Category Archives: James R. Coggins

Living Sacrifice by James R. Coggins

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 (NIV): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” How … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Importance of 1925 by James R. Coggins

1925 was a watershed moment in North American life. At the beginning of the 20th century, there had not been a major war in Europe for a century, and there had not been a major war in North America for … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO by James R. Coggins

Do we pay enough attention to the songs we sing? One of the frequently sung Christmas carols is “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The carol is about the angels telling the shepherds to go to Bethlehem to see the … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Giving 2 by James R. Coggins

Historians are often very wise people. I know this because I am one. Historians are wise because they have access to far deeper reservoirs of experience. They learn from the centuries of experience of other people. As someone said, “Good … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Giving by James R. Coggins

Recent visits to two widely different events have left me disturbed and thoughtful. I was asked by our church to help serve dinner at a Christian street ministry. That evening, we served a simple but nutritious meal to about 150 … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Ordinary Christian Speaking to Other Ordinary Christians by James R. Coggins

My mother was a godly woman. It was no accident. My parents got up early, and my father worked hard for long hours, so my mother would prepare a large breakfast for him. When he had gone to work, Mom … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Antiochus Epiphanes by James R. Coggins

The Jews were dragged into exile in Babylon by the armies of the Babylonian empire about 587 BC. When the Babylonian empire was overthrown by the Persian empire about 539 BC, the Persians encouraged the Jews to return to the … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Books Must be Written in Solitude by James R. Coggins

Books—that is, creative books and fiction—cannot be written by a committee. They spring from one person’s unified vision. Adding a second or third writer only creates confusion. This does not mean that a writer can produce a book without all … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And Now for Something Different by James R. Coggins

NEW BOOK! NEW BOOK! I have never been a conventional writer. My mind flies all over the place. I am sometimes known as a writer of murder mysteries. I have written four of them (Who’s Grace?, Desolation Highway, Mountaintop Drive, … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praise at the Dedication of the Temple by James R. Coggins

Psalm 30 is described as “a song of David for the dedication of the temple .” It can be understood as both a personal testimonial by King David and as a corporate expression of faith for the people of God. … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Late Roses by James R. Coggins

We have a rose bush that produced numerous beautiful roses this summer. I cut the dead flowers off as is recommended, and new roses bloomed on the end of the cut-off stems. As we moved into autumn, I cut off … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Snapshots of Blessings by James R. Coggins

Recently, my wife and I took time to sit down and systematically look through our many photo albums. They chronicled our lives together for almost half a century. They were an opportunity for us to reflect on our lives. I … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fourteen Years Ago by James R. Coggins

It is interesting to piece together the apostle Paul’s early history. About 34-35 AD, was Paul converted on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Acts 9:23 says that he stayed there “many days” until threats on his life led … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Balcony People by James R. Coggins

Some years ago, my family and I attended a fairly large church. Sunday attendance ranged from 1,400 to 2,000 people, which necessitated two Sunday morning services. Our family’s practice was to attend the first service and then Sunday school. There … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dung Gate by James R. Coggins

Isaiah 60 contains a detailed prophecy about the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. It envisions a prosperous city with wealth flowing into it from many nations: “The wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you … Continue reading

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment