John Owen (1616-1683) was known as one of the greatest Puritan theologians of his day. He was born in the historic city of Oxford, England, which was renowned for its world-famous university. His father was a Puritan pastor and John Owen followed in his father’s footsteps. After he graduated from Oxford University, he went on to become an English pastor, chaplain, an adviser to Oliver Cromwell, and vice-chancellor of Oxford University. John Owen authored many books on faith during his lifetime. He also ministered to and advocated for those who had been imprisoned for their faith, including John Bunyan.
Concerning prayer, he wrote,
“If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation.” #JohnOwen
It never ceases to amaze me how Puritan theologians were able to articulate biblical truth so clearly. In the above quote, perhaps he was referring to this Bible verse:
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
In short, human nature naturally draws us into temptation and away from Christ, whereas prayer is the greatest privilege that a believer can exercise in communion with God. It is in our prayers, through Christ, that He draws and shapes us toward His will for our life. And, being in God’s will is always the safest and the best place to be.
Arthur Wellington Pink, better known as AW Pink, was an English Reformed Bible preacher, teacher and author. He was born in England in 1886, saved by the grace of God in 1908, and became an itinerant preacher in 1920. In 1922, AW Pink began writing a monthly periodical titled Studies in the Scriptures which he continued doing until his death in 1952. He pastored churches in the United States, Australia, and Scotland and is regarded as one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20th century.
“The great mistake made by people is hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone.” #AWPink
In this quote he rightly points out that it’s a mistake to think we don’t need Christ or that we’re can do better without Him. A person may see themselves as successful, have a huge of social media presence, or be a leader in their community, but any righteousness that they may think they have is as filthy rags when compared to the true righteousness that is found in Christ alone. The truth is we are all sinners and are guilty of breaking the law of God. There’s nothing we can do in our our strength that can change our standing with God. We must come to the end of ourselves and turn to Christ in repentance and faith. It is then that God will begin to look at us and see His Son.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Philippians 3:8-9 further elaborates this truth:
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” Philippians 3:8-9
In the end, it’ll make no difference what you think of yourself, or what others think of you. In the end it will only matter what God thinks of you.
#SaturdaySayings
August 1, 2026
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In Arthur Pink’s book, The Attributes of God, he biblically explains God’s divine holiness, sovereignty, mercy, grace, justice, and wisdom. Here’s one of his quotes concerning the grace of God:
“Grace can neither be bought, earned, or won by the creature. If it could be, it would cease to be grace.” #AWPink
Simply put, salvation is by grace through faith alone. The gospel is a revelation of the grace of God in which salvation is achieved through Christ’s atoning death on the cross, and which we receive by faith alone. Salvation is a gift; it cannot be earned; it is God’s unmerited favor toward helpless sinners.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”Ephesians 2:8-9
#SaturdaySayings
August 8, 2026
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“Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord.” #AWPink
Back in the late 1990s or early 2000s while working for Delta Air Lines in Dallas I forgot to bring my lunch with me one day. We only had a 30 minute lunch break so going out for lunch was not an option. Normally whenever I forgot my lunch I’d just get something from one of the vending machines but on this particular day I didn’t have any money with me. Oops! I was hungry but was also too embarrassed to ask someone for lunch money, so I just sat down alone in the break room like everything was just fine.
As I sat there thoughts of a recent sermon from my pastor came to mind. In it he reminded us that God wants to meet our needs and that He knows our needs even before we ask. (Matthew 6:8) He also 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 someone 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 into a guarded exit area to make a phone call. Out of the blue, the guard on duty 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 and I made a new friend. It was also a tangent and timely reminder that God is a loving God and that nothing is ever too small or insignificant to pray about. Nothing is too big to pray about either. God is not limited in His ability to act upon any of our requests and is sovereign in anyway He so choses to respond.
“Do not be anxious 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
#SaturdaySayings
August 15, 2026
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“Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the blesser Himself.” #AWPink
In 1 Kings the prophet Elijah was sent by God to confront King Ahab concerning his worship of Baal, the false god of rain and fertility. Elijah was sent to declare to all of Israel that the Lord God was the one true God. Elijah did as he was told and he also prayed for a drought which he then prophesied to Ahab. God answered his prayers. Elijah did as God instructed him and went to the brook Cherith where he was sustained by bread and meat delivered to him by ravens and by the water from the brook. Eventually the brook dried up and God sent him on to his next mission. While Ahab continued in his worship of Baal, Elijah continued in his worship of God and eventually was sent back by God to oppose Ahab which marked the beginning of the end of Baal worship in the northern kingdom of Israel.
Elijah was an ordinary man who loved God and became an extraordinary prophet. He trusted God no matter what, in drought or in plenty.
#SaturdaySayings
August 22, 2026
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In AW Pink’s book, The Life of Elijah, he writes:
“God suffers it to appear that the best of men are but men at the best. No matter how richly gifted they may be, how eminent in God’s service, how greatly honoured and used of Him, let His sustaining power be withdrawn from them for a moment and it will quickly be seen that they are ‘earthen vessels. No man stands any longer than he is supported by Divine grace.”
#AWPink
Three examples in the Bible:
Noah obediently built the ark while the land was dry but soon after the flood he was involved in a shameful episode of drunkenness.
Abram set out on an obedient journey of faith to the land of Canaan but disgraced his family by telling a lie when he went down to Egypt.
David triumphantly slayed Goliath in the name of the Lord but later on committed adultery and murder.
Alistair Begg reminds us that things we have done for the Lord which have impacted the world for the kingdom are “not as a result of your strength or intellect or character, but because of God’s grace.”
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
And yes, Christians will fail at times, but never forget that our God is faithful and able to keep us in His grip and will present us blameless before Himself one day. He “who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:8
Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) was a preacher and author who is known as one of the finest Puritan preachers of his day. He was a non-conformist who used the Holy Bible as his guide. He preached and wrote about the grace of God, prayer, holiness, and our struggles with sin.
“If God were not my friend, Satan would not be so much my enemy.”
#ThomasBrooks
The Bible warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
While the devil is after all of us, non-Christians are easy targets as they are already on the devil’s side, whether they realize this or not.
