Author: elainecrandell

Wife • Mom • MawMaw • Age 71 • Retired • #SinnerSavedByGrace • #ChristianBlogger • #TravelEnthusiast •

Hot!

Hot!

Hot coffee!  My love for it first began when I was a little girl. It was the aroma. My mom drank hers black, hot, and in a small White Castle coffee cup. The first time I actually tasted it was not until I was a teenager. I was surprised it didn’t taste as good as it smelled. But by the time I was old enough to live on my own, I was an official coffee lover, as I had discovered that instant coffee with a little milk and sugar made the perfect cup of coffee.

Mmm…

Nowadays my requirements for a good cup of coffee are pretty simple. I prefer Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee Crystals, with a little skim milk, monk fruit sweetener, and most importantly, it must be hot! Lukewarm coffee will not do.

So, you can imagine how excited I was to own my first microwave oven back in 1980. It was a wedding gift from my mom, and it wasn’t just any microwave; it was a Sharp Carousel Microwave. I actually didn’t cook much in it, but I found it perfect for making a cup of coffee and keeping it hot. 

Fast forward to May of 2021, our youngest daughter, Mackenzie, got me an Ember Temperature Control Smart Coffee Mug for Mother’s Day. I love it! When used properly, it keeps my coffee a perfect 140 degrees.

Three things I’ve learned about using the Ember mug:

1. You need to start out with hot coffee. For example, you can’t pour cool or lukewarm coffee in the mug and expect it to work properly.

2. You need to start out with a full cup. It doesn’t work well if you only pour in half a cup. It needs to start out full.

3. You need to keep it charged. While it will work off of its charging base, it doesn’t work for long periods of time. It needs to be connected to its base often in order to keep a good charge.

Thinking about my love of hot coffee reminded me of this verse:

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!” Revelation 3:15

In this Bible verse, Jesus was referring to the church at Laodicea. It was a dead church; their hearts were lukewarm and their deeds were hypocritical, done for show and not with the heart or the love of God. Basically, the church was full of unconverted, pretend Christians who saw themselves as “rich” believers, but in reality they were self-sufficient hypocrites who relied on their own prosperity and their own good deeds. The Lord saw them as wretched, pitiful and “poor” unbelievers, whom he chastised using the analogy of the temperature of their water.

Interestingly,

Their drinking water was disgustingly lukewarm. It came from a viaduct via a nearby spring, but it was practically worthless. It wasn’t hot like a hot spring that people could bathe in, nor was it refreshingly cold for drinking: it was lukewarm, basically good for nothing, and nauseating to drink. Thus, the analogy is of the Lord’s response to the Laodiceans, who sickened Him like the lukewarm water.

So here’s a stern warning,

And a simple analogy.

1. Lukewarm won’t do: First and foremost you must be born again. Have you turned to Jesus in repentance and faith, and placed your trust in His sacrificial death on the cross for the penalty of your sins? If so, be passionate about matters concerning the Lord! Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your desires to line up with God’s will for your life.

2. You need to be full: There are no halfhearted Christians. To be a “lukewarm Christian” is the equivalent of being an unbeliever. You’re either saved or you’re not saved.

3. Stay close to God: Christians grow in their relationship with God through prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and by growing in the truth of God’s word through meaningful Bible study. It’s the process of santification. And just as a reminder, attending or being a member of a church doesn’t make you a Christian. Nor is there any value in trusting in church traditions, your status, or your possessions. Good works are not a substitute for salvation. Good works are a result of salvation, not a means of salvation.

Something to think about the next time you enjoy a delicious cup of hot coffee. 

More importantly,

Something to pray about.

Talents And Spiritual Gifts

Talents And Spiritual Gifts

My dad was bi-vocational, working for White Castle in the Indianapolis office as supervisor by day, and playing guitar by night (mostly weekends) at VFW’s (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and various venues. He also played guitar on a local TV show called Midwestern Hayride.

So, his day job was necessary to put a roof over our heads and food on the table, but his night job was simply because he loved playing the guitar. He was self-taught and quite talented, and more than just a guitar player, he strived to be an entertainer, and that he was. He would often point out other musicians that he believed were good entertainers, and although we had different taste in music, he was right about entertainers. There was something different about them; entertainers seem to instinctively know how to entertain.

