Bible, theology, culture, etc.
When I was a child, the men in my family would often go on fishing and hunting trips. I don't remember how old I was when I was allowed to join these, but I would guess 8, maybe 9. While these were strictly "man trips", for as long as I can remember, my grandmother attended … Continue reading Grandma
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in January 2022* Sermon Audio: To Live Is Christ (Phil 1:18-26) “Life is meaningless….I lived for thirty or forty years: learning, developing, maturing in body and mind, and…with matured mental powers reached the summit of life from which it … Continue reading To Live Is Christ (Phil 1:18-26)
Today we celebrated the life of Samson Charles Bidan. Here is the audio recording of my message I gave at the service. (To listen to the entire audio of the service, click here). To learn a little bit more about Samson, you can read my previous post about him and my response to the news of … Continue reading Hope in the Face of Tragedy
I don't rightly understand how to process the death of a friend. Death has always been like lightning to me; something powerful but always viewed from a distance. I've heard about lightning strike right next to people, but never seen it. Likewise, I've heard about people losing immediate family, spouses, or close friends, but … Continue reading Goodbye, Brother
This previous week, my wife's grandmother, Onalee Anderson, passed away. She was a remarkable woman who loved the Lord with a fervor that I hope to catch just a fraction of. Words must be pulled and stretched to attempt to capture a personality as big as Grandma Onalee, but alas I had the honor of speaking … Continue reading Grandma’s Hope
In my undergraduate study of the book of Genesis, as a final project I had to study six thematic principles in Gen. 3:1-7. This is the second study: The Creation of the Serpent “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made” (Gen. 3:1). Genesis 3 … Continue reading The Creation of the Serpent
"Where are you going, Master?" cried Sam, though at last he understood what was happening. "To the Havens, Sam," said Frodo. "And I can't come." "No, Sam. Not yet anyway, not further than the Havens...Your time may come. Do not be too sad, Sam. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to … Continue reading Tolkien’s View On Death: The Grey Havens
No One Survives Cancer, So They Say A beautiful piece written by pastor Jared C. Wilson, meditating on the ugliness of cancer, the pain of death and the hope of resurrection.
Marc Sims 