Christians, on the other hand, are most hated by Satan and are quite prone to his attacks as it is Christ in us who the devil hates. However, it is also Christ in us who enables us to resist the devil’s deceptions, temptations, and attacks. We do so by putting on the full armor, the spiritual armor of God as found in Ephesians 6:11-18:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
#SaturdaySayings
July 4, 2026
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“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11
In Thomas Brooks’ book titled “Heaven on Earth,” published in 1654, he writes primarily on the subject of assurance of salvation. The following quote highlights faith in Christ and a grounded assurance of salvation that brings us hope and an eternal happiness that continues into eternity.
“Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds.” #ThomasBrooks
I well know that people put their hope in all sorts of things in life because I did this quite a bit when I was young. It wasn’t until I was born again, through repentance and faith in Christ, that I experienced the kind of joy that’s from above. Faith in Christ and the assurance of our salvation in Him produce a joy that sustains us with hope, regardless of life’s trials – in riches or want, sickness or health.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3
#SaturdaySayings
July 11, 2026
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Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins. #ThomasBrooks
In this Thomas Brooks quote, he emphasizes the fact that good works are not a substitute for faith in Christ. While good works are fine in and of themselves, without a saving faith in Christ, they are just that, a good work.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
Simply put, salvation is a gift given by the grace of God. Good works are the result of salvation, not a means to obtain it.
#SaturdaySayings
July 18, 2026
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“Adversity hath slain her thousand, but prosperity her ten thousand.”#ThomasBrooks
This is a quote from Thomas Brooks’ book, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, in which he points out that people, if given a choice, will choose prosperity over adversity.
While adversity is difficult in itself, it often will lead us toward Christ, if we seek Him through it in repentance and faith.
All while prosperity, which seems so much more desirable, is far more dangerous, as it potentially can lead us away from Christ. Prosperity has a unique way of getting people caught up into self-sufficiency. It’s a kind of self-sufficiency that relies on riches and possessions instead of God; a kind of self-sufficiency that focuses on the here and now, with no thought toward the hereafter. It’s the kind of self-sufficiency that sinfully loves the gift but not the Giver; the kind of self-sufficiency that loves the riches of the world and wants nothing to do with the One who came to set us free from the wages of sin.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
On November 23, 2025 Harold and I loaded up the car and headed south toward Galveston, Texas for a one night hotel stay, to board a 10-Day cruise the following morning. This was a last minute booking which we just booked a few days earlier and our first trip on the Carnival Legend. So this month I decided to write about our trip and to do it in a daily travel blog + faith format in lieu of my regular monthly blog. Travel has long been a part of my life with my 30+ years in the airport/airline industry as well as the 20+ years my husband and I worked together in the RV business. Sharing my faith all along the way has been a part of my life since the late 1980s.
Our Itinerary:
Galveston – Monday
Fun Day at Sea – Tuesday
Cozumel, Mexico – Wednesday
Belize City, Belize – Thursday
Mahogany Bay, Roatan Honduras – Friday
Fun Day at Sea – Saturday
Ocho Rios, Jamaica – Sunday
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – Monday
Fun Day at Sea – Tuesday
Fun Day at Sea – Wednesday
Galveston – Thursday
Sunday, November 23, 2024: Car drive to Galveston, Texas.
Bible Study: Amos 3
Devotional: “Let it Shine” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Our drive was under clouds most of the way with only a few sprinkles here and there. We stopped at the Buc-ee’s in Madisonville, Texas for fuel but encountered a fuel pump problem and the inside was so crowded that the line to the ladies restroom was winding around to the drink dispenser! So we decided just to go across the street to the Shell gas station, and I’m glad we did. Sometimes little inconveniences and detours lead to unexpected blessings. It was here I gave the cashier a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill. This bill has a photo of the Beatles on the front and the gospel message on the back and a link referral to NeedGod.com and LivingWaters.com for more information. I got a thousand of these (actually by mistake as I didn’t mean to order this many) in October for a planned trip to see Paul McCartney in concert in San Antonio. I had a bunch left over so I’ve been passing them out ever since, and everywhere I go, including our October trip out to Phoenix and back. I’ve been getting my gospel sharing tools over the past several years from Living Waters Ministries. I have other bills made by Living Waters but I really like the British Invasion Million Dollar Bills because I think they draw more reactions. Or, maybe it’s because I’m old enough to remember the Beatles when they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show back in 1964 plus I really liked their early songs. Anyway, this particular young girl was so excited to receive it she thanked me a couple of times. She told me that she’d like to give it to her dad and so I gave her another one. It made my heart smile; it was so encouraging to see her receive it with such joy. It actually set the tone for the rest of our trip. When we got to Galveston Island we stopped at a KFC to get a couple of chicken dinners to-go and gave a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill to the lady at the pickup window. Just a smile and a thank you but you never know what a simple sharing of the gospel message will do in a persons heart. From there we drove to our hotel which was only a few minutes away. The Seabreeze Hotel is a newly constructed hotel and it was only $98 for a one night stay. It’s a nice, clean, and new hotel that’s located just a block from the Galveston Boardwalk. It’s so close to the cruise terminal we could see our ship from our hotel window! In the early evening I walked over to enjoy the ocean up close and take some photos while Harold watched a football game on TV.
Day 1, Monday, November 24: Embarkation
Bible Study: Amos 4
Daily Devotional: “The Same Message” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “We should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 3:1 (KJV)
The hotel breakfast was pretty good. It included sausage and scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, muffins, dry cereal, oatmeal, and waffles. I left two British Invasion Million Dollar Bills inside the room Bible and one for the maid along with her tip. This has been one of the various ways I’ve shared the gospel in the past, but since the Paul McCartney concert in October I determined in my heart that I would try to share them more intentionally by interacting with people instead of just leaving them here and there for people to find. We left the hotel at 11:00 a.m. and drove over to Lot B Parking which only took about five minutes. We tipped the bag porter and included a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill. Once onboard the ship we dropped off our carry-on bags in our cabin and proceeded to the buffet for a salad lunch. After our cabin was ready we did an old fashioned outdoor muster station drill for 30 minutes although it seemed a lot longer. A lot of people were noticeably annoyed which I suspect was because in the past few years the muster drill has been accomplished within a couple of minutes by just stopping by your muster station, showing your boarding pass, and agreeing to watch the muster station drill information on your cabin TV. After this muster drill was over we walked around the ship for a while to get familiar with our new surroundings and then we went back to our cabin to rest. We got in a nice afternoon nap, watched some TV, and then went to the PG comedy show at 6:30 p.m. Our scheduled dinner time was at 7:30 p.m., which is a lot latter than what we usually choose but the “Early Dine” and the “Your Time Dining” was sold out by the time we booked this last minute cruise, so we didn’t really have a choice. We met our dinner partners, Gloria and Harold, in the Truffles Restaurant tonight. After dinner we located the Pixels area and bought our embarkation photo and then went to the 9:30 p.m. Welcome Aboard show in the Follies main Lounge. I hid 2 ducks (from Lunmon at Amazon with faith statements such as “Jesus Loves You”) + Ten Commandments Coins (from Living Waters Ministries) this evening on our way back to our cabin for the night.
Day 2, Tuesday, November 25: Sea Day
Bible Study: Amos 5
Devotional: “Do it Heartily” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily.” Colossians 3:23 (KJV)
We went to the Sea Day Breakfast at the Truffles restaurant and within a couple of minutes of being seated, we were given two tiny Jesus figures by the couple seated next to us, and I responded by giving them two British Invasion Million Dollar Bills, to which they seemed pleasantly surprised to receive. We didn’t get to talk with them very much during breakfast as he was very busy working on his laptop and she was helping him. I do have to say, while I appreciate the intentions of those who pass out or hide tiny Jesus figures on cruise ships, I don’t particularly like this as an evangelism tool. Simply put, I think it’s disrespectful of the glory and honor we should have for Christ, but that’s just my opinion. After breakfast we went to the Lido Deck to get some steps in and to see the ocean views. We then got two sandwiches to-go to take back to our cabin for our afternoon lunch. I spent some time working on this month’s blog, “Let’s Make a Deal” and then we watched the Family Feud Auditions in the Follies theatre on Deck 4 near our cabin. After a short afternoon nap we dressed for formal night (actually less formal for us) and we had pictures taken, went to watch the karaoke singers in the Red Frog Pub, and then headed off to dinner in the Truffles restaurant. This evening we met two new dinner partners, Diana and Michael Burke, which was good as Harold and Gloria were a no-show this evening. After dinner I hid one British Invasion Million Dollar Bill on the way to the Truffle Lounge to watch the Playlist Production called 1970’s NYC. When we got back to our cabin around 10:00 p.m. we learned that our Cozumel Excursion scheduled for tomorrow was cancelled due to low booking count. We were a little disappointed but there was nothing we could do about it at this late hour. Whenever I’m a little disappointed about something I try to think on the bright side as there’s really always something to be grateful for. In our case, I decided I was grateful that we didn’t have to set the alarm to get up tomorrow! Interestingly this ties in nicely with tomorrow’s devotional title. Note: Our current daily devotional is titled, Count Your Blessings and Stop Stressing” by Ray Comfort 2024 Edition.
Day 3, Wednesday, November 26: Cozumel, Mexico
Bible study: Amos 6
Daily Devotional: “Silencing the Alarm” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “God is greater than our heart.” 1 John 3:20 (KJV)
Wednesday Wisdom: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
We had a one hour time change forward this morning in Cozumel which worked out really good because I didn’t sleep well last night so I ready appreciated that in addition to not having to onshore at any particular time since our excursion was cancelled. I hid a duck + Ten Commandments Coin on a hallway telephone on our way to breakfast in the buffet. We got off the ship around 11:30 a.m. and walked around the port shops, took a some photos, and then headed back to get on the ship. I gave away one British Invasion Million Dollar Bill to a man who offered to take our photo together. We caught a ride on bike taxi and got a funny photo of me pedaling the bike taxi with Harold as my passenger! I gave a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill to our bike taxi driver along with his tip. I then talked with a man from Germany who was standing outside of a ship, Meinschiff, that was docked across from our ship. He spoke good English and I gave him and another man, who was standing behind him, two British Invasion Million Dollar Bills, which they both received with huge smiles. We then sat down outside of our ship to rest a minute and I struck up a quick little convo with an older lady who was sitting there with her elderly brother in a wheelchair. I said I was thankful for a cool glass of water and a place to sit in the shade to which she replied, “Amen.” Our convo turned into a mini praise session about the goodness of God and then it took on more depth as she secretly motioned to me, by pointing to her brother while hiding her pointing finger with her other hand, stating that “Not everyone believes in Jesus,” I wondered if he overheard some of our conversation, but didn’t know. At this point we got up and started back onto the ship. I wondered if I should have tried to engage him in a faith convo but I was hesitant. He was avoiding looking towards me. I think the sister was actually wanting me to pray for him so later I prayed for him and I also asked God to give me more discernment and to help me be more bold. Back on board the ship I hid one British Invasion Million Dollar Bill on a little shelf on a craps table and gave one away to a lady who was searching for ducks in the military lounge. We ate a light lunch in the buffet and then rested in our cabin before it was time to get ready for dinner. We went to the PG comedy show and then to the Truffles restaurant and had a nice dinner with Michael and Diana. We then went to the 9:30 p.m. Michael Wordly Viva Variety Show in the Follies Lounge. It was really an enjoyable show. He had a great voice and a nice background story about his grandmother who helped him get voice lessons after he found out he had a heart murmur when he was young. He had to stop playing football, which was something he really loved, but she helped him find something else to love and to do, that eventually led to being his career.
