Category Archives: James R. Coggins

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

Posted on November 19, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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Late Roses by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 12, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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Snapshots of Blessings by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 5, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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Fourteen Years Ago by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 29, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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Balcony People by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 22, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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The Dung Gate by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 15, 2025 by jrcoggins

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 →

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Retracing Our Steps by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 8, 2025 by jrcoggins

Recently, my wife and I visited some of the churches we had worshiped in previously, some many years ago. We were welcomed on our return, but the pastors seemed to lose interest once they realized we were not likely to … Continue reading →

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Shame by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 1, 2025 by jrcoggins

I have a close friend who has problems, some of them related to issues in his past. Whenever he gets into trouble or does something wrong or foolish, he stops answering my phone calls. He avoids me and hides from … Continue reading →

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My Life in Churches by James R. Coggins

Posted on September 24, 2025 by jrcoggins

Recently I was reflecting on my experience with the various churches I have attended. I grew up in a small town attending a Baptist church. The Sunday school was largely staffed by men and women with limited education and mediocre … Continue reading →

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Singing the Songs of the Lord in a Foreign Land by James R. Coggins

Posted on September 17, 2025 by jrcoggins

Psalm 137 begins: “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept” (NIV). It is a psalm full of pain. The Jews had experienced their nation over-run by the Babylonians and their capital city Jerusalem destroyed after a brutal, three-year … Continue reading →

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A New Mentor by James R. Coggins

Posted on September 10, 2025 by jrcoggins

Years ago, I was accepted into the PhD program in History at the University of Waterloo. When I arrived (after a long drive from the other end of the country), the departmental secretary directed me to go to the house … Continue reading →

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Prayers for the Fruit of the Spirit by James R. Coggins

Posted on September 3, 2025 by jrcoggins

A friend of mine was facing a series of difficult issues—finances, employment, relationships, health, and so on. He asked me to pray for him. I said I would, but I also said that I would pray that he would be … Continue reading →

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Playing the Percentages by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 27, 2025 by jrcoggins

I have always been intrigued by athletes who claim to continually be giving “a hundred and ten percent.” When sports are your priority and you’ve suffered repeated hits to the head over the years, it’s probably no surprise that math … Continue reading →

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Thoughts and Prayers by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 20, 2025 by jrcoggins

When something bad happens, public figures often say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.” It sounds good, but do these public figures actually pray—or is it just thoughts they are sending? The reality is that … Continue reading →

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Are You Proud of Your Country? by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 13, 2025 by jrcoggins

Are you proud of your country? I am a Canadian, and this question came up in the midst of an upwelling of patriotic fervor in Canada. The fervor is a response to insults, threats, and tariffs directed at our country … Continue reading →

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