Encourage to Faith Blog

I was born in Georgia and spent most of my adult life there. I’m sure that’s why after spending extended time in Florida I begin feeling displaced. That red clay is hard to get out of your nails. I suppose it’s just as hard to get the sand out from your toes. Florida...

(Second in a series on Evangelism) I rant, occasionally. I can go on a bit (confession is good for the soul), especially on matters of faith. It might come across as if I don’t have the confidence of my convictions about God and so I repeat myself, louder each time,...

(This is the first of three parts on our role in spreading the Gospel message.) We sometimes think that reaching others for Christ is a competitive numbers game (in our flesh we do), where our side of the responsibility, now that Jesus died for the sins of the world,...

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). "I love you," God tells me, tells me forever. "But if you knew the things I’ve done, the things I’ve said, the things I’ve thought." "Yes, I know all about them son, and I love you more than you can...

Pertaining to God’s attributes, whenever I stop long enough to ponder them deeply, I always draw closer to Him. Let me stop now. He is… -Sovereign (Meaning, He’s in charge) -Forgiving (He sent His only begotten Son to die for my...

(This is the third of three messages on the goodness of why we are here.) Assignment 1: Walk through any luxurious neighborhood and see how many people are taking time to enjoy themselves on their front porch. In the 1979 comedy, The Jerk, Steve Martin plays...

This is the second of three messages on the goodness of why we are here. A while back, I wrote out the following outline on living life, and more specifically, on how to experience the goodness in everyday life—because there is an amazing goodness to life, as you...

In our dear Christian faith, we learn that going to church and sharing the experience of worshipping God together is wonderful; that opening the Bible at any time and mining the riches of God’s very words is divine; that, most astonishing of all, from the inception of...

I love a good read. My definition of a good read: Any book that edifies by means of learning, enjoyment, or relaxation in a way that draws me closer to God. Olympian Eric Liddell said, "When I run, I feel [God’s] pleasure." If I may borrow the phrase, When I read, I...

My chocolate lab, Tracker, saw an owl the other evening. Now he thinks everything’s an owl. He’s dreaming by my chair-side now—of a dozen owls, going by the commotion of his four paws.  Dogs dream of owls. People dream of destinies. Dogs have souls—a mind, a will,...

I was talking to a friend the other day about the state of affairs in this world; specifically, the events you hear about that cause you to shake your head and wonder, How can the world survive this? For emphasis, I added: "It’s not a good thing. That’s for sure. But...

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world”(Mt 5:14). That is one great privilege. That is one great responsibility. So by all means, shine your light today. Don’t let life’s pressing circumstances keep it hidden anymore. Shine your light. When times get dark in this...

What to do about these challenging times? Keep following after truth. Keep following after truth in the midst of the world’s storm. Keep following after truth in the midst of our country’s storm. Keep following after truth in the midst of your own storm. Truth is...

Can we talk about Jesus more and not so much about the election? Don’t get me wrong, talking about politics in this republic of ours is important, vital even. We need to do it plenty to make sure we get it right. But it never should take precedent over talking about...

“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come” (Heb 13:14). When in the middle of uncomfortable surroundings, like a doctor’s waiting room, or the crush of an amusement park line, or any over-peopled place, sometimes I say...

There are six extraordinary things I want to write and pray about today. I am aware that each holds truths so beautiful that if I would take them into my heart and nurture them daily, my life would never be the same.   1. My sheep hear my voice. (Yes Jesus, I do...

Many jobs hang in the balance in these trying times. We may think the Coronavirus has knocked us off our vocational pursuits, but that would not be so… I tell the story of my journey of faith from five years old to mid-adulthood—when I said “I do” to Jesus—in my book,...

“I don’t suppose I’ll ever forget ol’ what’s his name.” So goes the well-traveled quip—said during Vaudeville days for sure, and maybe even said much earlier by one of eight remaining humans who floated on the water in an ark. The quip bears much truth when it comes...

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:22-24). I am thankful this...

To All, Time marches on toward the inevitable return of Jesus. We are yet another year closer to that anticipated day!  Throughout this past year, many exciting things have happened at Encourage to Faith Ministries. I am grateful. Nevertheless, to God’s children, here...

Salvation: deliverance from sin and its consequences brought about by faith in Jesus Christ. I heard this quote from a popular radio host whom I like: “If God doesn’t send Hitler to Hell, then I have no interest in such a God.” Sounds righteous enough. Only problem...

How is it that the tiny nation of Israel (not quite the size of New Hampshire) is the ground-zero religious and political firestorm of the world? How does it endure even though it is the only free market, democratic nation in a sea of more than a dozen other nations who by-and-large would like to see it annihilated? What is so important about it that men…

“As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” (Mt 24:3) I do not purport to know the day or hour Jesus will return...

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Pet 3:10). Let us backtrack: Soon after Eden...

“Then He told them a parable: ‘Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near’” (Luke...

The greatest Christmas present ever conceived? That's easy: Jesus was sent to be born in the flesh, to live a sinless life, to die on the cross for our sins, so that we might be saved. And this morning, as I read Ephesians 2:8-9, I am reminded that you and I can’t do...

Many have tried to muster up the effort to work for Christ in order to prove their usefulness to Him. They believe that their identity as Christians is forged and sharpened through their great efforts to accomplish “godly” goals. I used to believe that too. I was wrong…