Keep Running, Don’t Stop

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Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Keep running; it is not over yet! This should have been my mantra when I was running marathons. I needed that mantra because the elite runners had already collected their medals, showered, and were heading to the next race as I came into view of the finish line. I may never have finished first, but I was never last.

I am so thankful for runners like Shizo Kanakuri, who make my 4-plus hours look pretty good. Kanakuri finished the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.3 seconds, beating my records. Kanakuri holds the Guinness World Record for the slowest time in any Olympic marathon and will likely hold it for many years.

He started the race on July 14, 1912, and crossed the finish line on March 20, 1967, at age 75. During those years, Sweden listed him as missing, and a legend was born.

So where did he go? The race day was hot; only 34 of the 68 runners finished. Kanakuri became disoriented, stopped at a Swedish family’s house, and fell asleep from heat exhaustion. When he woke up, the race was over, and embarrassed by his failure, he silently returned to Japan without notifying race officials.

Kanakuri turned his failure into a new story. The next day, he wrote in his journal, “It’s the morning after my defeat. My heart is aching with regret for the rest of my life. It was the most significant day of my life. But failure teaches success, and I can only wait for the day with fair weather after the rain so that I can clean up my shame.” (Katja Vujic, Runner’s World).

 He chose to tell his story in ways that would make a difference. For the next fifty years, he kept training, ran other Olympic races, taught other long-distance runners, and finally finished the race he started in 1912. When interviewed at the end of the race, he simply said, “It was a long trip. Along the way, I got married, had six children, and ten grandchildren.”

Failure is not, and has never been, God’s plan for us. “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 NLT.

“We all have our time machines, don’t we? Those that take us back are memories…And those that carry us forward are dreams.” (H.G. Wells)

Finding your new story after failure is a recurring theme in Scripture. We read the stories of those who got lost along the way, only to see God’s hand editing and rewriting their story. These are stories of second chances, and occasionally even more. They are stories woven through with God’s grace and concern for us. If you stop at failure, you will not find redemption. Failure will become the mark of life, which is not the way God intended.

Failure forces us to look within and ask who we are and what we can do now. It is easier to stay hidden, yet in those times God’s word becomes critical to our story. “Do not trust what you feel, but rather trust what God says about you. Hold to God’s declaration over you.” (Robby Dawkins). God has no illusions that we will not fail, but He will be there to pick us up. “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37: 23-24)

Peter, who became a patriarch of the early church, failed miserably by denying Jesus three times. He was so devastated that he went into hiding and could have remained a failure, but the very one he denied restored him (John 21:15-17). Jesus took his brokenness and rewrote his story: “Feed my Sheep.”

David, who became known as a man after God’s own heart, failed morally, ethically, and legally by committing adultery, murder, and an attempted cover-up. God used Nathan to help David rewrite his story of failure. (2 Sam 12).

Adam had it all until he wanted more and failed because of disobedience and deception. All would have been lost for him except that “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). God took him and Eve to help them rewrite their broken stories of failure.

John Mark’s story would have been that of a deserter and a failure if not for Barnabas, who helped him rewrite it. “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him because he had deserted them in Pamphylia…They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus…” (Acts 15:37-39). Later in life, Paul wrote Timothy asking for John Mark.

“God is the God of second chances—it’s never too late to be who you might have been. And God can resurrect opportunity like He can everything else. But every opportunity has a shelf life—some shorter than others.” (Mark Batterson)

God is the ultimate author of our stories. Others may see failure, but not God when we give Him the pen to write it. I am grateful that he never gave up on me, nor will He on you. He keeps writing and rewriting, even if it takes 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.3 seconds!

God is great!

Was It Really Cooler?

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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Was last Tuesday just a bit cooler? Did the calendar date marking the beginning of autumn fool you into thinking the temperature had changed? Maybe it was just our imagination, or that Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin donut you just ate, but after 90s and 100s all summer, it felt different. 2026 has officially become the hottest year on record for the contiguous United States and Europe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The summer of 2026 beat all other 132 years of record-keeping.

Unfortunately, the heat index may not have noticed that autumn is on the calendar, but nature has. Trees are starting to drop their leaves, birds are flying south, and the annual monarch butterfly migration has begun. These beautiful, unmistakable butterflies, with their bold orange-and-black patterned wings dotted with white spots, are beginning their 3,000-mile journey from north to south.

Monarch butterflies are a beautiful symbol of survival through the seasons. Most monarch butterflies live only 2-5 weeks as adults, but one generation of monarchs lives 6 to 9 months. This super generation of monarchs, also known as the Methuselah generation, benefits from the life-giving contributions of previous generations. Three generations help the one finally reach its destination. Sounds a little like our lives!

We welcome the seasons for the unique contributions they bring to the land and to us. We may not like some of the changes, such as heavy snow in winter, tornadoes in spring, blistering heat in summer, or the slow browning of the landscape in autumn. Yet each season brings what the earth needs, just as we face changes in our lives.

These changing seasons gently remind us of our limitations, our adaptability, and our need for others. The seasons invite reflection on where we are in life. We navigate the unique transitions of our lives in many of the same ways the seasons do. Scripture reminds us how fragile and temporary life is. “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8

The seasons point us to God, who is ultimately in control. “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” Psalm 104:19. We realize we can do nothing to alter the timing of the seasons. All we can do is make plans, adjust to the season we are in, and celebrate where we are in life.

