By the time most of you read this article, you will have found out about the passing of Orrin Nearhoof, an elder at our congregation (and two other congregations before he and Marge came to Richmond) and a kind and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. My family left Richmond in 2012 so we didn’t get a chance to know the Nearhoofs when Orrin was in good health. However, over the past six months, I’ve came to know Orrin well, as I spent several late evenings with him when the Johnson family was out of town and I offered to check on him and Marge before they went to bed. In that time, Orrin and I had a number of discussions about the congregation, our faiths, and our Christian journeys. I’d like to use this space to share a three lessons from a Godly man that I learned from Orrin.

All a person has to do is mention the name “Old Faithful” and everyone immediately knows the reference. It is a cone-type geyser in Yellowstone Park that, since 2000, has been erupting every 44 to 125 minutes. This geyser is the most studied in the park though it is not the biggest or the most regular one. Some are bigger. Others are more regular. “Old Faithful” is, though, the biggest and most regular at the same time offering a greater opportunity to study its internal dynamics. The eruptions last anywhere from 1½ to 5 minutes sending steam and water 90 to 184 feet into the air. The Washburn expedition of 1870 is credited with naming this now very popular visitor site.

It is really getting tough for Christians to trust and to appreciate our judicial system. Laws are being made without the input of the people. That is not what our country’s constitution allows. Interpretations are being pronounced without the support of any godly morality. That is not what our spiritual constitution, the Bible, allows.

After a number of years rotating time during the holidays between both sides of parents, a certain wife decided to try her hand at her first Thanksgiving turkey.  “Now I know I have never done this on my own before.  I have seen it done a number of times, though.  However, if it does not turn out to be any good, we will just get right up and go to Cracker Barrel,” she told her family.

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands from the east and from the west from the north and from the south…Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!...Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.”  (Psalm 107: 1-3, 8, 15, 21, 31-32).

A habit is something a person does over and over again with little or no thought.  A superstition is a belief that a person has that drives them to do something a certain way over and over again so that something bad won’t happen to them.  A bad habit is something a person does over and over again that is detrimental.  A good habit is something a person does over and over again because of solid convictions.

An amber alert is sounded.  The police are activated.  The alert appears on tv screens, phones, news outlets, and on traffic signs along the main highways.  Those first few moments are a critical time.  They could mean the difference between finding the child and never seeing the child again.

His own disciples asked the question, “Who can this be?  For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” (Luke 8:25).  The people in His home town asked it, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter’s son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54-56).

We really have a good time with our Little Hands Preschool on Thursdays. The children are so fun to be around. They love being here! They are always so excited to learn new things and do so many activities. Former students have come back to visit from time to time and talk about our school. One child was talking about Kindergarten and comparing it to what he enjoyed here. “My school does not have kitchen time or craft time! And, they don’t ever have Bible time and singing!” They just love these things.

I listen to talk radio when I am driving. I love political, news, and sports talk radio. Often the following scenario will happen involving someone on hold trying to get on the air to talk. At some point, the host will acknowledge the next caller by saying his name. Maybe that name is “Mike”. However, the caller quickly objects saying that his name is “Mark”.

Every year we celebrate Independence Day with our hearts, minds, and bodies. We fly flags. We listen to patriotic music. We remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we now enjoy. And we should because people all over the world would be willing to pay a hefty sum to have some of those freedoms for themselves.

In Galatians 5, Paul provides two lists to the churches in Galatia. The first list (Galatians 5:19-21) lists the works of the flesh—“sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” The second list (most commonly known as the Fruits of the Spirit) includes nine fruits:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

One of the favorite games of most children is hide and seek.  It is not just small children who love that game.  The high school students in the camps I have conducted through the years have played some form of that game.  Probably most, if not all, parents have played that game with their children.

The end of a great conflict brings joy. You have seen the videos of the allied forces entering cities and towns after driving out the Germans and their Nazi regime. The people are cheering and dancing! They are waving American flags and trying to hug their liberators…

The story of the tortoise and the hare is a classic illustration of a very common scenario. The hare’s attitude grew out of his ability to run very fast. He was a sprinter. He could go very fast for short bursts of time. The tortoise, on the other hand, was slow and plodding. He was constant and persistent, though he was not fast…

Involvement in the work of a local congregation is necessary. It is necessary because God expects that His children will be active participants and partners in the work of the Church that His Son built. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” (Ephesians 2:19…

NIL has been the hot sports topic of the year. It is hard to imagine that anyone would not know what it is about. However, since some may not know what it is, let me make sure you are informed. NIL is an acrostic for name, image, and likeness. It means that athletes can now be paid to have their names, images, and likenesses used for advertising purposes. Obviously, the more well-known or better athletes will receive more in NIL money than those who are lesser athletes. But, all of them are free to market themselves and make money…

We all know the following is true. Put a diamond in one hand and a piece of candy in the other. Now, present both of them to a small child and ask which one he would like to have. You know that he will choose the piece of candy. To him that is the most valuable thing at that moment. A diamond means nothing to him…

We will soon be experiencing another change of seasons. At the same time, many of us are experiencing changes in other phases of our lives. Some are experiencing change in their careers. Others are experiencing changes in their families as they look forward to an addition while others have lost a member of their family…

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-12). We know the story. We are the story. Every human has proven the truth of the story. We are all sinners. There was and is nothing that we could ever do on our own to fix that situation. And, the situation was dire!…