Day 4, Thursday, November 27: Belize City, Belize
Thanksgiving Day
Bible Study: Amos 7
Daily Devotional: “Heaven’s Reality” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “I go and prepare a place for you.” John 14:3
We had breakfast in the Truffles restaurant and Harold gave away one tiny pink duck to a little girl at a nearby table. We grabbed an umbrella (it was raining earlier) and headed to the meeting place for our excursion in the Follies Lounge. We proceeded to the tender boat that took us to the Belize City Port Terminal 2A after a smooth 15 minute ride. We boarded our excursion wildlife cruise boat and spent two hours on the water. We saw crocodiles, a turtles, a monkey, a bunch of iguanas, and an egret. On our return tender boat it started to rain. As I was getting out a British Invasion Million Dollar Bills to put with our tip and the lady across from us asked me what it was so I gave her and her husband two of them. That led to me giving some to the ladies sitting next to them, and so on as I sent a handful to the people behind us which they passed on as well. In total I passed out around 30 British Invasion Million Dollar Bills today to the passengers, a boat worker, and also a bathroom attendant, along with a tip. Back onboard the ship we had a salad for lunch and one cookie each. (Watching our calories!) After our afternoon nap we got ready for dinner and stopped to get photos together before dinner as it was Elegant Night. When we got to the Truffles restaurant we were happy to see Michael and Diana and our other dinner partners, Harold and Gloria, as they hadn’t been to dinner since Monday. We ordered a traditional Thanksgiving meal and I got the waiter to take a photo of our table afterwards. We ended the night by seeing part of the Rock show in the Follies Lounge. I didn’t care for this show so we left after a couple of songs. I hid one duck + 10 Commandments Coin on the way back to our cabin.
Day 5, Friday, November 28: Mahogany Bay, Roatán Honduras
Bible Study: Amos 8
Daily Devotional: “A Good Sleep” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse “He gives to his beloved sleep” Psalm 127:2 (Amen, as I sometimes suffer from insomnia but had a good nights sleep last night!)
After our breakfast at the Truffles restaurant, we disembarked to get on our excursion which was all about Monkeys, Sloths, Iguanas, Macaws! To begin with, the funniest thing was the tour van! It was made in Japan for tiny people! The aisle was so narrow! We all cracked up laughing as everyone, one by one, wrestled to get by the seats. Harold is such a good sport; he let me take a funny movie of him struggling to get by the seats, and he even let me post it on Facebook. The actual excursion and all animals and birds was very enjoyable and fun. I got photos with an iguana on my shoulder and a macaw on my head. We also shopped at a Chocolate factory store. We passed out around 12 British Invasion Million Dollar Bills at this little shopping center and also gave one to our bus driver and our tour guide along with their tips. On the return bus trip the tour guide began singing Christian songs at random and many of us joined in to sing with her on the ones she sang in English. It was a sweet surprise and a highlight of this trip that I will not soon forget. Back on board we ate dinner at the Truffles restaurant and watched the Family Feud Live Show. I hid one duck + 10 Commandments Coin on the way back to our cabin.
Day 6, Saturday, November 29: Sea Day
Bible Study: Amos 9
Daily Devotional: “Faithful Prayer” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “She coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38 (KJV)
Breakfast at Truffles restaurant. After breakfast we went to the Beatles “Guess that Song” trivia contest and I passed out around 45 British Invasion Million Dollar Bills! Knowing that the people who were there were very likely Beatles fans made it seem so easy to walk around handing the bills to them. After I left, I was so encouraged when I walked by teenage girl who was reading the back of her bill out loud to a group of her friends. It was so sweet to see them listening to her as she was reading the gospel message out loud, and with a smile on her face. After lunch I signed up to join the ship’s FB group after running into the “Mrs Ropers” and “Stanley Ropers” (Three’s Company TV show) bunch. I got some photos of them and posted them on the ship’s FB group page. Back at the cabin, Harold took a nap while I finished writing and publishing my November blog, The Other Side of the Door. After dinner at the Truffles restaurant, I hid one faith duck + 10 Commandments Coin and we went to bed early.
Day 7, Sunday, November 30: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Bible Study: Obadiah 1
Daily Devotional: “Seal my Heart” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will do them good and not turn away from them; and I will put in their heart a fear and reverential awe of me, so that they will not turn away from me.” Jeremiah 32:40 (AMP)
We had a leisurely breakfast in the buffet as our debark time was delayed about an hour. The captain wanted to first offload the relief supplies they were delivering due to Hurricane Melissa damage to the island in October. We were understanding of the delay and glad that Carnival was doing this. As a result the captain extended our stay by one hour as a courtesy due to the debarking delay. Although we’ve been to Jamaica before, this was our first visit to the port of Ocho Rios. We got off the ship and headed to our excursion meeting point and boarded a bus which dropped us off just a few minutes away at Mystic Mountain Escape. In order to get up to Mystic Mountain you have to travel up the mountain on a sky lift. Our stomach’s were a little queasy as we rode up the mountain on the Sky Explorer. Not that we’d never been on a sky lift, it was because it was so old and it went up so high! Once we got there we were glad to be on solid ground! We enjoyed the beautiful views and walking through the cave. A hummingbird buzzed right by me in the hummingbird garden but it was too quick for me to get a photo of it. The return trip down the mountain was not as harrowing as the trip up the mountain because it rode closer to the ground. I gave out five British Invasion Million Dollar Bills with tips to five of the workers on thiis excursion. Back at the cruise port, Harold bought a $10 Jamaica ball cap and we ate a light lunch once we got back onboard. Afterwards I hid one duck + 10 Commandments Coin on our way back to our cabin. We ate dinner in the Truffles dining room with Diana and Michael and headed back to our cabin after dinner. When we returned to our cabin we found a notice that our Glass Bottom Boat excursion for tomorrow at 9:45 a.m. had been cancelled. This time they rebooked us on the 8:15 a.m. excursion but we decided to return our tickets to Guest Services and request a refund as we prefer not having to rush in the morning to get on an early excursion.
Day 8, Monday, December 1: Grand Cayman, The Cayman Islands
Bible Study: Jonah 1
Daily Devotional: “Blessed Patience” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “We count them happy which endure.” James 5:11 (KJV)
After breakfast in the buffet, we took the water shuttle over to the Port of Grand Cayman. I shopped for a magnet and found one I liked for only $7. We walked around the shopping area a bit but returned after only a short time because Harold’s stomach was getting upset. Thinking about our canceled excursion at this point made us thankful that it was cancelled. Back on board we took an afternoon nap and then went to the Shore Excursion Desk to verify our refund for today’s cancelled excursion. I ironed Harold’s blue tropical cotton shirt to coordinate with my blue top I was planning to wear tonight. We got photos taken with the ship’s photographers and proceeded to the Truffles restaurant for dinner. We ate alone tonight but had a nice night anyway. Our waiter spent more time talking with us and he made a “swan” out of a napkin in a water glass for me and we got a photo together with it. After dinner we watched Guess that Groove in the Follies Lounge and also Deal or No Deal. I hid one duck + 10 Commandments Coin on the ship and gave away 2 British Invasion Million Dollar Bills today in Grand Cayman, and one to a cashier on the ship when I was getting change.
