewed by two factors. The first is that Luke wrote a detailed account of Paul’s missionary journeys (in the book of Acts) and we do not have detailed accounts of other preachers of that era. The second is that Paul wrote detailed letters to a variety of churches that ended up in the New Testament. But Paul was just one of many spreaders of the gospel. He himself did not exaggerate his own importance. At the beginning of this letter, he declared that he was “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (Colossians 1:1 NIV), but apostle was not a formal position and just meant someone who was “sent.” Paul also said that his letter to the Colossians was not just from him but also from Timothy. Paul described himself as God’s church’s “servant by the commission God gave me” (Colossians 1:25). Paul told the Colossians that the gospel had come to them just as “the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world” (1:6). The point was that the gospel was spreading in all directions. Paul could not take credit for this. He was just one of many Christians. The gospel was an organic movement that no one person could control or take credit for.

So why did Paul take it upon himself to write authoritatively to the Colossians? In the first place, Paul was an apostle—he had been commissioned by God to spread the gospel to gentiles. Second, Paul was known to the Colossians, having preached in that general area. Third, Paul was endorsed by Timothy and Epaphras, who had more direct experience with the Colossians.

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Finding Courage by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Anshul on Unsplash

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair…”    II Cor. 4:8a

I’ve often felt like Paul, hard-pressed on every side or perplexed due to the many areas of discouragement I’ve faced. Unlike Paul, I’ve often felt crushed and in despair. Yet, when I pray about staying strong, God always gives me a way to battle discouragement. He showed me three areas where I often come under attack. Once recognized, I’ve found them easier to combat.

D—Distant. These are people I don’t know well, but who have contact with me. For me as a writer, this can include readers, critics, sometimes industry professionals. I don’t believe any of these people intend to say, or do things to discourage me, but critical comments often cut deep. Even when most of my reader letters and reviews are very positive, notes like the following are more memorable.

I bought one of your books to give her granddaughter, started to read it first and realized you must never have opened a Bible in your life.

I can’t tell you how much that letter hurt. I love God’s word, and I love sharing scripture, so that attack was more painful than most. She didn’t say why she came to that conclusion. She didn’t even give her name or contact information. Perhaps, she was being honest from her perspective, but her words wounded me and made me doubt my abilities.

Intimate—These are people I come in contact with on a regular basis, people I know pretty well—family, friends, co-workers, and church people. Once again, they don’t mean to dishearten, but often do. Early in my fiction writing career, someone close to me asked, “So, when are you going to write real books?” This person meant non-fiction books, because they didn’t believe in reading fiction. They thought my fiction writing was meaningless. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on reading preferences, but that question belittled my work. God called me to this work of writing. This person’s comment discounted my ministry as if my calling wasn’t important.

Self—The hardest battle of all is to quiet my critical inner self. I am my own worst enemy at times. When I see others more successful, or in a place where I want to be, I tend to put on my figurative hair shirt and question what is wrong with me. The answer of course, is that as long as I’m doing my best, and working hard, I’m right where I should be. I’m not the one in charge, God is.

I love looking at the story of the Israelites when they were led to the promised land. I can relate to those men who saw the giants and were afraid. When I look at the ‘giants’ I mentioned previously, sometimes I’m tempted to run away. I don’t want to face the hurtful criticisms or complaints, but in Deut. 1:28, the Israelites excuse of “our brethren have discouraged our hearts,” was considered rebellion.

Therefore, I find I need to remember Joshua’s words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the promised land: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God iswith you wherever you go.” Josh. 1:9 

My writing success, as well as my success in life, doesn’t depend on others, or on myself, but on God. He will go before me. He will heal me when I’m wounded or hurt. He will be alongside me no matter what.

When I understand God is right there with me, I can take the DIS out of Discourage, leaving me with the COURAGEto face anything.

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How to Become a Published Novelist by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 8, 2026 by jrcoggins

Have you ever wondered how an ordinary person becomes a published novelist?

Well, I’ve got the answer for you.

Actually, I’ve got 47 answers for you.

