Does the Spirit of Christ shine through your life? I often reflect upon my daily thoughts and attitudes and how they mimic the love of Christ. Scripture tells us to be “like-minded” and to be one in spirit and purpose with Jesus.

His Word tells us, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

Like the prophets and poets of the Old Testament, Jesus used birds to illustrate His teachings. He described the care He desired to provide by comparing it to the protection given by the wings of a hen over her brood.

This plant is indicative of several people I’ve had the privilege of knowing. They grow where they are planted and succeed regardless of the environment or circumstances they face.

Often people making major decisions in life will ask the question, “I wish I knew God’s will in this situation.” Our Lord gave us a prayer that helps direct our attention to knowing His will for our lives…

For many the serenity of an outdoor experience offers numerous opportunities to think through problems, relax your mind, get caught up on prayers, and listen to God. Scripture tells us that Christ spent many hours in quietness. His meditation experiences were special and allowed Him time to commune with His Heavenly Father.

I will often monitor our fire department communications to determine if a chaplain is needed at a serious accident, fire, rescue, or suicide attempt. In addition to those responsibilities, I endeavor to call upon first responders in their time of need. Hospital visitations, crises within a family, or emergency counseling is part of the job.

Much like today, the 1960’s were filled with turmoil, dissension, and disrespect. Unfortunately, we see our country again on the brink of a political and social decline and disorder. During the progressive movement in the late 1940’s Pete Seeger and Lee Hays wrote the song, If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song). It was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman.