Words for Christmas Day by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 25, 2024 by jrcoggins

As has been my custom at Christmas in recent years, I offer today a couple of my poems. Since no one has time to read blogs at Christmas, it is the perfect time to share poetry, since no one reads poetry anymore anyway. It is my gift to you, either the gift of poetry to read or the gift of time if you do not read. May your Christmas be blessed nevertheless.

The Visitation

It is expected that a doctor would visit an old woman―

but not to ask what she remembers.

You ask now.

You can be sure no one asked me such questions then

or would have believed the answers if they had.

Yet I committed these things to memory,

going over and over them in my heart,

so they are preserved whole,

perhaps precisely for this moment.

I am ready to be delivered of this burden

as I was ready to be delivered of another burden then.

The days are fulfilled for this too.

Do not doubt that the joy of the delivery

overshadows the pain till it is forgotten.

My service done, I can at last be dismissed in peace.

Someone else said that too, long ago.

I can tell you what I know,

what I saw and heard…and felt.

But to understand,

now that takes a lifetime of pondering,

and I am not done yet.

Even now, we can see only the beginning of what was meant.

It is barely morning,

and I will be gone long before it is full day,

but I can see it coming.

Why, I foretold it,

though I did not know then what I was saying.

Sit down and set down what I will tell you,

and you will be writing a prescription for all the world’s ills.

Perhaps your skill may even preserve an old woman’s memory.

I cannot say I was expecting this, but it, too, was planned long ago.

It is expected that a doctor would visit an old woman.

Joseph, Help My Unbelief

He obeyed the dream,

an indication surely he believed

that she had not betrayed him,

that this seeming act of sin

was righteousness lived out,

that God had really spoken in the dark.

But in this man so much like us,

could faith be pure, unmixed with doubt?

In an imperfect world,

calculating options, did he allow

the dream to cover his desire?

Could he have chosen both

to pardon and believe,

hedging his bets,

biding his time

to see the resolution of it all?

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And Heaven Held Its Breath!

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Author Mary Alford

The angels have been part of Jesus’s life from the beginning until the end.

From Gabriel announcing His upcoming birth to Mary to the shepherds hearing the news of the Savior being born in the City of David.

I like to imagine the angels, silent witnesses to the events that would change human history down on earth, watching and holding their breaths as the long-awaited moment happened. A Baby’s cry split the night. Can you imagine the rejoicing that took place in heaven at that time. It must have been beautiful.

Throughout His life here on earth there are scriptures that mention angels. They ministered to Jesus following Satan’s temptation. Luke 22:43 mentions how an angel came to comfort Jesus when He prayed before being arrested and crucified.

Matthew 26:51-54, says, And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

I imagine the legions of angels watching and holding their breaths as they waited for the command while Jesus hung on the cross.

And then after His resurrection, an angel asked the women at the tomb why they sought the living among the dead. He is risen!

Throughout each moment of God’s perfect plan of salvation, the angels were present in different ways. Announcing news. Comforting Jesus. Standing ready to defend through each cry from His first cry that ended the silence between heaven and earth. His second cry which tore the veil that separated us from God. And the third cry? Well, that’s the one I’m looking forward to the most. The one that will tear open the sky and finish it all!  

Until next time dear friends, from my family to yours, we wish you each a very Merry Christmas!    

Mary     

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Is Your Christmas Spirit Hiding? by Vicki Hinze

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Vicki Hinze
Vicki Hinze, Christmas. Licensed Depositphotos.com

Tough times have many of us praying for our country these days. That’s a good thing and sorely needed. But we have to keep the nature of things in perspective or tough times will drain us of joy, laughter, and all else that makes life good and beautiful.

A few years ago, I wrote about a specific Christmas where everything seemed to be going wrong, everything was harder. What follows is an excerpt from what I wrote then about Christmas spirit:

After the prayer for our country (which included asking for patience for me; I am in short supply and admit it), I thought back to prior times of fear and uncertainty. To instances where I or my family were in jeopardy. Then I looked to other countries and how much jeopardy they are in right now. Global discord is rife, to be sure.

That brought to mind the real dangers Christ faced in His life. Dangers God knew Christ would face and watched play out, knowing how things would go and end for His Son. How heartbreaking that must have been, to be fully aware and not fearing the dubious or nebulous but with full knowledge. As a parent, the impact is staggering. Yet, God did it. They both did. For the love of us.

It was then, at that moment, that I felt it. That spark of hope and renewal. That spark of faith in the future. Christ was born. Not in a palace surrounded by guards willing to lay down their lives to protect Him. But to simple means and in a time of turmoil. He didn’t just exist in turbulent times, he flourished. Not without incidents or risks, not because His path was smooth and His way clear. He flourished because He believed. His faith, though sorely tempted repeatedly, remained steadfast.

Jesus was falsely accused, betrayed, ridiculed, abused and suffered many indignities and unfair acts. Yet, He persisted and endured staying true to His God and Himself, doing what He believed was right and honored His Father. There is deep dignity in faith.

Again, I paused from the travels inside my mind, and prayed for that for us all. For that dignity in faith. That it would be steadfast and we would have and exercise the wisdom He seemed to innately know that we flawed people must seek. I prayed for it for all, particularly for those I know have been struggling, and that’s when it occurred to me. It seemed so simple then.

When the Christmas Spirit seems elusive, it isn’t it that isn’t at home in us. We are focusing inward on ourselves too intently, shutting the door inside us to it. But when we turn our thoughts and deeds to others, the window opens wide. And the spirit of Christmas floods in.

Christ didn’t have to do what He did for us. God didn’t have to do what He did and does for us. They chose to, not for themselves but for us. I’m sure as certain a perfect parent would spare His child. I’m sure as certain that child would skip the trials and tribulations, too. So why didn’t they? They couldn’t skip the bad stuff and get to the good stuff for us, so they endured, and because they did, we too can flourish.

For me, knowledge of that opens all the doors and windows into the Christmas Spirit.

It seemed a good time to revisit that awakening moment in my life. I hope it brings some peace and perspective to you in yours. And I wish you all many blessings and a very merry Christmas.

Wishing you and yours many blessings and a very Merry Christmas!

Vicki Hinze

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Merry Christmas from Tara Randel

Posted on December 23, 2024 by tararandel

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. My hope is that we all slow down, enjoy precious time with family and friends and remember Jesus being born in a manger for you and me. There is so much about this time of year to celebrate!

Before long we’ll be looking to next year, which is a different conversation all together! There is so much to be excited about and it starts by thanking the Lord for all good things.

Merry Christmas!

Tara

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. 

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Light by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 18, 2024 by jrcoggins

Right at the beginning of creation, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God “saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4 NIV). This was before God created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-18). This means that before the earth was formed, God’s universe was fundamentally moral rather than physical. Light is good, and darkness is evil. Light represents truth and morality, while darkness represents ignorance and sin.

Light gives clarity and knowledge, while darkness brings confusion and chaos. You can’t see in the dark and don’t know what is going on. Jesus said, “Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going” (John 12:35). In the same verse, Jesus warned people to accept Him while they had the opportunity: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.”

Darkness is also depressing. People are more depressed in winter, when days are shorter and days are darker because of cloud. This type of depression is called Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD). It is treated by “light therapy”— bright light that simulates sunlight. It is no accident that December, the darkest month, is when people put up Christmas lights, to cheer everyone up.

Darkness also represents sin and evil. It is no accident that most crimes are committed at night when they can be kept hidden. John explained: “People loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20). Jesus pointed out to those who came to arrest and crucify Him that they had avoided doing so during the day but did so at night since “This is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). But God sees what is done in the darkness and will expose it and punish or reward depending on what is done: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Matthew 10:26); “Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Darkness is negative, not something in itself, but just the absence of light. Therefore, it is not something to be attacked itself; instead, it needs to be replaced by light. Dark deeds need to be exposed. Bad deeds need to be replaced by good deeds. Someone once said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”; that is, it is better to do even one small positive thing than to focus on criticizing negative things.

It is important to know that God brings light to dark places and to people in the dark:

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said that Jesus would come as light: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 8:2). Both Matthew and Luke quoted this prophecy, saying that Jesus was fulfilling it (Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:79). The apostle John said that Jesus “was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:2-3). This means that it was Jesus who said, “Let there be light” in the first place. John went on to say of Jesus, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus spoke even more plainly: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12) and “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).

Those who reject God remain in darkness. The Bible says that those who reject God will be thrown out “into the darkness” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). Therefore, there is a big gap between darkness and light, a huge difference between darkness and light, like two separate kingdoms. Jesus came to bring people out of darkness into light, but those who refuse to accept Him remain in the darkness. Paul described this in Colossians 1:12-14, saying that Christians should give “joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Paul told King Agrippa that Jesus had commissioned him to preach to gentiles (non-Jews) “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). Paul, in Romans 13:12, taught that it is up to us to choose the light: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Paul also warned: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) and “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11).

Jesus is the light of the world, but He also said to 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). We are to let our light shine, but it is important to remember that we do not have the light in ourselves but we only reflect the light of Jesus, just as the moon does not have any light of its own but only reflects the light of the sun. This is stated in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, “his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” The other Israelites were somewhat afraid of him because of the glow, and so he would put a veil over his face after being with God (Exodus 34:29-35). The New Testament says this is a metaphor for how Christians reflect the light of Jesus: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate [reflect] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Sometimes, when are here on earth, we have to endure a time of darkness (not just nighttime, but a time when there is evil, confusion, and depression). There is a famous poem that addressed this:

                And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

                “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.

                And he replied:

                “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

                That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

                                – Minnie Louise Haskins, “The Gate of the Year”

This poem became popular during the early dark days of the Second World War, a very dark time. Sometimes we are in darkness, and then we have to believe that the God of light is still with us and guiding us and protecting us even when we cannot see. Then we are to believe that we are safe in the arms of God, for “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). We can also look forward to the day when we will live with God in heaven: We are told that the city of God will “not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp…On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:23-25).

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What Is the Lesson? by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 11, 2024 by jrcoggins

In all of the Ten Commandments, perhaps the statement that causes the most concern to modern readers is “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:6). Most concerning is the idea that innocent children should suffer for the sins of their parents. And yet the reality is that sin does great harm to subsequent generations, beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve but continuing even today. In evil societies, it is the children and the vulnerable who suffer the most from those who do evil.

Some might also question how to reconcile the idea of a jealous God with the last of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17). The Hebrew word for “jealous” is qinah, which is almost always used in the Bible of God’s attitude toward His wayward people but occasionally of a husband in regard to an adulterous wife. The Hebrew word in the tenth commandment is chamad, which means to “covet, delight in, desire.” The difference is that God’s “jealousy” is based on demanding faithfulness from someone who belongs to God (the Israelites accepted the covenant that God offered at Sinai, just as Christians have accepted a covenant with God through Jesus Christ), while “coveting” is desiring something that belongs to someone else.

But that still leaves us with the issue of God punishing sin to the third or fourth generation. This statement was made to inform the Israelites about God’s holiness and justice. God was telling them that there were very serious consequences to sin and that those consequences would affect not just those who sin but also other people. Later history shows that the Israelites’ sins (idolatry, murder, theft, oppression, sexual sin, etc.) harmed many innocent people. God’s stark statement was meant to shock the Israelites—and also many people today who gloss over sin and don’t take God’s justice seriously.

This statement also needs to be understood in the context of the rest of the statement: “But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” The point is that God is holy and just but that God’s mercy is even greater, hundreds of times greater. We need to fully understand the seriousness of sin and God’s justice. Only if we do so can we recognize the awesomeness of God’s mercy, for which we should be grateful every day. God’s mercy is marvelous but only and especially in light of God’s justice. If sin were not so terrible, we would not need God’s mercy. This message is repeated often in the New Testament: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5); “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3); “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

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A Baby Changed Everything!

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Author Mary Alford

There have been so many beautiful Christmas songs written through the years. O Holy Night, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem to name a few. And I love them all.

A few years back I discovered a new favorite by singer Faith Hill. It’s called A Baby Changes Everything and it’s told from Mary’s perspective.

The song really got me thinking about Mary hearing she was going to be the mother of Jesus. 

Imagine what it must have been like as a teenage girl back in Mary’s time being told she would have a child outside of marriage. By law, she could have been stoned to death.

Yet Mary trusted God.

Luke 1:30-33 says,

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

Of course she was fearful. She’d have to tell Joseph she was pregnant. Would he believe her? There would be questions from her family and friends. Doubts. Looks from everyone. Would anyone believe her story?

Instead of saying, “not me”, Mary didn’t hesitate. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

God handled everything for her. He sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm Mary’s story.

Oh, the stories Mary could talk about on how God worked everything out despite the difficulties. Imagine traveling on the back of a donkey at nine months pregnant. Arriving in Bethlehem only to learn there wasn’t any room for them and being forced to give birth in a stable.

Then having shepherds come to see the Child and hearing their amazing story of how an angel delivered the news of the Babe’s birth only to be joined by a host of angels praising God. Can you imagine their magnificent sounds of praise? 

Mary must have been stunned and in awe of God.

When the Magi came, she and Joseph and the Baby were in a home. Imagine listening to their story about following a star to the exact location of the newborn King. Receiving the gifts fit for the King. 

And then God warned Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.

Yes, the stories Mary could tell would fill its own book, and they all started when a teenage girl was visited by God’s angel and told she was the highly favored one. Instead of expressing doubts, Mary was all in.

I loved having Mary’s story come to life in the song, A Baby Changes Everything. It helped me to see the Christmas story from her point of view.

If you get a chance, give it a listen.

As the Christmas season rushes upon us, I hope you take the time to read the Bible’s account of Jesus’s birth and then go back through the scriptures that were fulfilled by Him and see how truly amazing our God is.

Until next time dear friends, Merry Christmas!     

Mary 

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Context by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 4, 2024 by jrcoggins

Exodus 20 is the place in the Bible where we find the “Ten Commandments.” When we read that chapter, we might find it hard to understand the context. Many of us have known about the Ten Commandments all our lives. We might have read Genesis, as well as other parts of the Bible. But have we ever thought about the context of Exodus 20 or about the people who received the covenant that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai?

The Israelites were descended from Abraham, who had received God’s promise that God would make his descendants a great nation. But the Israelites had been living in Egypt for 400 years, immersed in Egyptian culture. The documents that make up Genesis were available (so Moses could incorporate them into the books he put together for Israel), but it is likely that few Israelites had read them. Even if they had read the documents in Genesis, we should think carefully about how much God had revealed in those stories. They reveal that God had created the world, that human beings are sinful, that God intervenes in human life to rescue and redeem people, and that God had chosen the Israelites as the channel for His revelation and His blessing—but the details were still pretty vague. The Israelites had also learned some of the same lessons through Moses—that God’s name is Yahweh (I Am), that God is very powerful (more powerful than the Egyptian gods), that God had chosen the Israelites to be His people, and that God redeems and saves people (through their deliverance from slavery and through the symbolism of the Passover). But still those lessons did not have all the detail that we have, and it is not clear how thoroughly the Israelites had understood and learned those lessons.

It is more accurate to understand the Israelites at Mount Sinai as essentially pagan people. That is why they could so quickly revert to idolatry and debauchery, worshiping the golden calf. To these people, the Ten Commandments, God’s covenant, would have come as a novel revelation. It is important to understand that what we call “the Ten Commandments” the Bible calls the ten “words” (Exodus 20:1, 24:3, 34:1,28). The Hebrew word is dabar (word), not mitsvah (commandment). Exodus also uses the word beriyth (covenant) to describe what God was offering them (Exodus 19:5, 24:7, 34:10,29). Therefore, we should see this covenant not as rules people must follow but as a revelation of who God is (and by extension who He is calling people to be like). He is the Creator (Exodus 20:11). He is Spirit, not part of the physical creation (Exodus 20:4-5). He is holy (Exodus 20:7). He keeps His promises (Exodus 20:6,14). He prefers life over death (Exodus 20:13). He is truthful (Exodus 20:16). He is just (Exodus 20:12-17) and merciful (Exodus 20:2,6). He can see into human hearts (Exodus 20:17).