Day 9, Tuesday, December 2: Sea Day
Bible Study: Jonah 2
Daily Devotional: “ The Light of the Bible” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
A leisurely Sea Day breakfast at the Truffles restaurant this morning and then we went to the Platinum Diamond Reunion in the Follies Lounge. After it was over, a girl, probably in her mid 20s, came up to me to thank me for giving her a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill at the Beatles Song Trivia game the other day. We spoke for a short while about the Living Waters Ministry and Ray Comfort. I mentioned how I like how he asks people if they’re a good person and how so many say, “Yes,” because they think they are, until Ray starts asking if they’ve ever told a lie, ever stolen anything, ever taken the Lord’s name in vain, etc. Explaining that is when they start to realize that they’re not actually a good person. She smiled and nodded yes, and told me she had read the back of the (British Invasion Million Dollar) bill and agreed with what it said. She then mentioned how traveling and seeing the beauty of God’s creation was especially inspirational to her. I told her that God’s creation was God’s general revelation of his existence, and that it alone should be enough to make people realize that God is the creator of everything. I said “all of God’s creation attests of his glory” and that “man has no excuse” concerning understanding that just seeing all of what God has created proves that there is a creator. She was again in agreement with what I was saying. After we were done talking and as she was walking away I then wondered then if I had should have actually gone through the “Good Person” questions with her instead of talking about it. I was assuming she was a Christian. I prayed that if I wrongly assumed she was a Christian that hopefully at least a seed was planted. We had dinner in the Truffles restaurant with our dinner partners Michael and Diana and then went to bed early after I hid one duck + Ten Commandments Coin.
Day 10, Wednesday, December 3: Sea Day
Bible Study: Jonah 3-4
Daily Devotional: “He Knows His Own” by Ray Comfort and corresponding Bible verse, “The Lord knows those who are his.” 2 Timothy 2:19
Wednesday Wisdom: “The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the LORD is protected.” Proverbs 29:25
Our last Sea Day on the ship we had a late breakfast at the Truffles restaurant and then an afternoon nap. I selected our digital debark time of 9:30 a.m, for tomorrow debarkation. As Carnival Platinum cruisers we’re eligible to take the earliest time slots but we prefer the very last time slot as it gives us more time in the morning. We had our last dinner in the Truffles restaurant with Michael and Diana who we really enjoyed getting to know on this cruise. I exchanged FB contact info with Diana and we connected within a couple of days. We went this evening to the Playlist Production, Flick, with intention of only watching it just a few minutes as we’ve seen it before, but soon after it started it had a production problem and they cancelled the rest of the show anyway. So our last evening on the ship was another early evening for us, after hiding one duck + Ten Commandments Coin.
Day 11, Thursday, December 4: Disembark Day
Bible Study: Micah 1
Daily Devotional: Godless Traditions, “[Make] the word of God of no effect through your tradition.” Mark 7:13
We had breakfast at the buffet at 8:30 a.m. and were off the ship by 9:30 a.m. We gave away two British Invasion Million Dollar Bills to the bus driver and bag porter along with their tips. We stopped twice on our way home and I left a British Invasion Million Dollar Bill at both places. We got home around 3:15 p.m. and we were both tired but decided to go watch our 7th grade grandson play a 5:00 p.m. basketball game that was about an hour away from our house. After the game we were glad to get home, and thankful for a wonderful cruise, the joy of having more intentional interactions with people, and for another safe trip home.
Fall is my favorite time of year. The temperatures drop, the air is crisp, and the beautiful season of red, orange and yellow colors emerge from trees, each leaf declaring the glory of God. The season also includes Halloween. I have a lifetime of memories surrounding this cultural and now perhaps controversial holiday within the Christian community.
In my childhood my brothers and I would dress up in homemade costumes and walk around our neighborhood getting candy!
In my teens and early 20’s I’d go to Halloween parties and haunted houses with friends; screaming and running out as fast as we could!
As a mother in my late 20’s and early 30’s I’d buy cute costumes for our two daughters and walk them around the neighborhood to get Halloween candy.
As a mother of three daughters in my early 40’s our pre-teen and teenage daughters would typically dress up and go to Halloween parties with friends. Our young daughter would dress up in a cute costume and we’d take her to church fall festivals for games and candy.
As a grandmother in my 50’s and 60’s I’d take photos of the grandkids dressed up in their costumes, pass out candy and gospel tracts to the neighborhood kids, take them to church fall festivals, and help with our church’s “Trunk or Treat” programs. I also made the mistake of agreeing to take a group of our youngest daughter’s friends to a haunted house. I immediately regretted it. It was sponsored by group of local firemen and I mistakenly assumed it wouldn’t be too scary. I hadn’t been to a haunted house for many years, have not been to any since, and don’t plan to go to any in the future.
The one time I can remember wearing a costume for Halloween as an adult was recently in October of 2023 when Harold and I were on a 14-day Carnival cruise. He wore his Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts Jersey and I wore a makeshift Indianapolis Colts cheerleader outfit. It was fun for both of us! I think especially for me, as I always wanted to be a cheerleader when I was young.
Now at age 71 and reflecting back over the years, I remember when I was first convicted that Halloween was not just all fun, candy and games. I was in my mid 30’s and had recently experienced a remarkable growth in my personal walk with the Lord. It was like a light had been turned on in my head; all of a sudden I started wondering about the dark side of Halloween. We were living in Brandon, Florida at the time; new to the area and attending Providence Baptist Church. I asked a couple of the ladies in my Sunday School class if their kids went “Trick or Treating” and they replied, “Of course.” I resolved to ease up on my negative thoughts about Halloween. I let the girls pick out some Halloween costumes, as we had always done in the past, so they could go “Trick or Treating” in our neighborhood. I was reassured I made the right decision upon receiving an early knock on our door on Halloween evening and hearing the words, “Trick or Treat!” It was the associate pastor and his family at our door.
