Repairing the Breech

 Repairing the Breech

October 13, 2025

Nehemiah 2:5 (NASB95) 

Isaid to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

…

Nehemiah 3:28 (NASB95) 

Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house.

Nehemiah had a great vision to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. The city had been totally devastated by Nebuchadnezzar so it was a large and difficult job. So how did he tackle it? Just like the proverb about eating an elephant… one bite at a time. Nehemiah’s strategy was to have each family rebuild the wall in front of his their own house. There is a lesson in that for us today. The enemy has devastated the walls of our families and institutions, so how do we rebuild? Just like Nehemiah, each family needs to return to the Lord and rebuild the wall in front of their own house. It’s not an easy task. Nehemiah had his Sanballat to oppose him, and we have a multitude of voices in our society with loud voices telling us that our task is impossible and we are foolish to even try! Indeed, some of the acts of the current administration appear rash and foolish, but you need to look at the cumulative effect of all of these policies. The economy is being rebuilt, National autonomy is being restored. The forces of continual war are being resisted and we are seeing signs of revival among the young people. You cannot listen to the critics; Be like Nehemiah, who refused to come out and meet with Sanballat, but continued to do the work of rebuilding.

Nehemiah 4:1 (NASB95) 

Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.

…

Nehemiah 6:2-3 (NASB95) 

2then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

So don’t be discouraged, but seek the Lord and rebuild the walls of family and nation in the place that you find yourself. When each one rebuilds in his own neighborhood, the whole city will eventually be rebuilt. So as Nehemiah said, “I am doing a great work..” The Lord is doing a great work so let us each do our part. For example, in this season, each Christian needs to get out and vote and encourage others to do the same. We cannot abandon our country to the forces of destruction but need to work and pray for revival and restoration.

Questions

 Questions

October 7, 2026

Luke 20:1-4 (NASB95) 

1 On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, 2 and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” 3 Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me: 4 “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

A good teacher asks questions. In this passage in Luke 20, we see Jesus being confronted by the scribes and Pharisees, but he doesn’t respond to them with arguments or counter-arguments , but He asks them questions. A good question motivates you to seek out the answer yourself; That is, if you are honestly seeking the truth. Of course, the scribes and Pharisees were not seeking the truth, they were just seeking to trap Jesus so they could condemn Him. So the questions not only lead one to the truth, but also expose the heart of the inquirer. Are they seeking the truth, or just trying to start and argument?

I had one physics teacher in college who frustrated me to no end. He would never answer a direct question, but would always turn around and ask me another question. I thought I was looking for a simple answer, but his questions taught me to seek the way to find the answers for myself. It was a valuable lesson in physics, but also applies to life in general. There is something in human nature that resists accepting just what you are told. To really learn something, you need to do the work of investigating and digging out the truth yourself. Jesus understood this which was why he asked questions and told parables. Parables cause you to stop and think, “What does this story mean?” The unserious student will just pass it off as a stupid story, but a serious student will study the deeper meaning to dig out the truth.

We also saw that with Charlie Kirk. He was so effective with college students because he didn’t respond to liberal talking points with counter arguments. He would asks simple questions such as “Why do you think that?”, “What is a woman?”, “When do say that life begins?” Questions that would cause one to think past the talking point, to try to get people to think about the truth of the matter. So questions can be a good thing. So ask questions and seek the truth. As Jesus said, “The truth shall set you free.”

Dinner with Sinners

 Dinner with Sinners

October 6, 2026

Luke 19:5-7 (NASB95) 

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

This morning’s scripture started me to thinking about our recent cruise. We had a great time, but the other passengers represented a much different population that our friends that we normally associate with in church. There was lots of eating and drinking and partying, but something else happened that was interesting. Not unexpected I suppose, knowing how the Holy Spirit works, but interesting none the less. Over the course of the week there were several encounters in which we were able to speak words of encouragement to people. In one case, an older lady tripped and fell, and Diane was nearby to render some assistance. The ship was small and didn’t have a resident doctor or nurse, so her nursing training came in handy, and the family of the lady was very grateful to have someone to help and to give words of encouragement. Other people spoke about family difficulties and other issues. There were no dramatic cases of preaching the gospel loudly, but in each of these several cases, a quiet word was given to bring some comfort and encouragement. 