As for me, I never went into the entertainment industry and rightly so; I don’t have an ounce of theatrical or musical talent! Although I do remember daydreaming when I was young about becoming a famous singer one day. Ha! Don’t we all?

Actually, it’s human nature to want something that someone else has. Unfortunately our human nature tends to cause us to envy a talent that we find attractive in others, all while ignoring a talent that we may have but are totally unaware of.

In reality, not everyone is supposed to be on stage. There are many wonderful talents that are in the background and not meant to be front stage and center.

Do you know what your natural talents or abilities are? It’s probably something that you enjoy doing; something that you’re good at; something creative; and something that stands out about you to other people.

While most everyone has some natural talents and abilities, spiritual gifts are different. Spiritual gifts are only given to believers and shouldn’t be confused with a natural talent or ability.

Spiritual gifts are given to believers by the grace of God for the purpose of doing the ministry that God has planned for His followers to do. Spiritual gifts are also known as gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual gifts include, but are not limited to:

• The gift of teaching others about God.

• The gift of exhorting or encouraging others in the faith.

• The gift of showing generosity to others.

• The gift of Christian leadership.

• The gift of showing mercy to others.

• The gift of administrative or organizational skills.

• The gift of helping in some way, service, etc.,

Spiritual gifts are to be exercised in the life of a believer for the glory of God, in service to Him, to further His Kingdom, and ultimately to point others to Him.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

In actuality, God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things, not just in one particular area of ministry. He equips believers with whatever gifts we need at the time to accomplish any task that He’s called us to do.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” I Corinthians 12:4-7

So, do you know what your spiritual gifts are? You can have more than one. It’s also OK if you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are. It’s really more important just to be serving God in some way. Ask God where he wants you to go and/or what He wants you to do. You’ll likely discover your spiritual gifts as you are “going” and “doing” for the Lord.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received.” 1 Peter 4:10

And,

As believers we should ask ourselves questions from time to time, such as…

“Am I using my spiritual gifts in the way that God intended?”

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. Psalm 115:1

And,

“Am I glorifying God with my life, with my natural talents, and with the spiritual gifts that he’s blessed me with?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Imagine

Imagine

Morning TV has taken a backseat in my daily routine, but I still catch the occasional morning news story as my husband still likes to watch morning TV shows. One morning in July of 2021 the TV news coverage was on the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. This was the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics that was originally scheduled to be in July of 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic, and was rescheduled for July 2021. It wasn’t the Olympic ceremony that caught my attention but it was the song they sang, Imagine; nearly 50 years after it was first released by John Lennon in September of 1971.

Fifty years earlier, I was just entering my senior year of high school. Imagine got a lot of air play and eventually became one of John Lennon’s biggest hits after the breakup of Beatles in 1970. I didn’t think much about the lyrics back then but remember thinking the words seemed a little odd. I wondered what did he mean by saying, Imagine there’s no heaven? Now, 50 years later I realize his lyrics were more than just a little odd.

Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one.

#JohnLennon

I admit I used to be a big Beatle’s fan. I was 9 years old in February, 1964 when the Beatles first invaded America. Some of my favorite early Beatle songs were, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” I Saw Her Standing There,” She Loves You,” and “Yesterday.” By the time they broke up in 1970 their music had changed quite a bit, as did they, but they were still extremely popular.

Now concerning the lyrics to Imagine, I find them quite troubling.

⁃ Imagine there’s no heaven: Why would we do that? The Bible clearly tells us that, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

⁃ It’s easy if you try: Really?! “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.” Psalm 19:1-4

⁃ No hell below us: Wishful thinking, at best, for the unsaved. Denying the existence of something does not make it go away, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9

⁃ Imagine all the people living life in peace: The Bible warns about those who silence legitimate fears and complaints with soothing words that speak of peace; “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 8:11

⁃ Imagine no possessions: This is eerily similar to a statement out of the World Economic Forum; a huge proponent of The Great Reset, in which Klaus Schwab states, “You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy.”

⁃ Imagine all the people sharing all the world: Sounds great but I fear the methodology in which the world is leaning toward in their execution to obtain this; Open Borders, Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Marxism, Socialism, Stakeholder Capitalism, etc.