How different this is from what the Israelites were used to in Egypt! Egyptian religion taught that there were multiple gods and that these gods were limited in power, part of the natural order, and shaped like birds and animals. Further, these gods were cruel, devious, and unreliable, and they condoned theft, murder, and slavery. We should not underestimate how dramatically different was the revelation of the true God that Moses received on Mount Sinai.

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A New Season by Tara Randel

Posted on December 2, 2024 by tararandel

As I was waiting and thinking about what to post today, inspiration, as it always does, struck.

Every year I pick a day between Thanksgiving and December 1 to change out my seasonal decorations. It takes a while to pack away Fall because I have A LOT of decorations. Then I slowly bring out the Christmas collection.

About two years ago, I wanted to do something different on my fireplace mantle. Looking through my boxes, I found some houses that I hadn’t been using. I think I was waiting until I decided to construct a Christmas village.

As I stripped the mantle, it occurred to me that sometimes in our lives we may feel stuck, uninspired, or perhaps life isn’t going great. Maybe we’ve let our relationship with God cool off. If we recognize what is going on, we can get rid of the hindrances and allow God to work on us.

Slowly, as we seek God, He can begin to rebuild us. It may take a while. Perhaps it’s done in layers. Each year I fine tune my collection by adding a little more. Imagine what God can do for us if we are patient.

When we get to the point where we feel stronger, it’s like seeing this little village come together. We can finally see what God had been building in us.

In my town, the dimensions are not correct. I haven’t made sure every piece is to scale. I have larger and smaller houses next to tall or short trees. Some characters are bigger than others. Nothing is perfect or shaped exactly as some might think it should be. But when taking a step back, I can see that the changes are just right. It’s like looking at life through God’s eyes.  

My wish for this Christmas is that God would speak to each and every one of us. Perhaps we need to make some changes or start from scratch. Allow God the time to speak so we can rebuild the way He sees fit. Then we can be ready for all the wonderful things God has in store for us going forward.

Merry Christmas!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available May 2025. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. 

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The Wonders of Technology by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 27, 2024 by jrcoggins

I am a writer, editor, and book publisher. Increasingly, however, I seem to be spending my time on other things.

For instance, I recently accepted an upgrade to my computer’s operating system and then spent an entire afternoon trying to get my scanner to work. I ran the troubleshooter, I re-established my printer as the default printer, restarted the printer, restarted the computer, and refreshed everything. Nothing. I repeated all of the steps. Nothing. I repeated all of the steps the next day, and it finally worked.

I have spent more time trying to figure out why our cell phone will no longer upload photos to my computer.

A couple of months ago, we bought a new car. It is an electronic marvel, and we are still trying to understand how it all works. One of the things we discovered is that our old iPod is too obsolete to mesh with the sound system on the new car. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how to download the 300 plus songs from our old iPod onto my computer and then transfer them to a thumb drive which I can connect to the car’s sound system. So far, I have had only partial success.

Several weeks ago, our dryer developed a problem. The dryer works fine, but after a drying cycle is competed, the drum keeps spinning unless we open the door. After some time researching online, I was finally able to reach a representative of the manufacturer by phone. From the model number, the agent was able to tell me that the dryer is eleven years old and the ten-year warranty has just expired. The agent directed me back to the website to find a list of manufacturer-approved repairmen. I checked them all out and found that the closest one was seventy miles away. After further internet searching, I found a non-approved repairman who was local. He examined the machine and determined that an electronic switch had malfunctioned, that a major electronic component needed to be replaced, and that the component is no longer available. So, we are back to leaving the door open.

A few weeks later, the washing machine, companion to the dryer, stopped working. We called the same repairman, who installed a new pump. He said that the machine was still in good shape otherwise and that it was best to repair it because new machines have far more complicated electronics and therefore break down more often.