However, over the many years since then I’ve steadily seen more and more Christians speaking out against the evil of Halloween activities. I actually think this was a catalyst back in the early 2000’s as more and more churches began sponsoring Halloween alternative activities during this time. I don’t recall this being an option when I was young.
In more recent years, however, I’ve been seeing some pastors and Christian leaders speaking out saying that churches should not be sponsoring Halloween alternative activities. To this I have mixed emotions as I’m of the opinion that any opportunity to share the gospel and the love of Christ is a good thing, even during Halloween.
I remember one Bible verse in particular that helped me get through this years ago:
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24
While this verse is referring to the Sabbath, I personally took this verse to heart and decided to apply it to my everyday life. I resolved that the devil doesn’t get to have the honor of any one particular day. It is our Lord that makes and blesses our days, including October 31.
I could go on with a list of all of the evils associated with Halloween but I’ll leave that for others to do. Instead, here’s a list of Bible verses to help guide us in our daily choices. These verses, and the whole of the Bible, are meant to guide us each and every day in our life, not just on one day in October.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Ephesians 5:11-12
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 1 Corinthians 10:23
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:21
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
In conclusion, I believe God has given parents the awesome responsibility of raising our children to adulthood. We are to love them, provide for their needs, and protect them from harm, but most of all it is our responsibility to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) With that said, personally I would not take my young children out “Trick or Treating” today unless it was to visit neighbors that you actually know, friends, and family. I would not allow them to wear any type of costume that appears evil or that glorifies murder or evil characters. I would allow them to go to church fall festivals and “Trunk or Treat.” Bottom line, there is no Bible verse that specifically states we are not allowed to do these events. Christians have “Christian Liberty” which is the discretion to make personal choices in areas of life that are not explicitly forbidden in scripture.
And remember, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”Philippians 4:16-17
This past summer one of our grandsons asked if he could do some work for us to earn some money, so we asked him to come over to trim a garden tree. After he started my husband thought it’d be a good time to ask another grandson to go pick up some bags of mulch to spread in our garden. So we asked the first grandson to stay and help spread the mulch too. A couple of hours later our other grandson delivered the mulch to our house and both grandsons worked together to spread the mulch. We paid them both the same amount.
Later, the first grandson, humbly asked me if he should maybe get paid more because he started working earlier in the day by trimming the tree. I smiled as his request immediately brought to mind the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. I lovingly declined his request and told him that this would better serve as a biblical lesson as this was very similar to one of Jesus’ parables. I also reasoned with him that although the other grandson did start later in the day, he got to rest on the couch while waiting for the other grandson to bring the mulch. The other grandson also had to drive his truck to the Home Depot from his house which was about 12 miles away, wait for the pick-up order to be ready, load 25 bags of mulch, and deliver it to our house.
In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard the landowner hired groups of workers at different times throughout the day and at the end of the day he paid them each the same amount, regardless of how long they worked. The workers who started working earliest complained that they should get paid more than the ones who started working late in the day. They accused him of being unjust. The landowner explained he paid them fairly, and that as the landowner he has the right to choose whatever he wants to do with his money, and with that which He owns.
The workers in this parable represent both believers in Christ and Pharisees, or at very least, those who do not yet understand the grace and mercy of God. The landowner represents God. The landowner, whose decision to pay all the workers the same amount was actually an act of mercy, not of injustice. God’s grace and mercy are shed abundantly upon all those of His choosing. “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”Romans 9:15. In addition and most certainly, God’s grace is more than sufficient to redeem all those who believe.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:1-16
Essentially, the message of verse 16, “the last will be first, and the first last,” is that no matter how long or how hard a believer works during his lifetime, the reward of eternal life is the same for all believers in Christ. While there’re also scriptures that teach of additional rewards in heaven based upon an individuals service to Him, the ultimate reward of eternal life is equal for all believers in Christ regardless of length of service.
“For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Romans 9:15-16
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new television show, “Back to the Frontier” has caused quite a stir on social media this month, particularly among Christians. The show features three families who are temporarily living as 19th-century homesteaders, without modern conveniences, including electricity. The controversy is that one of the three families include a homosexual couple with adopted twin boys
While homosexuality has been around since biblical times, the amount of people who identify as homosexual, and the acceptance of homosexuality in our society has definitely increased in the past few years.
We’re living in a much different world today than when I was young. I’m old enough to remember when homosexuality was something that was often likened to something that was hid in a closet. People recognized that it was a sin and used to try to hide it. Fast forward to today where is not just out and in the open, it’s celebrated. It’s weaved into television shows, movies, advertising, etc., and is one of the favorite topics of the DEI, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda.
While I can somewhat understand the emotional connection that a homosexual might feel for their partner, from a purely companionship perspective, I do not understand the physical connection between two people of the same sex. It goes against God’s natural order and laws of attraction, and to put it simply, it doesn’t make sense. What does make sense to me is that non-Christians engaging in homosexual relationships do not see their relationship as sinful, simply because they’re not Christian. They see “love as love” and frankly, many of them are likable, friendly, sensitive, and caring individuals.
I think what I’m most disappointed in is the progressive “Christian” churches of today. Somewhere along the way they took a left turn; they left their first love and instead of defending the gospel, they defend social issues of the DEI agenda as if it were a part of the gospel. They teach that homosexuality isn’t a sin. They oppose the word of God and preach a false gospel. Jesus came to save us from our sins, not to condone them. The Bible clearly teaches that a person cannot be a practicing homosexual (or thief, or swindler, etc.) and enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
The good news is that God loves and offers forgiveness to all those who will repent of their sins and trust Christ as their Savior.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7
I was convicted to write about this topic after seeing several comments on social media about Chip and Joanna’s new show. One comment in particular stated that “apparently Joanna is a trans woman or a transvestite.” I do not believe that is in anyway true.