⁃ And the world will live as one: While “the Bible does not use the phrase “one-world government” or “one-world currency” in referring to the end times. It does, however, provide ample evidence to enable us to draw the conclusion that both will exist under the rule of the Antichrist in the last days.” #GotQuestions

So we live in a secular world. Entertainment is secular by nature. The majority of TV shows are secular. Olympic Games and professional sports are secular. Pop music is secular.

To be clear, entertainment and music has its place. My preference is wholesome family entertainment and Christian music. I, like most of us, have some favorite TV shows. I have some favorite movies. I also like to listen to the oldies, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s music on occasion.

However, there’s a line that is crossed when entertainment ceases to be wholesome. When entertainment becomes heretical. When entertainment becomes apostasy. When entertainment diametrically opposes the word of God. When entertainment ceases to be entertainment. Such as John Lennon’s Imagine.

Imagine there’s no heaven? No way!

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:11

In Everything By Prayer

In Everything By Prayer

I retired from Delta Air Lines in 2009 and am still grateful for having worked for Delta a little over 20 years in four different locations: Tampa, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, and Dallas. Interestingly Delta was first company that I worked for that only allowed a 30 minute lunch break. No big deal though. I just got used to bringing my lunch every day.

Except,

One day, while working in the Dallas office, I forgot my lunch. Normally when this happened I’d just get something from the vending machines but on this particular day I didn’t have any money with me either. Oops! I was hungry but was too embarrassed to ask someone for money, so I just sat down alone in the break room like everything was fine.

Before long, thoughts of a recent sermon from my pastor came to mind. In it he was reminding us that God wants to meet our needs and that He knows our needs even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). The pastor reminded us that God wants us to pray about everything, big or small. So, I prayed a short prayer and asked God to provide something for me to eat and to help me to not be so embarrassed to ask people for lunch money.

Before long my lunch break was over and I went back to work with an empty stomach.

A couple of hours later, still hungry and feeling a little down, I took my afternoon break and stepped outside of the customer service area to a guarded exit area to make a phone call. Out of the blue, the guard said, “Hello!” and offered me a slice of her pizza that she had just gotten delivered! Of course I accepted it and I was so grateful! It was delicious!! I told her that both she and the slice of pizza were an answer to prayer. It brought a smile to both of our faces.

God answered my prayers that day in such a tangible and timely way, and I made a new friend too.

I came away with an important reminder about prayer and also some reflection on my “feelings” of embarrassment.

For one,

I was more in the habit of praying about the bigger, more important issues in life, not the little things. I was reminded that I was not to limit my prayers to just the big things, but to bring everything to God in prayer, even something as small and insignificant as a forgotten lunch.

And two,

Why was I embarrassed to ask someone for lunch money? Was my embarrassment actually pride? Was I afraid of rejection? Was I overly concerned about how asking for money would look to others? Was I being too self-sufficient? I think the short answer to all of the above was yes. On the surface I was feeling embarrassed, but down deep I believe I was experiencing some of the negative effects of pride.

Pride is a sin.

Pride comes in all shapes and sizes, in actions and in lack of action. It gets in the way of healthy relationships. It also separates us from God.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Galatians 6:3

So I was reminded that day that it’s ok to ask others for help. It’s not a sign that there’s something wrong with you. It’s a sign that you’re human and that you need help of some kind. Asking others for help connects us and helps us relate to each other.

It’s even more OK to ask God for His help. In fact, we’re told to do so throughout the Bible:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Prayer, or lack there of, reflects our current relationship with God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re failing to trust God for our needs.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re relying on ourselves instead of God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re denying the sovereignty of God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re acting as if we know better than Him.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re saying that we’re in control, not God.

God’s help is actually exactly what we all need, but we have to first be willing to humble ourselves toward God and then toward one another.

….Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Humility leads us to ask in prayer for His help,

In the little things.

In the big things.

In everything.

So,

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Green Acres

Green Acres

In 1993, we made our final major move involving my time with Delta Air Lines. Hello Texas! We moved into a nice apartment in Lewisville. Ever since Harold and I married in 1980, we had always rented. We first lived in an apartment for a couple of years, and then rented a double (duplex) for several years. We continued renting various apartments and homes for the first 15 years of our marriage. Actually renting was convenient for us during those years as we moved around quite a bit: from Indianapolis we moved to Tampa, Florida; from Tampa we moved to Los Angeles, California; from Los Angeles we moved to Jacksonville, Florida; and from Jacksonville we moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. Amazingly, the last four moves were done within a five-year period! However, in 1994 we decided it was time for a change. While still renting an apartment in Lewisville, Texas, we took the plunge and bought 10 acres of undeveloped land in Krum, Texas. It was pure country and it was absolutely beautiful!

