A reflection on 2 Corinthians 12:2–10, 1 Corinthians 15:35–49, and Philippians 1:21–26 Paul was given a glimpse of heaven that he was not permitted to describe. In 2 Corinthians 12, he speaks with remarkable restraint about being caught up to the third heaven and hearing things that could not be repeated. Rather than inviting speculation, … Read more
On September 8, 1895 Hervey W. Crocker was born. Exactly 29 years later, in 1924, his son Marvin L. Crocker (Mel) was born. As Mel turned 24 in 1948, Allen W. came along. Allen’s birth was documented in Southern Oregon’s Medford Mail Tribune the next day. Happy Birthday Grandpa, Dad, and Al! We miss you! … Read more
Soon after my father died, I realized how fragile family memory can be. Once a generation is gone, the stories they carry often disappear with them. So when my aunt came from Arizona to visit my uncle in Cypress, I asked if I could record an interview with them. I wanted to capture whatever they … Read more
I spent the major portion of my teenage years as an active member of the Boy Scouts. While I never achieved rank above Star, and that at age 17 or 18, I held most of the positions of leadership at one time or another. Starting with patrol treasurer, I worked my way up through patrol … Read more
Fellow Christ follower, are you struggling with letting go of your forgiven past? If so, consider the following. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He paid the full debt for our sins. The moment we place our trust in what He has done for us—taking our place and paying the full penalty—we are made … Read more
My mother, Doris, grew up in the Tacoma area of Washington. My dad met her there while he was stationed nearby toward the end of World War II. After they married and he was discharged from the service, he brought her to Medford, Oregon, where he had grown up. I was born very soon after. … Read more
I’ll have to wait until Heaven to know for certain, but I’m pretty sure my testimony began many years before I was born. One of my aunts was convinced that someone in our ancestry prayed for their descendants, and I can’t help but agree with her. Who that person might have been, I don’t know. … Read more
I want to encourage followers of Christ to realize who they are in Him: citizens of Heaven, children of God, joint heirs with Christ, and eternally secure. I also want to encourage all of us who follow Him to live in a way that reflects that truth. We are called to love God, love our … Read more
“The Most Reluctant Convert”, the movie about C.S. Lewis’s conversion to Christianity produced by The Fellowship for Performing Arts (FPA) is now on Amazon Prime. Max McLean*, portrays Lewis as he describes the development of the thoughts that led him first to atheism and eventually to Christianity. The script uses Lewis’s own words (from his … Read more
There were several times during my teaching years when I felt like quitting. Sometimes the discouragement came from difficult responses from parents; other times it came from the attitudes or behavior of students. Every so often, things would build to the point where I wondered whether I could keep going. In fact, if my fifth … Read more