What I do believe is that she (and Chip) need to stop and consider their ways. Now is the time to seize this opportunity to cry out to the Lord, in repentance and faith in Christ alone, and make Him the Lord of their life if they have not yet done so.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
I also believe that instead of posting critical and/or false remarks, Christians should pray for Chip and Joanna’s repentance concerning the same sex couple, and also for their salvation if they’re false converts. Imagine what a witness they could be for Christ if they repented and trusted in Him now. Imagine if they actually halted the “Frontier” TV production or removed the homosexual “family” from it. Imagine if they declared that according to God’s word, homosexuality is a sin and that, marriage is between one man and one woman.
Actually, Chip and Joanna have a quote, in all caps, on the back cover of their book, The Magnolia Story, that they would do well to take to heart today:
“SOMETIMES THE MESSIEST STUFF AND THE BIGGEST MISTAKES CAN TAKE YOU SOMEPLACE WONDERFUL.”
I have that book, and actually I met Chip in 2017 at the Texas Motor Speedway. He signed the last page for me.
I was happy to meet him and have long felt that Chip and Joanna are talented, creative, hardworking, and very likable people. Chip’s humor combined with Joanna’s calm and loving demeanor toward him is heartwarming. However, they also have presented themselves for the past several years, on a very public platform, as a Christian couple. I believe it’s time for them to reflect on their worldly “Christian” beliefs and stop to consider their ways. They’ve acquired much fame and fortune for the houses that they’ve so beautifully renovated, redesigned, and redecorated, but they’re far and away from the house that God commanded to be rebuilt in the Book of Haggai.
The Book of Haggai talks about rebuilding a house for the Lord, a temple actually. Overall, it begs us to stop and consider our ways, to examine our priorities, and to submit to the Lord’s priorities, in His timing, and not necessarily ours.
Charles Spurgeon also reminds us to consider our ways:
“It does not matter whom we please if God is not pleased, or who gets honor from what we give, if God is not glorified as a result.”
Some questions for Christians to consider:
Are we only interested in doing our own thing or are we willing to instead do a work for Him?
What are we actually building here on earth; wood, hay, or stubble? Or, have we ever done a work or built something that rightfully brings Him pleasure and glory?
Do we fear doing a work for the Lord when we know it goes against the world and its popular agendas?
Are we willing to humble ourselves, admit our selfish desires are sinful, and that we need to prioritize God’s will in our lives?
Is our faith so shallow that we do not trust that He will be with us always and that He is in full control of our circumstances? Are we not willing to trust God, no matter what?
Do we not know that He will more than bless us when we actually step out of our comfort zone, in faith, to glorify and serve Him?
“Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.” Haggai 1:5-8
I received a political comment about one of my faith based Facebook posts this month. The post was based on Proverbs 17:17 so I was a bit surprised to get a comment that was political in nature.
Here’s the post which included both the Bible verse and my comments:
I believe the key to lasting friendship is unconditional love; to love one another regardless of differences or difficulties. While many of us have been blessed with several close friends in this life, not everyone can say this is true in their own life, myself included. Regardless, I think this Proverb is written in such a way to point everyone to the amazing, unconditional love of Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is the epitome of a friend who truly loves at all times. He is the One Friend we all need and also the One Friend that commands us to “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
This was one of my #WednesdayWisdom posts I’ve been doing this year in which I share a Proverb each week along with some insights. I post them in my blog, on Facebook, and I also share them with my grandchildren.
My faith based posts are simply expressions of my faith. My goal is to glorify God and to point people to Christ. My focus on Proverbs 17:17 on this particular day was about lasting friendship and unconditional love but it was especially directed toward the amazing unconditional love of Christ.
The person that made the comment was an old friend who basically stated that he felt that ICE (Immigration Control and Enforcement) is doing the complete opposite of this Proverb. He suggested that they were not doing what I spoke of in my first line (unconditional love) and that they should read my post.
To be clear, the unconditional love I spoke of in my first line was with regard to friendships and that this type of love is key to lasting relationships; to love one another regardless of differences or difficulties. It was not directed to enforcement officers who are doing their job; they’re not seeking a lasting friendship.
So, I replied and told him that as far as ICE is concerned, I believe the agents are doing what they took an oath to do when they signed up to be an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agent: they’re enforcing federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. In other words, they’re doing their job.
My best guess is that he was focused on John 15:12, to “Love each other as I have loved you.” which I concluded my post with. However, using this scenario involving ICE agents, the Bible also tells us that we are to “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.” Romans 13:1-2
I did appreciate his input though because it inspired me to to sit down and write about something similar that’s been bothering me for the past few years concerning a growing trend to connect politics and social issues with Christianity.
In general, I don’t particularly like politics (or political parties, candidates, or those in office) and try not to spend very much energy or time on these issues. I do vote however my vote is typically based more upon the lesser of two evils.
Nor am I in any way a part of the emerging sect of progressive Christianity that has invaded the SBC, the Gospel Coalition, the ERLC, Christianity Today, and numerous denominations; many of which try to blur the line between Christianity and political, social, and economic issues. Specifically, people such as David French, Russell Moore, the late Tim Keller, Rick Warren, JD Greear, Brent Leatherwood, Ed Stetzer, and Matt Chandler, to name a few. The likes of which who joined the social justice band wagon that gained popularity in 2019 with the SBC’s Resolution 9. It spread to other denominations as well. Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, Liberation Theology, Standpoint Epistemology, and Egalitarianism became their mantra. Fast forward to today, complete with all of it’s current social justice issues, we have churches who have veered so far from the word of God that they’re actually preaching “another gospel” now.
Somehow over the past few years, the progressive left church and its leaders have filled their pews with people who liken their social, political, and economic issues as gospel issues. Complete with contemporary “Christian” music with lyrics that rival something between a “Me, Myself, and I Convention” and a typical NPR radio broadcast. (My feeble attempt at sarcasm.)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 3-4
Whereas, I believe the calling of the church is to proclaim the gospel, and that politics and social issues have no place in the pulpit. Likewise, I believe Christ calls Christians to share the gospel. In this one-minute clip that is shared from Wretched Radio, it captures Alistair Begg’s position on this subject with which I totally agree.
“We are not in the world today to reform the world. Our mandate in the world is not political, it’s not social, and it’s not economic. The fact that many of us have lived through a period of time in the United States whereby the social, political, and economic concerns have increasingly encroached upon the minds of those who should know better and have begun to take on virtually a life of their own, whereby we have begun to be seduced by the idea that these really are the issues—that if we could fix this and fix this and fix this, then we would be fine. But we were never invited to fix this and this and this. The calling of the church is to proclaim the gospel. And whenever that which is central, namely the gospel, becomes peripheral, then that which is peripheral inevitably becomes central.”