I could just sit and stare at the land for hours. In every direction we looked, it was green, it was big, it was peaceful, and the sunsets were amazing.

Harold dove in immediately and began putting up fencing. Within a few days, we made a trip to the local ER after he busted his hand and broke his thumb with a post hole digger. Ouch!

A few weeks later we began the next chapter in our lives and moved out of our Lewisville apartment and on to our new land, and into a little travel trailer.

It was a really old travel trailer.

And did I mention it was little?

And that there were four of us!

It was so small, when the girls were sleeping, we had to climb over their bed (couch/hideaway-bed) to get to the kitchen. We didn’t even own it; we rented it.

While living in the travel trailer we built a 12-stall drive-through barn and made 4 of the stalls into living quarters:

⁃ one stall for the kitchen/bathroom

⁃ one stall for the living room

⁃ one stall for our daughters’ bedrooms

⁃ and one stall for our bedroom.

It was kind of like a log cabin except instead of logs the walls were made of untreated 2 x 4s. Our bedroom was located next to the horse stall and on many an occasion the horse would wake us up by kicking the walls. Ha! We also had a few roosters 🐓 but that was very short lived because they “cock-a-doodled-do” way too early in the morning (I’m talking, like, 4:00 a.m.) so we gave them away to the first neighbor who would take them!

When the living quarters were finished we moved out of the travel trailer and into the barn. Actually our neighbor to the east of us needed a travel trailer so he took it and used it while he was having his home built.

Michelle wasn’t very fond of living out in the country, and was even less fond of living in a barn, although she did like the horses. 

Megan was just the opposite. She absolutely loved living on the farm and loved all the animals. In addition to the horses and a dog, we managed to acquire a few cats, rabbits, donkeys, goats, sheep, and cows too.

We also had some emus but suffice it to say that didn’t turn out very well. They were not very friendly.

So having lived my entire life in the suburbs up until this time, living in the country was quite the culture shock for me. Living in a barn was very different than what I’d ever experienced before, but I decided to treat it like an adventure. It started reminding me of the old TV show, Green Acres, staring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. It wasn’t long before I found myself walking around singing the theme song to Green Acres:

Green acres is the place to be!

Farm livin’ is the life for me!

Land spreadin’ out so far and wide.

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside. (As sung by Eddie Albert)

New York is where I’d rather stay!

I get allergic smelling hay.

I just adore a penthouse view.

Dahling I love you but give me Park Avenue! (As sung by Eva Gabor)

The chores! (Eddie Albert)

The stores! (Eva Gabor)

Fresh air! (Eddie Albert)

Times Square! (Eva Gabor)

You are my wife! (Eddie Albert)

Good bye, city life! (Eva Gabor)

Green acres we are there! (In unison!)

Not surprisingly Harold absolutely loved everything about living in the country, and he was just fine with living in a barn. So much so that I was a little concerned that we were never going to get around to building that new house that he’d promised me when we first bought the 10 acres.

So I prayed about it.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

When we were first married back in 1980, I remember thinking about our future and about having children; I daydreamed of having three children one day. God blessed us with Michelle in 1981 and Megan in 1986. But during this time, I also suffered several miscarriages. So, by 1996, and in my early 40s, I had long given up on my hope of having three children, but God had other plans.

Then, while living in the barn we had a little surprise; I became pregnant and gave birth at age 42 to our third daughter, Mackenzie!

He completed our family, in His perfect timing, on December 23, 1996. Here’s our newborn, Mackenzie Anne Crandell, held by her sisters, Megan and Michelle, on December 25, 1996.

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Now our address was in Krum, but we actually lived closer to Ponder; so that’s where the girls went to school and where we attended Ponder Baptist Church.

Michelle and Megan came to faith in Christ at First Baptist Ponder and were baptized, and my faith grew as well. I was involved in several ministries: visitation, VBS, Kid’s Hope, choir, and teaching high school girls’ Sunday School. It was during this time that I began increasing my offering at church and was also convicted to tithe for the first time. I believe God was supplying the resources as I was doing more and giving more.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

So in 1997, after 17 years of marriage, and after approximately a year of living in that little trailer, and a year of living in the barn, we moved into the first home that we could call our own. Harold was 48, I was 42, Michelle was 15, Megan was 11, and Mackenzie was just a few months old.

First time homeowners! Krum, Texas

We also added a pond (aka a “tank,” as they call them in Texas) in the front yard and a pool in the back yard.

It was all so very beautiful, but eventually we found that the 10 acres required a lot more work and time than we were willing to do.

So, in 2003 we sold the 10 acres and moved to a new home in the suburbs, in a two-story 2,900+ square foot corner lot home, within walking distance to several restaurants, doctors’ offices, a movie theater, a gym, and several small shops and stores.

I look back on those years spent on those 10 acres with a smile and recall the many sweet memories we made there together as a family, including having my mom live nearby for several months in 1994. God is faithful.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” Psalm 36:5

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Back To The Future

Back To The Future

I was a big fan of the Back to the Future movies from the 1980s and early 1990s. The movies starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown. The first movie, which was my favorite, came out in July of 1985. Parts II and III came out in 1989 and 1990, respectively. They featured a time-traveling car (a DeLorean), a memorable quote from Doc Brown, “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads,” and my favorite quote from Marty McFly, “Eastwood, Clint Eastwood.”

The movies were so popular that Universal Studios Florida created a Back to the Future theme ride in 1991, which I rode on sometime in the early 1990s. The DeLorean sat near the entrance to the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios Florida for many years. The ride has long since been replaced with another ride, and the DeLorean was purchased by a car museum and relocated to Los Angeles.

Now the DeLorean was a pretty cool car in and of itself, but this particular DeLorean DMC-12 was a one-of-a-kind Space-Time Continuum DeLorean equipped with a flux capacitor. Ha!

Actually, I like a variety of movies, lighthearted comedies, action adventures, and well-written dramas that tell a story, but a lot of my favorite movies are those that make me think about the past. Movies such as, Back to the Future, Going on 30, Forever Young, The Family Man, and Groundhog Day, to name a few.

It’s movies like these that make us all ponder and think back on the events in our past. We think, wouldn’t it be interesting to go back in time and relive some of our most memorable moments with our family and friends? Or, what would it be like to go back and change something I did or didn’t do in the past? Or, what if I’d done this instead of that? Or, why did I choose to do certain things or not to do certain things? The list is endless.

In actuality, no amount of daydreaming about time travel, or escaping into the world of movies, can erase or change the events or choices we’ve made in the past; even events that weren’t in our control, but wish we could have changed in some way.

In reality, we all have a past, and very likely have some things we’d like to go back and change, but that’s not possible.

What is possible, however, is having a relationship with the only One who has the power to forgive our past, know us in the present, and that we can trust into the future, Jesus Christ.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

So while it’s good to remember the past, we shouldn’t spend time worrying about it. What’s done is done. Nor should we worry about the future. Don’t worry about what life will be like next year, or in 5 or 10 years.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

What we should do is take care of what we need to take care of today. Is there something God is prompting you to do? Then do it. Tomorrow may be too late. Don’t let the cares and distractions of this world keep you from being the person that He made you to be or in doing the things that He prepared in advance for you to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

And,

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Ravi

Ravi

Christian apologetics, in simple terms, is the practice of defending Christianity against objections. Probably one of the most renowned Christian apologist in our present day was Ravi Zacharias. He was also the founder of RZIM, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Since his death in May of 2020 and in light of an official investigation initiated by RZIM, and the subsequent results of that investigation, what he is actually known for today is quite different from that which he portrayed himself to be.

A few months after his death I started hearing some rumblings of impropriety about Ravi, so I did an internet search and found some information from 2017 that was definitely troubling. It was during this time that Ravi sued a woman and her husband who he claimed were trying to extort money from him. Ravi also claimed that the woman falsely accused him of sexual impropriety via texts. Looking back, I think this was a defining moment in time for him; a point in time that we begin to see a crack in the veneer of his otherwise esteemed reputation.

