Our blue spruce was dropping pinecones and needles The tree doctor took one look at it and explained the problem ldquo It rsquo s just being a spruce rdquo he said I rsquo d hoped for a better explanation Or a remedy But the tree man shrugged saying again ldquo It rsquo s just being a spruce rdquo By nature the tree sheds needles It can rsquo t change Thankfully our spiritual lives aren rsquo t limited by unchangeable actions or attitudes Paul stressed this liberating truth to the new believers at Ephesus The gentiles were ldquo darkened in their [... more]

In the midst of some military camps across Europe during World War II an unusual type of supply was air-dropped for homesick soldiers mdash upright pianos These instruments were specially manufactured to contain only ten percent of the normal amount of metal and they received special water-resistant glue and anti-insect treatments The pianos were rugged and simple without frills but provided hours of spirit-lifting entertainment for soldiers who gathered around to sing familiar songs of home Singing mdash especially songs of praise mdash is one way that believers in Jesus can find peace in the battle too King Jehoshaphat found [... more]

Green Bank West Virginia is a tiny community in the rugged US Appalachian Mountains of the USA The town resembles dozens of other small towns in the area mdash with one major exception None of the residents have access to the internet This total disconnect isn rsquo t a technology boycott or a desire to get back to a simpler lifestyle The absence of Wi-Fi access or cellular phone towers is because of the Green Bank Observatory whose telescope is constantly trained on the sky To prevent interference with the leading-edge technology of the observatory local officials do not allow [... more]

Click the icon below to listen [... more]

A rugged cast-iron ring stood strong against the harsh Minnesota winter as it hung on the doorframe of my great uncle rsquo s old farmhouse More than a hundred feet away was another ring firmly fixed to the dairy barn Years ago during a blizzard my uncle would attach a line between both rings so he could find the path between the house and the barn Keeping a firm grip on the line kept him from losing his way in the blinding snow My uncle rsquo s use of a safety line in a snowstorm reminds me of how David [... more]

Segment One--NFL Season Opener Four Days Away Rams-Bills Has Sean McVay Already Become The Most Important Figure In The League Segment Two--NFL Russell Wilson Just Got Paid How Much Of A Difference Will He Make In The Rugged AFC West and how does it impact Lamar Jackson Segment Three--NFL Guest Jason Cole Outkick Com Learn more about your ad choices Visit podcastchoices com adchoices [... more]

Pastor Greg discusses the Respect Marriage Act an act disguised to groom our children by pedophiles HR must be defeated in the Senate Response to this act has been tepid at best Victor Avila NADA contains incentives to lure more illegals Illegals are victims of liberal open border policies Cartels target innocent Americans in towns where CBP and DPS reside Human Trafficking does not end when they get here [... more]

Immeasurable Cost A close pastor friend of mine called me after burying his beloved dog While digging the hole he wept while angrily reflecting on how much he hated death The conversation turned to the countless funerals he presided over during his ministry I played the piano for many of those services We talked a bit longer about some of the cherished families we ministered to during those funerals and we discussed our shared anger at death Then he said something that's never left me Do you know who hates death more God hates death he stated quietly Pausing he [... more]

While attending seminary I was working full-time Add to that a chaplaincy rotation and an internship at a church I was busy When my father visited me he said ldquo You rsquo re going to have a breakdown rdquo I shrugged off his warning thinking he was of another generation and he didn rsquo t understand goal-setting I didn rsquo t have a breakdown But I did experience a very rough dry season in which I fell into depression Since then I rsquo ve learned to listen to warnings mdash especially from loved ones mdash more carefully That rsquo s [... more]

A decade ago they didn rsquo t know the name of Jesus Hidden in the mountains of Mindanao in the Philippines the Banwaon people had little contact with the outside world A trip for supplies could take two days requiring an arduous hike over rugged terrain The world took no notice of them Then a mission group reached out shuttling people in and out of the region via helicopter This gained the Banwaon access to needed supplies crucial medical help and an awareness of the larger world It also introduced them to Jesus Now instead of singing to the spirits [... more]

In Papua New Guinea the Kandas tribe awaited with excitement the arrival of New Testament Bibles printed in their language To get there however both the books and their visitors had to travel on the ocean in small boats to reach the village What gave them courage to travel across great waters Their seafaring skills yes But they also know who created the seas He is the One who guides each of us across our life rsquo s churning waves and deepest waters As David wrote ldquo Where can I go from your Spirit rdquo Psalm ldquo If I go [... more]

This is a video of the funeral service of one of Grace Church's beloved charter members Bob Beecham went home to be with the Lord on January He leaves behind a legacy of faith in Christ and a testimony of Christ's faithfulness to him [... more]

If you've been given the diagnosis of cancer or if someone you care about has don't miss this edition of Building Relationships with Dr Gary Chapman Author and speaker Deborah Barr says cancer is a hard reluctant journey through rugged unfamiliar terrain But you can find the strength you need if you'll allow God to join you on this trail Whether a patient or a caregiver you'll be encouraged See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

As I waited in the breakfast buffet line at a Christian conference center a group of women entered the dining hall I smiled saying hello to a woman who stepped into the line behind me Returning my greeting she said ldquo I know you rdquo We scooped scrambled eggs onto our plates and tried to figure out where we rsquo d met I was pretty sure we had a case of mistaken identity though When we returned for lunch the woman approached me ldquo Do you drive a white car rdquo I shrugged ldquo I used to A few years [... more]

Today's broadcast is a continuation of the series Demon Possession [... more]

After a recent move Mabel rsquo s seven-year-old son Ryan fussed as he prepared to attend a summer camp at his new school Mabel encouraged him assuring him that she understood change was hard But one morning Ryan rsquo s out-of-character grumpiness seemed excessive With compassion Mabel asked ldquo What rsquo s bothering you Son rdquo Staring out of the window Ryan shrugged ldquo I don rsquo t know Mom I just have too many feelings rdquo Mabel rsquo s heart ached as she comforted him Desperate for a way to help him she shared that the move was hard [... more]

When my husband and I were exploring a small rugged corner of the state of Wyoming I spied a sunflower in a rocky dry place where sagebrush nettles prickly cactus and other scraggly plants grew It wasn rsquo t as tall as the domestic sunflower but it was just as bright mdash and I felt cheered This unexpected bright spot in rough terrain reminded me of how life even for the Christian can seem barren and cheerless Troubles can seem insurmountable and like the cries of the psalmist David our prayers sometimes seem to go unheeded ldquo Hear me Lord [... more]

Dive deep into Corinthians as Bob Lepine along with hosts Dave and Ann Wilson discuss the counter-intuitive principles of love God has given for lifelong relationships According to Corinthians the Christian's job description starts with long-suffering rugged durable patience not adrenaline-rush feelings Discover the two best words to describe agape love Ponder how God demonstrated His love for us Romans Find hope for any spouse who feels alone in offering this Corinthians kind of love in their marriage and how to continue to show compassion and grace while also remembering that patience does not mean enabling destructive behavior Show Notes [... more]

A while back I invited my friend Daniel Fisher an exceptional violinist to perform a duet with me at church During the serving of communion we played a medley of The Old Rugged Cross and Near the Cross Each time I listen to this I'm stunned by his playing While playing the piano I just try to stay out his way At the end you can faintly hear the communion trays being returned to the table I felt that even that added value to this performance As caregivers our lives can be filled with such stress and anxiety The holidays [... more]