I also like this quote from a writer I follow on Substack: “Jesus didn’t die for a tax bracket or a constitutional republic. He died for His sheep. And like it or not, He didn’t rise again to endorse a particular immigration policy or rescue a stock market. He rose to crush death and the devil, redeem a people, and build a Kingdom not made with hands.”
I believe that social, political, and economic issues come and go as the culture goes. However, the message of the cross stands on its own, and the gospel should not be tainted or watered down with the addition of a social, political, or economic issue.
And to be clear, my faith based posts are simply expressions of my faith. My goal is to glorify God and to point people to Christ.
When our girls were young I taught Vacation Bible School, children’s Sunday School, worked in children’s church, and in a bus ministry. I didn’t think I had the gift of teaching nor did it always work out well with my work schedule, but I saw a need and stepped out in faith. God did more than just make it work out with my schedule; He blessed me many times over and above what I could have imagined. Preparing Bible lessons, teaching children, and singing children’s Bible songs helped me grow in my faith as well.
Several of the young children’s songs we sang at VBS and Sunday School have stuck in my mind over the years, including the hand motions! One song I remember was about Noah and the Ark:
A rat-a-tat-tat and a thump, thump, thump! Noah built a great big ark!
A rat-a-tat-tat and a thump, thump, thump! For his family to embark!
Get all aboard! it’s going to rain!
Here come the cows; moo, moo, moo!
(Chorus)
Get all aboard! it’s going to rain!
Here come the ducks; quack, quack, quack!
(Chorus)
Get all aboard! it’s going to rain!
Here come the pigs; oink, oink, oink!
Get all aboard; it’s going to rain!
Here come the animals, two by two.
Note: You can add as many animals as you want!
In Genesis 1-11, in the Bible tells us of God’s amazing creation story as well as the flood. Amazingly, both of these events encompassed the entire world.
To be clear, I believe that everything in the Bible is true, including the creation story, Noah and the Ark, and the flood.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
I also believe that the creation and the flood were global events, just as the Second Coming of Christ and the Judgement will be global events.
Jesus spoke clearly about the connection of both the creation and the flood with the coming Judgment in the New Testament:
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.Matthew 24:37-39
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ Mark 10:6
So that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Luke 11:50-51
But on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 27:29-30
And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. Luke 17:22
Paul also spoke of the connection between the creation and the flood with the coming Judgment in the New Testament:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:12, 14
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 1 Corinthians 11:8-9
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3
Peter, as well, spoke of the connection between the creation and the flood with the coming Judgment in the New Testament:
If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:5
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 2 Peter 3:5-6
Jesus will return one day to judge all mankind, the living and the dead:
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41, 46
The Bible story of Noah and the Ark, and the children’s Bible song noted above, warns that in order to escape the fate of non-believers in the coming Judgement, that we need to “Get all aboard,” i.e., turn from sin, turn to Christ, receive Him as our Lord and Savior, and to do this before it’s too late.
The Bible explains, no less than six times, that the Lord’s return will appear suddenly, like a thief in the night:
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2
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. Matthew 24:43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. Luke 12:39
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:10
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3
“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, my husband Harold and I visited Honolulu, Oahu, which was actually our 4th time here. We visited Honolulu 3 times in the 1990’s-2000’s, back when I worked for Delta Air Lines. I learned back then that Waikiki is really just a big city in the middle of “paradise” and full of people in need.
On this visit I was once again struck with the sight of so many hurting people set against the backdrop of the beauty of Waikiki Beach. My mind flashed back to the last time we were here years ago, when I noticed what looked to be a prostitute pushing a toddler in a stroller, and an abundance of people walking around dazed and confused, likely on drugs and/or alcohol.
This visit wasn’t much different.
While waiting for our bus to Waikiki Beach a man came up to Harold and me (and another couple) begging us to let him take the 4 of us to Waikiki for only $10. He looked rough and I immediately sensed he was on drugs. When we each politely declined he suddenly began violently cursing at us. He walked away angry and cursing. It was pretty intense.
When we got to Waikiki Beach, there was a woman out in the middle of the street who was screaming obscenities at a man who was walking away from her as fast as he could. He initially ignored her for the most part but then he stopped, turned around and started screaming obscenities back at her, all within earshot of walkers-by including young children. It was quite a scene.
When we walked over to the public restroom, which was connected to the Waikiki Beach Police Department, there was what looked to be an elderly homeless man lying on the ground shaking. He was within 25 feet of the police department. Then we saw a young woman sitting outside of the police station smoking marijuana. She was very pretty, looked healthy and young, and she did not appear to be homeless.
I found the condition of the ladies restroom so repugnant I nearly got sick just being there a minute or two. It was the filthiest restroom I have ever been in my entire life. I walked over to talk to someone at the police station but the door was locked. There was an intercom but the man who answered the intercom was of no help.
We managed to get in a short visit at the beach and a few photos, but didn’t stay long. We left, thinking about what the ravages of sin has done to so many people, in the middle of the beauty, in the middle of “paradise,” in the middle of Waikiki Beach.
To be honest, I was afraid to accept that man’s offer to drive us to Waikiki Beach. I feared if we got in his car he would pull a gun on us, or that his car interior might have traces of fentanyl in it.
I was afraid to look into that woman’s eyes who was screaming obscenities on the street for fear of her walking up to me and attacking me.
I was afraid to try to help the elderly man lying on the ground by the police station for fear he might be sick with something contagious.
I was afraid to say anything to the young woman smoking marijuana just outside of the police department for fear of what she might say or do to me.
But,
I’m not afraid to write about it, and to pray for God to help these people with their addictions and with their anger; and to bless them with the gift of repentance and faith in Him, before it’s too late.
For the wages of sin is death, but, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
True paradise is not found at Waikiki Beach, or any beach for that matter. It is found only at the end of our life on earth to those who have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
To the thief who trusted in Jesus at the cross,
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Treasure In Jars of Clay 