For almost two decades, I’ve been privileged to be a member of an organization composed of Christian novelists. Well, organization might not be the appropriate word. We’re writers, after all, people not noted for their organizational skills. We have no bureaucracy or regular membership dues.

Mostly what we do is dialogue online (and very occasionally in person) on topics loosely connected to writing. We encourage each other, give advice to each other, make suggestions, and even celebrate each other’s achievements. Almost anything to avoid actually writing.

The topic of one of our recent discussions was “first novels”—how we came to write our first novel, how we attempted to have it accepted for publication, and how we navigated the complicated publication process. A few of our first novels were accepted for publication fairly quickly (in only a few months or years). Some have never been published at all. Some were only published after years of effort, professional development, and rewriting. But all of us persevered and eventually became published novelists.

Then, someone in our discussion suggested we formally write out the stories of our first novels and have those stories published together in a book. After all, publishing books is what we do.

The result is My First Novel: And What Became of It, a book in which 47 of us tell how we attempted to get our first novels published. Each story concludes with the “best writing advice I ever received.” It is available, in paperback and ebook formats, via bookstores and online retailers such as Amazon. When it was released some time ago, it quickly rose to become “the best-selling new release among fiction writing reference books.” Okay, I recognize there are not a lot of such books and they don’t sell many copies…but, still, we were number one, at least for a little while. And it has given us another opportunity to boast that we are published authors.

So, if you want to know how we did it (and how you, too, might be able to do it), read the book.

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Down from the Cross by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 1, 2026 by jrcoggins

The Gospels report that when Jesus was crucified, “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their head and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matthew 27: 39-44 NIV) The same event is also reported in Mark 15:29-32 and Luke 23:35.

People tend to focus on results and self-centeredness and power and unmistakable proof. The priests, the teachers of the law, the elders, the common people, and even the revolutionary crucified with Jesus all thought Jesus should have come down from the cross and saved Himself, thus demonstrating His power. That is what they would have done in His place. And that is what many others have thought throughout history. Muhammad was scandalized that a prophet of God could be crucified and insisted that Jesus could not have died in such a manner. Muhammad and his followers have built their empire by force.

The cross is a mystery and a scandal to most people. They cannot fathom that someone, especially the Son of God, would choose to sacrifice Himself to save others.

Jesus also called Christians to follow His example: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). But few people, including many who call themselves Christians, want to do that. They want to build their empires—and even the Kingdom of God—by force, by government power, by laws, by coercion, by bribery, by wealth, by any means other than self-sacrifice.

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Lame: A Short Story by James R. Coggins

Posted on March 25, 2026 by jrcoggins

Embarrassed, I fell into line. I knew what was expected of me. Looking ahead, I could see the long line snaking up the hill. Our destination at the top of the steep incline could not be seen from where I was.

The sun beat down mercilessly, and I began to sweat from the weight of what I was carrying. The dust kicked up by so many shuffling feet soon covered everything.

The day dragged on, and my progress was painfully slow. The heat continued to build. Slowly, we inched forward. Mindful of the solemn occasion, everyone in line refrained from speaking. There was not much to be said.

Eventually, I reached the crest of the hill, and I could see what I had been moving toward. A long line of worshipers were still in front of me, but up ahead I could see the priest, on a small platform. He was dressed in a long, white robe that was dazzling in the sunshine. A gleaming golden headdress was on his head, and the front of his tunic was adorned with more gold and sparkling jewels. In front of the priest was a massive altar, plated with pure gold.

As they approached, the worshipers in turn placed their offerings one by one on the gleaming altar.

Finally, it was my turn. As he had said to the others, the priest intoned to me, “You must bring a sacrifice that is perfect in every way, an offering that is neither blind nor lame, neither disfigured nor deformed, a sacrifice without blemish or defect.”

I looked down at what was in my arms, and I felt ashamed. I saw that what I held was hopelessly flawed, blind and maimed, broken and ruined, an unworthy offering in every sense. But what could I do? It was all I had. I did not dare to look at the priest. As quietly and unobtrusively as I could, I dumped my wholly unsuitable offering onto the altar.