Also this month, I called my phone company and reached the automated answering service. After navigating through numerous options, none of which concerned my issue, and being on hold for a while, I finally reached a real person, who started with the usual pleasantries: “How are you today, sir?” “Thank you for being a customer of our company.” “What number should I use to call you back if we get disconnected?” This is the phone company, and apparently even they don’t believe their service is reliable. Then he had to verify that I was me. (Who else would be phoning about a problem with my phone?) He asked me for my date of birth, the last four digits of my driver’s license, my address, and my PIN (Personal Identification Number). I didn’t have a PIN, so he established one for me. Then he explained how I could change my PIN or recover it if I lost it by using the app. I don’t have the app. Now twenty minutes into the phone call, he asked me why I had called. I said I wanted to know why my cell phone bill had suddenly tripled. After he put me on hold while he investigated, he said he would have to transfer me to another department. After more waiting on hold and more pleasantries, a new agent asked me to verify that I was me. I gave the PIN. It did not work, so she explained how I could get a New PIN using the app. I said I didn’t have the app and did not want to change my PIN. Then she sighed and asked me for my date of birth, the last four digits of my driver’s license, and my address. Satisfied that I was me, she asked me why I had called. I said I wanted to know why my cell phone bill had suddenly tripled. After I was put on hold again, she came back on the line and explained that the 24-month introductory rate that had induced me to sign with his company had now expired, I now had to pay the regular rate, and there was nothing I could do about it. This highly efficient telecommunications was able to answer my simple question in only forty-five minutes.

I have two other issues with my phone company’s service, but they will have to wait until I have more time.

A couple of days after the washing machine broke down, the dishwasher kept shutting off. Apparently, the highly sophisticated electronics in this marvellous machine have gone wonky after only five months. I phoned the store where we bought the machine. Since the machine is past the store’s 90-day warranty, the store referred me to the manufacturer. I reached a manufacturer’s representative by phone, who wanted to know the serial number of the dishwasher and a lot of personal information about me. He finally agreed to send a repair person within a week or so. He said he would send a confirmation by text. I said I don’t do texting because my cell phone is too expensive. So, he said he would send confirmation by email. When I received it, the email said, in part, “We know your time is valuable, so please help us help you! Take a moment and upload to our website a photo of the bill of sale and a picture of the product tag containing the model and serial number.” To send a copy of the bill of sale meant that I would have to use my scanner to import a copy into my computer. Fortunately, I had spent a whole afternoon getting my scanner working again, and I could do this. To send a copy of the product tag meant that I would have to use my cell phone to take a picture of it and upload it to my computer. As I have already stated, my cell phone will no longer upload photos to my computer. However, I was able to spend more time trying to troubleshoot this problem. After a while, I received a message saying that I would have to upload an app to my computer using my cell phone or take a picture of a QR code. I don’t do apps or QR codes, and even if I could, I couldn’t upload the app or QR code to my computer because my cell phone no longer communicates with my computer. I finally dug out my old digital camera, took a photo of the product tag, uploaded it to my computer, and sent all the required documentation to the company that is promising to fix my dishwasher.

I am a writer, editor, and book publisher. But I think I am beginning to understand why I haven’t written or edited much of anything lately—except for this blog.

Isn’t it wonderful how modern technology saves us so much time!

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Look at the Words by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash

Have you ever heard someone talk about how your perspective changes depending on which word is emphasized in a sentence? I’ve heard it done with questions and the result can be very interesting. For instance, if you ask – Did she steal the bracelet? – and stress a different word each time, the whole focus of that sentence changes.

I have been doing something like this with phrases from the Bible. I am not changing the focus of the sentence, but instead gaining a deeper understanding of the meaning of the phrase. I find it a fascinating way to study, although certainly not the only way. I don’t do it all the time, but once in a while.

Let me share the process with you. For this example I’ll take the first phrase from the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, a beautiful statement and one that we’ve said so many times we can forget to plumb the depth of the scripture. 

