MAY 20, 2026

  “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” 

― Plato

1 CHRONICLES 1-2

The lineage begins...

To Noah’s Sons

1Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

4The sons of Noah:^a

Shem, Ham and Japheth.

JOHN 7:32-53

Jesus causes dissension within the Pharisees...

45Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

47“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

JOURNAL 

To begin going through the list of all the names at first is a bit like counting sheep. Yet when I really begin to think that each of those names represents a full life. A life of drama and suffering, laughter, tears, joy, hope, disappointment. Then the impact of seeing them on paper becomes overwhelming. To think that all of these people worship the same God. That each of their lives played into the story and that my life is also grafted into that story. God's story of redemption. They laid the foundation of the Kingdom that I am now a part.

Then her in John...the chief priests are beside themselves with dealing with Jesus and what they see as a threat to their way of life and the influence they have over the people. The Pharisees failed to see that what they longed for most in their life was actually standing right in front of them. It is understandable and reminds me that anytime fear begins to have its way in my life then I can look back and realize it's often that I fear losing something. Many times whatever I fear losing has become more important even than God and his love.

I love watching and reading about people who have been successful in an area of their lives. It really cannot be argued that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest to play the game of basketball. One statement made about him from the documentary "The Last Dance" was  "his true gift is that he is able to be fully present in the moment, no matter what that moment is. He doesn't let fear of the past project into the future." Wow...that's a pretty powerful statement and entirely biblical. 

Today is a gift, it is not guaranteed. And because it's not guaranteed, to waste it in worry and fear is to cheapen it. To cheapen a day, even a moment of life is sinful and is giving in to the evil that wants to stamp out love in this world. Jesus died so that I might have life and live that life in gratitude, joy and service to him and others. 


18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

1 JOHN 4:16-18

MAY 19, 2026

  “When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.”

 ― Ernest Hemingway

2 KINGS 23-25

Although Josiah's heart is completely committed to God, it does not protect him from death and defeat...

24Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. 25Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses...

29While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. 30Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

JOHN 7:1-31

The drama heats up as Jesus becomes a polarizing figure...

1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want^a to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8You go to the festival. I am not^b going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”

12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

JOURNAL 

Obedience to God does not guarantee protection from the world and evil. Here Josiah, as a worldly king, has no peer in his dedication and love for God. Yet he is still defeated and killed by Pharaoh. Here Jesus the son of God is being rejected, questioned and conspired against to be killed. Eventually the Jewish leaders would get their way.

Here is a line that must be drawn in the sand of my own faith and spiritual journey. The question is..."why follow?" If the answer is anything that hints of self-protection or wealth or immunity from sickness or suffering then I believe the point and message is entirely missed. My motive reveals my heart and a heart that's sold out to self promotion is a heart that is not sold out to God. 

Now I believe every person on this planet struggles with fully surrendering to God. I think it's at the heart of our sin. Yet I also believe that God permits and allows us to dream and hope and find joy in this world as well. I believe it's why the cross and the message of Jesus is vital to our salvation. We struggle and blow it every day. Yet that's the beauty and the joy of God...he knows and loves us in spite of our failure to love and our failure to obey. Coming to terms with my own failure I must accept that obedience and loving God must be it's own reward. I cannot think of it in terms of what it will get me, but rather what God will do through me. 

Occasionally I go back and watch the clip of Randy Pausch's Final Lecture. It is so inspiring to see a man who is facing his own death and a death that happened way to early, He was a brilliant, kind, amazing man that had so much life to live and give, and yet he wasn't bitter or somber...he was still having fun, still making the most of each day. That's an inpiration that's the way life is to be lived. 

36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning;^e they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. 

- HEBREWS 11:36-40

MAY 18, 2026

   “...Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our sublime and departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time...” 

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2 KINGS 20-22

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.18Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^b and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ ”

JOHN 6:45-71

61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^e and life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.67“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

JOURNAL 

Aaron Rai’s win this week felt like more than just a golf story. Listening to him talk about gratitude, persistence, and honoring the sacrifices his parents made was a reminder that character is often formed quietly, long before anyone notices the results. The image of him carefully covering his irons as a young player because his parents could only afford one good set says something profound about appreciation. When you understand sacrifice, you tend to handle life differently. You take care of things. You value opportunities. You become grateful not only for success, but for the people and struggles that made it possible.

Scripture constantly reinforces that same truth. Josiah inherited a broken kingdom, yet he chose to walk faithfully and humbly before God. Jesus watched many disciples turn away when His words became difficult, yet He continued speaking truth because truth matters more than comfort. Throughout the Bible, the people God uses most are rarely the ones living polished, easy lives. They are people shaped through difficulty, humility, endurance, and gratitude.

Maybe that is why history fascinates me so much. Historical dramas remind me that every generation is filled with ordinary people carrying burdens, making sacrifices, fighting discouragement, loving imperfectly, and trying to leave something worthwhile behind. History is not a collection of emotionless dates and names. It is a story of human beings wrestling through messy lives while still trying to move toward goodness, truth, and purpose.