I kept my eyes averted, my head down. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I knew my offering could never be acceptable. The situation was hopeless.

Gradually, by some unseen force that was beyond my control, I could feel my eyes being slowly pulled upward, until I was staring into the stern face of the priest. I could not pull my eyes away, but I cringed as I waited for him to pronounce my offering unacceptable. I waited for him to reject my offering and to reject me.

He opened his mouth to speak. Sternly, he intoned, “You have done well. You are a good and faithful servant. Your offering has been accepted.”

In disbelief, I stared dumbfounded at the man. And then my gaze slowly dropped to the altar, until I was looking once again at my miserable, unacceptable offering. I blinked, uncomprehending. There on the golden altar was my offered sacrifice. It was gleaming white in the sunshine and was perfect and whole in every way. And so was I. I bowed my head again, in gratitude this time. When I looked up again, the priest was looking kindly into my face, smiling radiantly.

This story is excerpted from the book The Cabin and other stories by James R. Coggins (Mill Lake Books).

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Safety is a person, not a location.

Posted on March 19, 2026 by dtopliff

When we awake any morning, we don’t know what the day will bring. February 28th, it meant the US and Israel made preemptive strikes to end the Iranian regime.

I have a friend from Iran whose family fled as refugees. She tells horror stories and has prayed for this new day for her homeland.

I’ve taken nine lengthy trips to Israel over  the last 42 years totaling 135 days in the land. (I describe those in my book, A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom.) Two trips turned out to be times when Israel came under attack. I learned valuable lessons about safe rooms and bomb shelters. Israeli law requires new building structures to include reinforced safe rooms where people can  survive.

On one trip, my team and I landed in Israel two hours after the 2012 Gaza War broke out . During our daytime travels or nighttime rest, we stayed aware of how close we were to the nearest safe room. Our hostess and I got up early each morning to hear radio news from Israel’s Defense Forces about which bombing and combat targets were expected that day. The broadcaster would say, “If you are four miles from today’s target area and hear sirens, you have sixty seconds to get to your bunker or safe room. If you are two miles away, you have thirty seconds. One mile means you have 15 seconds. If you are closer than that, STAY in your safe room.”

We listened and stayed aware of how long it would take us to scramble to a safe room at any given moment.

But that information has a spiritual application. The Lord impressed me that He is our safe room. There is no need to go in and out. We can abide in Him.

The photo is of the safe room/bomb shelter at Kalia Kibbutz where I love to stay next to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Psalm 91 says it best. 1“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

It’s crucial to know where to go in times of attack. It’s more important day and night, in good times and bad, to abide in the One who is Safety.

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Not One of His Bones Will Be Broken by James R. Coggins

Posted on March 18, 2026 by jrcoggins

The Gospel of John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion includes this detail: “Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down” (John 19:31 NIV). Crucifixion was a horrible and painful way to die. The weight of the body pulling down would create a tremendous strain on the heart. A man being crucified could push up with his legs, which would reduce the strain on the heart and prolong life a little longer. Therefore, breaking the legs would make this impossible and thus hasten death. John’s account continued: “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” (John 33-34). Jesus did not have His legs broken because He was already dead. The soldier thrust a spear into Jesus to see whether He was dead and to kill Him if He was not. The pooled blood poured out, demonstrating that He was dead and also releasing the flow of Jesus’ blood (like the blood of the Passover lamb) that would wash away sin.