Fast forward to 2020, at least three other women came forward with allegations of sexual impropriety against Ravi within a few months of his death. RZIM hired a lawyer to look into the allegations, putting out a statement in December of 2020, and then publishing the full report in February of 2021. According to RZIM, the law firm confirmed that the allegations against Ravi Zacharias were indeed found to be credible. As a result of the investigation, they found several more women who were involved with him sexually. They also found improper and sexually explicit photos on his phone, and evidence that he had misused tens of thousands of ministry funds toward supporting women who he used as “massage therapists.” Over the course of several years he frequented and held ownership in massage parlors. There’s a lot more detail given in the official investigative report but suffice it to say, this information alone is enough to discredit anyone, even a world renowned Christian apologist.

It was several years ago that I first started listening to Ravi Zacharias’ on the radio. Actually it was sometime after I read his book, “The Grand Weaver,” which was published in 2007 and recommended to me by one of my friends at Delta Air Lines when I worked in the Dallas office. My favorite quote from that book was,

“Jesus does not offer to make bad people good but to make dead people alive.”

What I originally thought was a brilliant evangelical statement from a man of God, has now become (to me) a statement from a person who was merely able to manipulate words as skillfully as he was able to manipulate people.

While I prefer listening to evangelists more than apologists, after listening to Ravi a few times on the radio, I did think that some of the things that he said were somewhat profound and that he was a good story teller. He often quoted various Christian leaders, Bible verses, and Bible stories, and interjected interesting human interest stories with seemingly perfect timing. So a few years ago I downloaded the RZIM app and I would catch an occasional podcast from him from time to time. The only thing that raised a red flag to me during that time was in 2014 when he spoke with Mormons at the Mormon Tabernacle. I learned later that he’d also spoke there in 2004. I questioned why he would speak there at all. Mormonism is basically a false religion based upon the writings and beliefs of the heretic, Joseph Smith. Mormons do not worship the same Jesus as evangelical Christians do. In retrospect, the fact that he conducted himself in a manor that assumed a position of salvific equality with Mormons should have been enough for me to question both his theology and his ministry at that time, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and continued to listen to his podcasts.

When Ravi spoke, he often told of his “conversion” experience. Born in India in 1946, he attempted to commit suicide at age 17 because of the shame and anguish he felt from being a poor student. While recovering in the hospital, a youth pastor brought him a small Bible. Sometime after the pastor left he prayed inwardly saying “Jesus, if you are the One who gives life as it is meant to be, I want it. Please get me out of this hospital bed well, and I promise I will leave no stone unturned in my pursuit of truth” and “five days after being wheeled into the E.R.,” he “left a changed person.”

In retrospect I find it interesting that this often repeated conversion story fails to mention sorrow for sin or conviction of sin. While it’s not my place to question Ravi’s salvation experience, I do believe it is safe to say that Ravi gave into to sexual sin and it was that sin that eventually overtook his life. It distorted his judgment. It destroyed his testimony, and likely devastated the lives of numerous people.

As a Christian, I’m more than just disappointed in Ravi. As a Christian who is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, it makes me sad and a little sick at my stomach. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a hard time trusting people, so for me, finding out about Ravi Zacharias’ double life only serves to exasperate those feelings.

So in my disgust of Ravi Zacharias, l deleted the RZIM app, went through my Twitter and Facebook posts and deleted any of his quotes I had posted in the past. I also discarded a book written by his protégé, Nabeel Qureshi, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.” I bought it in March of 2020 upon recommendation of a friend from high school, after I had shared my faith with a Muslim Uber driver one day. I really had never heard of Nabeel Qureshi or his book before this time but realized after I got the book that he was a close associate of Ravi Zacharias and a frequent speaker for RZIM. Interestingly I never get past the first chapter anyway.

I’ve decided on five takeaways from all of this. They’re really just reminders of things I already knew. I’ve included corresponding Bible references:

1. We’re all sinners in need of a savior.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

2. No man should be held in higher esteem than another. Being famous or world renowned for anything that you do doesn’t make you more important in the eyes of God.

“So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.’” Acts 10:3

3. If you call yourself a Christian yet your salvation story doesn’t include an awareness or conviction of sin, and a turning to Jesus in repentance and faith, it might be a good time to re-evaluate your salvation. The Roman’s Road is a good place to start. https://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

“Therefore,…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

4. If your walk does not match your talk, you can be sure that one day you’ll have to deal with the consequences. Better now than later. There’re no exceptions including and especially everyone who claims to be a Christian.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5–10

5. Never think for one moment that you’re above temptation or that you’re not capable of sin. Sin comes in all shapes and sizes. Sin includes acts of commission and acts of omission.