During the trip, there was a history professor that gave several interesting lectures about the history of the river and historical events on the towns along the river. The last lecture was on legends and ghost stories. We didn’t want to attend that one, which led to an interesting discussion with one couple over dinner about healing and deliverance. They had thought nothing of listening to the ghost stories until we started to describe some of our experiences with real live demons. I don’t know if we changed any minds on the subject, but they were exposed to a level of truth that they had not previously considered.

In the story of Zaccheaus, Jesus was criticized for eating with a sinner, but that is the only way to reach the lost. We can’t stay in our isolated little groups and reach the world. It may be uncomfortable for us to dine with unbelievers, but breaking bread is a wonderful way of opening up conversation that can bring a little light and salt into a lost world. So go forth into all the world. Preach the gospel, heal the sick and set the prisoners free!

Rain

 Rain

October 1, 2026

Zechariah 10:1 (NKJV) 

Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.

I heard that there may be rain in Texas this week. That would be a good way to start out the month of October. So Lord, let it rain!

Not by Might nor Power…

 Not by Might nor Power…

Sept 29, 2026

Luke 12:22-31 (NKJV) 

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 “Life is more than food, and the body [is more] than clothing. 24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 “If you then are not able to do [the] least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more [will He clothe] you, O [you] of little faith? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) 

So he answered and said to me: “This [is] the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

This morning I’m writing from the middle of the mighty Mississippi River, somewhere between Baton Rouge and Natchez. The river is mighty and wild in this stretch, but I’m reminded that the might of the Lord is far greater. When the Spanish took over this territory from the original French explores, they were so impressed by the river’s might and power that they called this the River of the Holy Spirit. The Mississippi is a lifeline of commerce for all of middle America, which provides a way for the farmers and traders to ply their trade and provide a living for their families. Likewise, Jesus reminds us in the passage in Luke that the Father provides all of our needs. The magnificent birds that we see living on the shores of the river are provided for and are clothed with beautiful plumage, so why do we worry about what we are to eat of drink. The Lord provides through His might and power. Thanks be to God for this day and for His Spirit and His provision for us.

 

No Serpents or Scorpions

 No Serpents or Scorpions 

September 28, 2026

Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV) 

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will hegive him a stone? Or if [he asks] for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 “Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

We seem to be seeing a common theme this week; serpents and scorpions. Today’s scripture is encouraging though, reassuring us of the Father’s love. If we ask for bread He sill not give us a stone. He will not give us a serpent instead of a fish or or scorpion instead of an egg. When we ask anything of the Father, He is assuredly going to give us a good thing. Thank you Jesus!

Now as to our current journey, today we find ourselves in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Now this state has an abundance of wonderful food as well as slimy swamp creatures. This could be upsetting to a Midwest farm boy like me, but the Cajuns have adapted by turning the various critters into food! When I was a kid, we had crawdads in the ditch, but no one thought to eat them, but in Louisiana, the make crawfish into an excellent gumbo and other interesting dishes. Each to his own, I suppose.

But back to our scripture, we need to be mindful to ask the Father for everything that we need. He gives good gifts to His children and will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. What a blessing to know the blessing and provision of the Lord. We can certainly testify, after our fifty years of marriage, that the Lord is faithful to provide in all seasons. And He is able to protect us in all circumstances, so if you come across what looks like an evil scorpion, thank the Lord, and make shrimp gumbo out of him!

Serpents and Scorpions

 Serpents and Scorpions

September 27, 2026

Luke 10:17-20 (NKJV) 

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject tous in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Today’s scripture is particularly relevant as we are in Louisiana river country, and will be touring swamps and sugar plantations. They assure us that any wildlife we see will be tame, but it never hurts to have the knowledge that the Lord protects us from all scorpions and serpents. We just need to be alert and wearing the armor of God, for you never know what kind of demons might emerge from the swamp!

Luke 9:1-2 (NKJV) 

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authorityover all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

The important thing to remember is that the scorpions and serpents are not the important thing. The important thing is to go forth with power and authority to cast out demons, cure the sick, and to preach the gospel. So whatever swamp you find yourself in today, do not fear, but take courage and be the Lord’s representative to bring light into the darkness. Not even the scorpions nor serpents can harm you when you are about the Lord’s business.