Why was Jesus already dead? John 19:30 gives the answer: “Jesus said, ‘It is finished’…bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Jesus was not killed by the Roman soldiers. He died when He chose to die. Jesus had already explained this: “I am the good shepherd…and I lay down my life for the sheep…I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:14-18)

That Jesus’ legs were not broken is remarkable because it shows that even when He was dead, Jesus was still in control. He did not want His legs broken for two reasons. First, He fulfilled some Old Testament prophecies. Jesus was sacrificed at the time of the Passover, which commemorated the day when the Israelites were saved from the angel of death in Egypt by sacrificing a lamb and spreading its blood on their doorposts. The Mosaic law said that none of the Passover lamb’s bones should be broken (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). This also fulfilled Psalm 34:19-20: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” We know that the righteous do suffer, but this psalm symbolically says that no such suffering will be permanently disabling for those who are righteous. Jesus also fulfilled a Messianic prophecy saying that He would be pierced: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced…On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

Second, Jesus did not have His legs broken because He knew what was coming. He knew that after His resurrection He would need His legs to walk again on the earth.

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Whatever Happened to Great Christian Literature? By James R. Coggins

Posted on March 11, 2026 by jrcoggins

BookBub is an online service that publicizes and sells new books. Customers can sign up to receive “Readworthy” emails containing brief information on new books in various categories: mysteries, novels, nonfiction books, etc. A recent email listed “This month’s best new Christian fiction.” When I perused the list, I discovered that every one of the books was a Christian romance.

Really?

Is this the best that Christians can do? Christians have the greatest vision of the world, and all we can talk about is romantic love?

Now, I am not blaming the writers of these novels. I am acquainted with some of these writers. They take their craft seriously. They produce formula fiction, but they often use this format to address significant issues—generational sin, incest, grief, and more. They follow in the footsteps and take their inspiration from the Brontes and Jane Austen, mainstream novelists of the 19th century.

The few Christian men writing novels nowadays also often write formulaic works, dealing especially with the end times.

But who am I to criticize? I also have mostly written formula fiction, murder mysteries, although, like the Christian romance novelists, I have tried to use formulaic fiction to address larger issues.

But this is not all we should be writing and certainly not all that Christians have written in the past.

Why are we Christians today not writing great literature? Why settle for producing adequate formulaic novels that sell thousands of copies, provide a modest income, and disappear from shelves in only a few years? They are useful witnesses for their time but don’t endure. Why are we not striving to produce great literature, the kind of literature that is so undeniably powerful that it wins a place in mainstream society, the kind of classic literature that will be read and appreciated centuries later? Why aren’t we writing books that are read by men as well as women? Why aren’t we writing books that not only stir the emotions but that also stimulate the mind, leading the reader to ponder, wonder, and understand? Why aren’t we writing books that disrupt and disturb sinful complacency?

Christians have produced that kind of literature in the past. Here are just a few examples that have inspired and challenged me.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a beautiful and profound long narrative poem written by an unknown author in the Middle Ages. It is a literary masterpiece rarely equaled and was still being read and studied in the last century. Unfortunately, it was written in Old English, and I have yet to see a modern translation that does it justice. It is almost worth learning Old English in order to read it.

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a profound analysis of human depravity.

I don’t know that the short story writer O. Henry was a Christian, but his “The Gift of the Magi” is a classic Christmas story and a profound depiction of self-sacrificing love.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is another Christmas classic that continues to inspire generosity.

Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Tolstoy’s Family Happiness are among their many works with Christian elements. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn followed in their footsteps, with novels such as One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

There have been many great Christian poets, such as Robert Browning, whose long poems are character-driven stories.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books and other novels have obviously endured.

In North America, Catherine Marshall’s Christy is a book that goes far beyond the romances written by many modern Christian authors.

In our own times, John Grisham writes mostly formulaic (and very good) mainstream courtroom dramas but at times he has produced novels that could be considered great Christian literature. The Firm and The King of Torts illustrate the insidious corruption of greed. The Chamber looks at sin and guilt in a profound way. The Testament is one of the clearest expositions of the difference between secular and Christian life.

These are works that have impacted me. I am sure other readers could cite other books, both current works and works from previous centuries. Throughout the centuries, Christians have produced great literature that has had a profound impact on mainstream society. But we rarely achieve that today.

Why don’t we at least try to do better? It is a challenge worth considering. As stated, I have mostly written formula fiction, murder mysteries. However, my novel 1995, seldom read and even less often understood, was an attempt to do something more. My latest book, The Cabin and other stories, is a collection of short stories that at least attempts to move beyond formulaic fiction. I will leave it to others to determine how far I have succeeded.