The older I get, the more I realize that gratitude changes everything. When we truly appreciate what we have been given, we tend to live more carefully. We strive to give our best, not because life is perfect or guaranteed, but because every act of faithfulness leaves a mark. Every sacrifice, every kindness, every moment of perseverance becomes part of the story we leave behind. In many ways we are all leaving “footprints in the sands of time,” whether we realize it or not.

That is comforting to me because my own life is messy too. There are disappointments, misunderstandings, failures, and seasons where the road feels uncertain. Yet none of that surprises God. Scripture shows over and over that God works through imperfect people living imperfect stories. He walks beside them through all the confusion and somehow weaves purpose through it anyway.

So maybe the goal is not a flawless life. Maybe the goal is to live with humility, gratitude, and faithfulness. To protect what we have been given. To honor those who sacrificed for us. To keep going when things are difficult. To remain thankful even in struggle. Because when we do, we are not only shaping our own story, we are leaving something meaningful for those who come after us.

1Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." 

- ROMANS 5:1-2

MAY 17, 2026

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the authora and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:1-3

2 KINGS 18-19

14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

17“It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”(19:14-19)

JOHN 6:22-44

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

JOURNAL 

There is something deeply comforting in the thought from Hebrews that we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.” Not witnesses sitting in condemnation, waiting for us to fail, but witnesses the way family leans forward in the stands at a game, or friends hold their breath as someone they love steps into a defining moment. They are invested. They care. They know the struggle. They remember their own fear, weakness, triumphs, and failures. And now somehow, in the mystery of God, they cheer us on.

Hezekiah spreads the terrifying letter before the Lord, fully aware of his weakness and inability to control what is happening around him. Jesus walks steadily toward the cross, not seeking his own will but surrendering to the Father’s. Again and again scripture reminds us that God moves through what appears weak, obscure, foolish, or impossible. An overlooked king prays and an empire falls overnight. A carpenter from Nazareth becomes the Savior of the world. A brutal cross becomes the most recognized symbol in human history.

And maybe that is part of the beauty of today itself.

The heroes of faith are not calling me to perform perfectly. They are not withdrawing love every time I stumble. They are watching the same way people who deeply love you watch you step onto the field. They want to see you live fully. They want to see you trust God in the middle of uncertainty. They know what courage costs. Abraham knows. Moses knows. David knows. Paul knows. Peter knows. They know what it feels like to doubt, to fear, to fail, and still keep walking.

Somehow that changes the ordinary moments of my life. This morning matters. This conversation matters. The way I handle disappointment matters. The way I love people matters. The way I respond to fear matters. Not because my worth hangs in the balance, but because my life is part of a much larger story God has been telling from the beginning.

God did not create me to imitate someone else’s role in the kingdom. He created me as me. My personality, my wounds, my gifts, my experiences, even my weaknesses are somehow woven into His purpose. To shrink back from that calling is not humility. It is forgetting that God knew exactly what He was doing when He formed me.

Paul pleaded for his thorn to be removed, but instead God answered with something greater: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Maybe the cloud of witnesses understands that better now than ever before. Maybe they are not most inspired when I appear strong, but when I continue trusting God while weak.

Today I stand on holy ground, not because I have everything figured out, but because God is with me. Heaven is not silent toward my life. Love surrounds me. Grace sustains me. And somewhere beyond what I can fully understand, the faithful are cheering me onward to keep running my race.

 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-9

MAY 16, 2026

  “How blind is the delusion that the greatness of a man is measured by his living; rather, it’s always by his giving.” 

― Christian Hunt, The Dawn of Grace

2 KINGS 15-17

34To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.(17:34-41)

JOHN 6:1-21

12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. 

JOURNAL 

What does God want from us and why? That is a question that has inserted itself into my brain on more than a few occasions. Sometimes life seems pretty pointless, unfair, random and meaningless. Often it can seem that what I do really doesn't matter. However if I believe scripture then I have to embrace the reality that everything matters but it matters in a way that is very different from what I learn from the world. 

The ultimate goal in life as a believer is not to become a crowned king. The old testament and new both very clearly dispute the glory and honor of getting the title of King. So if obtaining all the privileges and trappings of kingship is not the goal then what is? From what I read...serving God and loving others is about as simple as I can define my purpose here on this planet. To serve God means to be fully and completely obedient to him. It also means that I seek to know his character, his intentions, his ways and that I constantly seek to do my very best to be my very best. The very best that he created me to be. 

Secondly, that I care for, and contribute to those in my care and in my sphere of influence, to be their very best. That's it...it has nothing to do with a trophy or a title or being recognized or making a certain amount of money. Although those things may be a result of me being my best...they are not the reason nor are they the reward. The reward is simply knowing in my heart that I have given and done my best and that I have helped others do the same.  

This, I believe, is the "peace that passes understanding", this is the joy of living and following God and it is a joy that can exist whatever my external circumstance...whether rich or poor, sick or healthy, accepted or rejected, loved or hated, powerful or weak, winner or loser...the circumstance does not matter. What matters is the answer to the question: Is God my only God, do I serve him, do I seek him and do I love others? If the answer is yes then my life is a glorious success. If the answer is no then I have failed in every way...

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40