  1. THE Lord is my Shepherd – The is an article used as a function word before a noun. THE and not “A” tells me a lot. This is THE Lord. He is not one of many but the only one. “Now see the I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me…” (Deut. 32:39 NKJV) The One and only God is my Shepherd. 
  2. The LORD is my Shepherd – LORD or Jehovah, Eternal God. “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Ex. 3:14 NKJV) God exists through time and for all time. He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end. (Rev. 22:13) I have trouble wrapping my head around Jehovah, the eternal God, and I am awed that He would choose to be my Shepherd.
  3. The Lord IS my Shepherd – IS, one of my favorite words to ponder. IS means present tense or happening right now. This phrase doesn’t say He “was” or He “will be” my Shepherd, but He IS. Right now. This very moment and every moment. Such a powerful meaning that gives me such comfort.
  4. The Lord is MY Shepherd – MY is getting personal. I love it. God is a personal Shepherd to each one of us. God is omnipresent, able to be there for each person. Proverbs 15:3 tells us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place…” He can be there for each of us as our personal Shepherd. I love this, and love taking the time to consider what this means to me.
  5. The Lord is my SHEPHERD – A SHEPHERD cares for sheep. The Bible tells me I am one of God’s sheep and He is my Shepherd. A Shepherd is available to his sheep. He cares for their needs and makes sure they are met. He sees that they remain healthy. He keeps away predators. What a promise. What a word to ponder. In John 10:14, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” All I need I find in Jesus. He provides and He protects. 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Such a simple phrase. So easy to read it quickly and not consider the true depth or meaning in the words. Yet, when you stop and think about each word in the phrase, these five words shine with God’s glory.

I don’t always do this exercise in my studies, but I’ve found it an interesting way to focus on a scripture portion and get more meaning than when I read quickly. I hope you’ve enjoyed this and will try it on your own.

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The Ten Commandments by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 20, 2024 by jrcoggins

People sometimes rebel against moral codes such as the “Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20:1-17) and ask what gives Christians the right to tell people what to do. The answer is that Christians do not have that right. But the real question is what gives God the right to tell people what to do. The answer is that God created human beings and therefore has that right. Further, there is the answer given at the beginning of Exodus 20: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” God had just freed the Israelites from slavery. He was leading them to a Promised Land where they would enjoy prosperity and blessing. He offered them a covenant, an agreement (which we call the Ten Commandments). Under this covenant, the Israelites would agree to worship God and obey Him and God would agree to be with them and bless them and make them significant. They did not have to accept this agreement. But if they did not agree to the covenant, God would not be obligated to bless them. Left on their own, the Israelites would be in danger of falling back into slavery and suffering.

Today, in the modern world, God is offering us a new covenant through Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to free us from the penalty for our sin and the bondage of sin. Under this covenant, God asks us to worship and obey Him. In return, He promises to be with us (in the form of the Holy Spirit) and to bless us and make us significant. We also do not have to accept this covenant. We do not have to do what God tells us to do. But, left on our own, we will inevitably fall back into sin, the bondage of sin, suffering, and death.

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Remembering My Grandfather by James R Coggins

Posted on November 13, 2024 by jrcoggins

My grandfather clanked when he walked. He lived with our family in my early years when I was growing up. He read stories and recited nursery rhymes to us children. I remember him as being very tall. His war records state that he was five feet, four and a half inches—taller than my parents, but hardly the giant of my memory.

My grandfather did not relish war, but he felt it was his duty to enlist, so became a private in the Canadian Army in 1916. He was sent to France in 1918 with the 4th Canadian Division.

Our family knew my grandfather had been wounded twice. We had an idea that he was shot first and blown up second, but it was the other way around. In August 1918, near Amiens, he suffered shrapnel wounds to the head, face, right upper arm, and right thigh. After six weeks in hospital, he rejoined his unit on September 25. His medical care was not exemplary, as shell fragments were still working their way to the surface thirty or forty years later. On October 1, 1918, near Cambrai, he was part of a detail of thirty men who were sent across an open grain field to occupy an advanced position. Unexpectedly, they came under fire from a machine gun nest that had not been cleared from a nearby woods. Less than a third of the men reached their objective. Since this was too small a number to hold the position, they decided to return to their former lines. In recrossing the grain field, my grandfather was struck by four bullets, to his right knee, lower right leg, right thigh, and left thigh. The thigh wounds were not serious, but the lower bullet almost completely severed his calf muscle, severed an artery, and shattered his fibula. Before leaving him, his sergeant applied a tourniquet that controlled the bleeding and probably saved his life. He remained there, hidden in the grain, until evening. Under cover of darkness, he began to crawl back to his lines. He reached his objective at dawn and was about to call for help when he looked over the parapet and saw a German soldier cleaning his bayonet. As quietly as possible, he crawled back in the opposite direction. His brother, who was in the same battalion, asked for permission to go and look for him, but was refused.

My grandfather was finally rescued after two days. He spent the next eight months in hospital and rehabilitation and was finally discharged from the Army on July 2, 1919. For the rest of his life, he was able to walk only with the help of a cumbersome metal brace.

My grandfather was a gentle man, a school teacher, a devout Christian, and a respected Bible teacher. He was quite certain that he had never killed anyone in battle and was glad about that. He rarely talked about his war experiences, but they remained a vivid memory all his life. He would frequently have nightmares, waking up screaming after dreaming that he was being strangled by a German soldier.

There is a sequel to this story. While on leave in England, my grandfather visited his brother-in-law’s family. After the war, he wrote to his brother-in-law’s sister and asked her to come to Canada and marry him. By this time, she was a widow with a young daughter, my mother. There being a distinct shortage of eligible men in England, the sister agreed to marry my grandfather, a man she had met only a few times. In those days, people lived by faith. In July 1920, my grandmother and her daughter arrived by ocean liner in Montreal. My grandfather (it will be clear by now that he was actually my step-grandfather) met her at the boat. They walked down the street to a church and were married the same day. And that is how I was blessed to have a grandfather who lived with us and who clanked when he walked.

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Is This the Right Way?

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Author Mary Alford

As a Christian Suspense author, I write a lot about characters who don’t always make the good decisions in their lives. All it takes is one wrong turn and they find themselves in a lot of danger. Thankfully, with God’s guidance, I can get them back on track and give them a happy ending despite their mistakes.

In real life it isn’t always so easy. Making a wrong turn can derail us and get us off track with God’s path for our lives.

But praise God, He has a way of pulling us off the wrong path and getting us back on track. It takes praying and listening for His answer.  

Have you ever wondered if you’re on the right path and if what you’re doing aligns with what God wants you to be doing?

I think we all do at times. It’s easy to believe something we’re passionate about is what God has in mind for us to do to serve Him.  

I know when I first started writing, I thought my path was to write mainstream suspense novels. Yet at every turn, I found my writing met with the ugly roadblock of rejection.

Then, I finally got it. God wanted me to use His talents to write Christian books. When I surrendered to His will, amazing things happened.

Seeking God’s will above our own desires isn’t always what we want, but if we let Him take control, He will use our talents to glorify His name in ways we could never have imagined.       

Mary  

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The Prayer of Faith by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 6, 2024 by jrcoggins

In James 5, James was encouraging his Christian readers to pray by pointing out the example of Elijah: “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:17-18).

Elijah, James said, was just a human being like the rest of us, but his prayer led to a long drought. This passage seems to say that Elijah prayed that it would not rain, which stopped rain from falling, and then prayed for the rain to start again, which ended the drought. This suggests that Elijah essentially controlled the rain through prayer. The problem with this interpretation is that it reduces God to a passive dispensing machine—we insert the proper coins of prayer and get what we prayed for. We want healing, so we pray for it, and healing happens.

But is that what really happened in the Old Testament story of Elijah (1 Kings 17-18)? The Old Testament does not reveal how or what Elijah prayed. He just showed up one day and announced that it was not going to rain. Was this announcement his idea? One clue is that Elijah’s next steps were all dictated by God—God told Elijah where to go so that God would provide for Elijah during the drought. And then God told Elijah to announce that “I will send rain on the land” (1 Kings 18:1). It was God who decided to bring the drought and then decided to end it.

So what did Elijah do? It is quite possible that he prayed that God would do something about the disobedient and unfaithful condition of the people of Israel and made himself available as God’s servant to do whatever God wanted him to do to help with the answer. Elijah’s part in the miracle was not controlling the weather but merely announcing what God was going to do.

For us, this passage means that we should absolutely pray for healing and many other things, but it does not mean that we can control God’s answer, what He will do with the situation we have brought to Him.

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