The point is not that I have tried. The point is why more Christian writers have not tried. It is a challenge to myself and the many other Christian writers to aim higher.

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What Does God Wear? By James R. Coggins

Posted on March 4, 2026 by jrcoggins

What does God wear? How do we see Him?

God has no body. He is Spirit, not bound by the physical things He has created.

Psalm 104 is a song about God’s creation of the world and the creatures in it. However, the song starts with God Himself in heaven. The psalm says that He is “clothed with splendor and majesty.” God is awe-inspiring in ways beyond words. The psalm also says that God “wraps himself in light as with a garment.” God appeared to Moses as a fiery bush, and Moses’ face shone with light after meeting with God. On the Damascus road, the apostle Paul encountered Jesus as a blinding light. When Jesus appeared to the apostle John in Revelation 1:12-16 (a vision similar to Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10:4-6), the details were symbolic, but the primary impression was of fire and light: “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

Light brings truth, revelation, and life. Light was the foundation of creation in Genesis 1, where God first declared, “Let there be light.”

John reminds us that “No one has ever seen God” (1 John 4:12). John also said, “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Isaiah 61:10 declares, “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.”

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Thirsting for God by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Stephen H on Unsplash

In February our church hosted a one day women’s retreat. We had a guest speaker and our Pastor’s wife found a group to do the music—except that group backed out just three weeks before the retreat. So the pastor’s wife sent an email to all the women who are on the worship teams, including the Spanish worship team, asking for help.

I emailed her back and said I would be happy to help out. I play the keyboard for the worship team once or twice a month and sometimes sing—usually as a backup singer. I was expecting some of the others to step up to play guitar, drums, flute, or just to sing, but that’s not what happened. We ended up with me playing keyboard and singing and one of the Spanish worship team ladies singing with me. 

The pastor’s wife asked me to pick out the music. And then I got Covid. My head hurt so bad and my thinking was too fuzzy to focus. I prayed about the songs and picked some out but wasn’t even sure they would work. I had a little over a week until we were to practice, but I felt rough.

Discouragement set in and I whined to God. I knew He’d nudged me to volunteer but why the Covid right when I needed to be able to concentrate? I thought, “God, You own the musicians on a thousand hills, please send some to do this music.” Okay, that may be cattle on a thousand hills, but at this point I would take a Disneyesque animated cow playing the keyboard and singing in my place.

The funny thing about whining and having a pity party is that you leave yourself open to the enemy invading your thoughts. My head was filled with discouragement. Thoughts like—Your piano skills are subpar. Or,  Your voice isn’t good enough. That one felt especially true since Covid brought a dry throat and coughing. 

Finally, I realized this pity party had to stop. I prayed and God led me to 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you…” 

From there, He led me to Psalm 42:1, reminding me, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.” 

I realized that I’d been depending on myself, not God to supply what I needed to lead the worship at the ladies retreat. Of course, I was in a panic. I’m not enough. I’ll never be enough. I have to rely on God’s strength and His grace to succeed. He also reminded me that in my discouragement, I wasn’t “panting” for Him but was looking for worldly reassurances.

Once I had my priorities straight, I moved forward with healing and with practicing. God provided what I needed, just as He will provide what you need when He asks you to do something that is hard. He’ll give you the strength, the help, the grace to get through the task and you can give all the glory to Him, because it is His doing.

On the day of the retreat, we had two sets of music, one for the morning session and one for the afternoon. As I was pondering how God had led me to do the music, I realized the songs were significant, especially for the afternoon session. The first song was Your Grace is Enough and the closing song was All Who Are Thirsty. Both of those songs were based on scriptures God led me to when I asked for His help. He chose those songs when I was too sick to really focus and used them that day to cement the teaching in my heart.

When life starts to get you down and you’re discouraged, remember that God’s grace is sufficient to see you through. Drink deep of the water He offers and avoid that pity party at all costs. God loves you and wants the best for you.

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