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12,

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

To Ravi’s family and friends, may God help you get through what has probably been one of the worst periods of your lives to date. May you place your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone if you haven’t done so already.

To anyone who was lead to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of listening to Ravi Zacharias or a RZIM affiliate, please remember and know that it is Christ and Christ alone who saves, not the person who delivers the message to you.

To the RZIM organization, I hope you’ll prayerfully consider either changing the name of your organization or closing your doors altogether. No matter how esteemed Ravi Zacharias once was in the world of Christian apologetics or how eloquent his words once were, he has ultimately done more harm than good for the cause of Christ. My point and the ultimate irony is this:

How does a genuine Christian apologist spend the bulk of his life defending Christianity against objections, while simultaneously living such an objectionable life?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

The Great Reset

The Great Reset

“You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy.” The World Economic Forum

Hmmm 🤔

Interesting you never hear or see anything about the World Economic Forum in the mainstream news. Long story short, in the last quarter of 2020 I came to the conclusion that the mainstream news media can no longer be trusted. In my opinion, the average network news program toggles between the truth, half truths, and propaganda, with the token “heart warming” story at the end of the program. Nowadays I try to get my news and information from a variety of sources, including podcasts, Twitter, Rumble, American Family Radio Network, Newsmax, Redacted, YouTube, etc.

So in 2020 I started looking into The Great Reset after seeing some random posts about it on social media. I found several people speaking up about The Great Reset here and there, but I wanted to find out exactly what it was and specifically, and I wanted to learn about it from a Christian perspective. So I started listening to the first of four YouTube videos by Keith Malcomson, a pastor from Ireland. Initially I wasn’t sure about him, so I checked out his church (Limerick City Church) and their mission statement, what they believe, etc. I found his church to be of sound doctrine concerning the essentials of faith, and proceeded to listen to his first, then second, then third video.

I was convicted to go back and listen to the first three videos all over again when he came out with the fourth video in late December. The first three videos were made in October and November.

1. Part 1, published 10/16/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis.

2. Part 2, published 10/30/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis.

3. Part 3, published 11/24/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis and The Rise of a World Socialist State.

4. Part 4, published 12/21/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis and The Fourth Industrial Revolution.

First, a quick review about the first three Industrial Revolutions, which I’m sure we were taught in high school but most of us have long forgot. As a side note, I do remember thinking back then, “Do we really need to learn about this kind of stuff?!” And now, all these years later I wish I would have taken the time to actually learn about this sort of thing back then.

Actually I wish I would have done a lot of things differently back then and taken a lot of things more seriously.

Ah, hindsight.

But thanks to an quick internet search, here’s a simple outline of the first three Industrial Revolutions:

1. The First Industrial Revolution: “The first wave of the Industrial Revolution lasted from the late 1700’s to the mid-1800’s. It industrialized the manufacture of textiles and began the move of production from homes to factories. Steam power and the cotton gin played an important role in this period.”

2. The Second Industrial Revolution: “Historians have labeled the years from 1870-1914 as the period of the Second Industrial Revolution. While the First Industrial Revolution caused the growth of industries, such as coal, iron, railroads and textiles, the Second Industrial Revolution witnessed the expansion of electricity, petroleum and steel.”

3. The Third Industrial Revolution: “The third revolution began in the late 1900’s and brought forth the rise of electronics, telecommunications and of course, computers. Through the new technologies, the third industrial revolution oped the doors to space expeditions, research, nuclear energy, and biotechnology.”

The coming Fourth Industrial Revolution, as envisioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF), is problematic:

The Great Reset is about a global socialist elite power network (The World Economic Forum) that seeks to control us economically, politically, biologically, physically, and spiritually. They are anti-salvific at its core. They will not stop with technology being around us; they want to make it a part of us. They want technology to envelop us and be embedded in us. The WEF is the driving force behind The Great Reset. The WEF wants to change our way of living from capitalism to socialism, control everything we do, and usher us into their version of Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Here’s a quote from a 2016 article titled, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution, What it Means and How to Respond.” by Klaus Schwab, the leader of The WEF: “Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.”

