BELOVED, . . . KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD" (Jude 21) We are to 'keep ourselves in the love of God.' In the consciousness and warmth and power of it we are to dwell. We are persuaded of course with Paul that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). His love has a firm hold on us, and He will never let us go. But we are also to have a firm hold upon it in the quiet recesses of our hearts. We are

The order of LAW: DO this, and live; DO this, and be blessed (Leviticus 18:4-5): The order of GRACE (See particularly John 13-17 and the New Testament epistles): FIRST Receive and enjoy what HE HAS DONE! Behold how HE has poured out His Love ON YOU; NOW. . . You, who have freely received His LIFE; Take THAT SAME LOVE and share it with a needy world! "We love Him . . . BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US!" (I John 4:19) "Herein is Love, NOT that we loved God, but that HE LOVED

Thanks SO much for ALL the kind thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement yesterday, on the 22nd birthday of Levi Nathanael Richards. I know I'm a lousy Facebook friend, and I sincerely apologize for that. I'm told my posts have helped, even inspired others, and I'm so glad. Posting helps me, as well, so I keep doing that. But I am pretty lame-tushed (forgive my French) at the interacting part, which I recognize IS a vital part of the whole social media dealio. I sti

What a trip; to bring tiny humans into this world; to know that they have some part of you in them; and yet see them depart so convincingly from the mold of you and develop into such distinctive and un-Ernielike creatures! Each of my four kids has long since surpassed me in some way, and it surprises and delights me each time I see it. My Danika wunderkind. We can be wrestling out a problem. We've talked to doctors, professional counselors; Googled it and read the articles

There are various ways in which as saints we are tried, but through all circumstances our Father is threading our way, occupying Himself with us PERSONALLY, our particular characters, etc., in order to develop and mature us spiritually. What we want is to realize that our Father loves us SO much, we are of such value to Him as that He should take such pains to make us “partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). We are apt not to believe the activity of His love. Some trouble

For a while there, I kinda laid low on posting about grieving. Partly, I thought it would be healthier for me to leave the house of mourning and focus on other Bible topics for a spell. But even more, I always seem to get this vague feeling that someone might be thinking, "Oh, my . . . STILL?? Is he NEVER going to move on and stop dwelling on his grief?" Not that anyone said anything to me to that effect! Just the mild paranoia of a bereaved, Facebook postin' dad, I suppo

I remember how this touched my heart when I first read it nearly 28 years ago. Then, I had not lost my parents, or my sister, or beloved mentors like Miles Stanford and Jne Hartzell-Evans and Theodore Letis . . . . . . Or Levi. I didn't even have a son then, let alone know what it feels like to lose one. These words are so much more poignant to me now. It was actually a few months after losing Levi before I could even bring myself to read them again. From one of the most s

Since the Bible says laughter is like a good medicine (literally, "a merry heart" - Proverbs 17:22), I've decided I'm God's loving Rx to the Deaf around Lynchburg. Not only do they get regular opportunities to chuckle at my gaffes in ASL, BUT TODAY WE'RE GOING BOWLING. 'Nuff said? [No, seriously, they're much too nice to laugh -- OUT LOUD 😉]

So what does it mean to “give place unto wrath “ (Romans 12:19), and what's that got to do with forgiving those that done me wrong? Again, wrath is simply a stronger word for anger. In Romans, it’s God’s righteous anger at man’s sin and defiance. And the predominant way wrath is MANIFESTED in Romans? God gives man over to the evil monarch, "King Sin;" He hands man over to his own lusts (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). The result is increasing enslavement to those lusts. The more ma

Here's something I've been thinking about quite a bit myself, lately. Brilliantly juxtaposed in my life are 1) heights of joy from infinitely rewarding time with my grandkids (including the one still in the warmer!), and 2) still oppressive lows that come like waves when some somber remembrance is triggered (which occurs at least daily). As wonderful as these little ones are (and their slightly larger parents, as well!); as dearly loved by their Zayde they be (and words