Hmm… Interesting choice of words.

In June of 2020 Klaus Schwab spoke at a summit meeting outlining The Great Reset master plan and of the advantages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting attendees included powerful and wealthy world leaders, including members of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. Klaus Schwab stated that Covid-19 was a catalyst in advancing The Great Reset agenda and that, “COVID-19 has accelerated our transition into the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We have to make sure that the new technologies in the digital, biological and physical world remain human-centred and serve society as a whole, providing everyone with fair access.”

Hmm…. Interesting choice of words once again.

It’s about “Build Back Better,” Joe Biden’s catch-phrase, that he coincidentally borrowed from the World Economic Forum, and the Trojan horse of the merging of capitalism with socialism under the guise of Steak Holder Capitalism. It’ll still be socialism.

It’s about a Wealth Redistribution Plan that touts a digitalization of our entire economy, a cashless society, (CBDC’s) Central Bank Digital Currency, and a standard income based upon socialist idealism and control.

It’s about a revamping of our entire educational system into a Global Digitalized Education System where teachers no longer teach but are mere facilitators of the woke philosophies of the WEF.

It’s about the Green Agenda and Climate Change, Trojan Horses of the population control agenda.

It’s about the World Health Organization (WHO) controlling people worldwide by the use of vaccine passports; a QR coded digital permission system that will allow or restrict people to travel. Obey their rules = freedom to travel. Disobey their rules = no travel allowed. i.e. quarantines, lockdowns, etc.

It’s about Event 201, Agenda 2021, Agenda 2030, and Globalization 4.0 involving the digitalization of everything with the goal of merging of the physical, the digital, the technological and the biological; a trans-humanism society of designer evolution.

It’s about evil forces who’re attempting to destroy God’s creation and plans, and attempting to replacing it with man’s creation and plans. Worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.

“For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature ratherthan the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

Folks, we are nearing the Last Days.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44

To be clear, I believe The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens. The good news for born-again believers is that we’ll be taken up to heaven at this point. The bad news for everyone else is that they’ll be left behind at this point.

After the rapture, a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace. This man is the Antichrist. He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who will head up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist. The seven year tribulation will follow. During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness. The seven year tribulation will be the darkest moment the world will have ever seen.

Today is the day of salvation: “Today, if only you would hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7–8).

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

To learn more of The Great Reset, here are the links to the videos that I referenced above. Pastor Malcomson goes into great detail explaining The Great Reset, from a Christian perspective

Merry Christmas 2020

Merry Christmas 2020

EDIT

Since our girls are all grown with families of their own now, we sometimes celebrate Christmas on days other than December 25. It may just be a day before or the day after, but in 2020 we had out of town business plans in late December so we planned our family Christmas for December 13. We decided it would be fine as this would give our girls a little extra time this year to celebrate Christmas in their own homes, visiting in-laws, travel, etc.

So on December 13, we started off with prayer, a BIG country breakfast, and a reading of the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth according to Matthew. We played a couple of games, including Spoons, caught some kisses under the mistletoe, had a gift-exchange between the grandkids, and a white elephant gift exchange for the adults.

We also sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with singing 🎶 parts for each of us. It was fun!

We also talked about the folklore of the hidden meaning of the lyrics to The Twelve Days of Christmas. While some may dispute the origin and intent of the song lyrics, the popular folklore is that it’s a song of Christian instruction with hidden references to Christ and the Christian faith. Dating as far back to the 16th century, a time during the religious wars in England, the folklore is that the song was actually a device to secretly teach the basic principles of Christianity to children.

Thus,

1 The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus Christ.

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments.

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity.

4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels.

5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation.

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes.

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments.

11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles.

12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

It’s my hope and prayer that each of our children and grandchildren always remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas. It’s not about Santa. It’s not about traditions. It’s not about the food and it’s not about the gifts. All these things are fine to enjoy, but Christmas is about Jesus Christ.  One of the most important things we will ever do is share our faith with our loved ones. I pray for each one of our family members to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, in God’s perfect timing. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what day you celebrate Christmas, the most important thing is that He is your Lord and Savior.

Christmas 2021 was celebrated on December 26.

Christmas 2025 was celebrated on December 27…

…and also on January 4, 2026!