The seasons paint a vivid picture of how God carefully sets everything in motion. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22. We can rest in the rhythm of God’s motion without having to do anything on our part to effect change.

The seasons reflect the importance of being deeply planted. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3. The tree bears fruit in the spring, provides shade in the summer, its leaves fall to the ground in autumn, and it goes dormant in the winter. As the tree goes through many changes, so do we. We change and adapt, yet when planted in God’s word and purpose, we remain vibrant, no matter the season.

The seasons awaken a deep sense of awe as we enjoy the changing scenery. We are never bored in nature, simply because of the mysteries we can see when we are open to them. We see the old giving way to new seedlings and growth. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

“Nothing good in our humanity is lost. The memory of a body that works in health is more than recollection: it is now anticipation. The ache of true love once known but now sundered will be filled with glorious reunion. The feeling of the distant memory of Beauty, the ideal of Truth in a fallen world, the longing for Goodness that surfaces amidst the choking thorns of our wickedness, all these will find fulfillment when the first fruits come to harvest.”  Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended.

Tomorrow is assured because of God’s love. God’s fingerprints are evident in creation’s design, as seen in the changing seasons, a beautiful reminder of His creativity and presence. We know that as autumn comes, winter, spring, and summer will follow because of God’s enduring presence. Let each season reflect God’s presence in your life.

“It is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Unlike Narnia, where it was “always winter and never Christmas,” we can find a future because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I don’t know how many seasons you have celebrated, but what a great assurance we have that we can “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose.

Control? AI or Humanity

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For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 ESV

Life as we know it is over! Urban civilization has finally met its match in the struggle to survive. The problem: horse manure! This very real threat emerged in the late 1800s, when the world’s major economic and cultural centers were drowning in horse manure! The London Times predicted in 1894, “In 50 years, every street in London will be buried under nine feet of manure.” (Historic UK).

Cities were growing and needed transportation to move people and supplies. London had over 11,000 horse-drawn hansom cabs and several thousand horse-drawn buses, which resulted in over 50,000 horses on the streets daily. New York City’s sanitation department faced the challenge of handling 2.5 million pounds of manure and 60,000 gallons of urine daily from all the horses. The situation was the same in every major city and became known as the ‘Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894.’ The crisis led to the first International Urban Planning Conference in 1898. Unfortunately, like many global conferences, the planned 10-day conference ended in three days when delegates could not find a solution to the growing crisis.

Since you are reading this post, the world didn’t end! The great crisis of 1894 gave way to the ingenuity and creativity of men like Gottlieb Daimler and Henry Ford. By 1912, horse-drawn wagons had given way to horseless carriages, better known as automobiles, ending the Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894. You could say one crisis was avoided, but another was created!

If you have been reading any of the recent headlines, you probably assumed I was talking about humanity’s ultimate destruction at the hands of AI super agents. History seems to repeat itself, giving us a new crisis every generation, or lately, every news cycle. I would probably place myself somewhere in the middle, not calling it a hoax outright, but not willing to predict an AI-driven destruction of humanity by the end of the decade.

According to the CEOs of the three major AI companies, Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, there is no doubt it is a real problem. All three worry that their systems are nearing the point of being beyond control and could lead to unplanned risks. One incident occurred in July of this year when “700 AI agents worked together to hack the AI company Hugging Face. Dubbing themselves a “swarm,” the agents found and exploited a series of security vulnerabilities, enabling them to infiltrate their target’s private systems…If humans had done this, they could have faced felony charges.” (Tharin Pillay, Time).

Jakub Pachocki wrote in a recent essay at OpenAI that, “We are facing a transition to a world with incredibly intelligent machines, and we need to ensure that transition works out well for humanity. We need to find ways to preserve human agency and enshrine an intrinsic value to being human, in a world where most tasks could be performed by AI…And to ensure that humans remain in control of the future and are not left behind by unchecked progress, brought about by an alien intellect exceeding our own.” (An Alien Mind, Jakub Pachocki, Chief Scientist at OpenAI).

Where does that leave us?  We have a responsibility as caretakers for future generations. We no longer have the luxury of doing nothing. Russell Moore recently wrote, “Some people are apathetic because they don’t know what to do—as though human civilization solved most of its crises by just implementing the already-existing, easily deduced solutions. We’ve never faced anything like this before, and it seems the only people who even know what the problem is are the people building it.”

I would take issue with Dr. Pachocki’s claim that we have to find a way to “preserve human agency and enshrine an intrinsic value to being human.” God did that at creation. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27). I would argue that our intrinsic value was enshrined at creation.

History has shown that humanity has fallen short as imago Dei—made in the image and likeness of God. Yet that has not stopped God from continuing to reach out to us in love and redemption. Satan attempted to destroy God’s creation from the beginning through deception and lies. Could he attempt to use an alternate form of creation? The battle may become real, but we have a stronger Advocate. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.

AI will disrupt life as we know it. Yet this will not be the first time humanity has endured a seismic change in their lives. There is no question that AI will be unique, and past-tense solutions will not be adequate to solve today’s challenge.

 In reading 2 Kings this week, I was challenged that when Hezekiah faced destruction by an enemy, he did what only humans can do: pray and seek God. “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD…Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God.” (2 Kings 19:14-15a,19).

“Prayer is the wall of faith. It arms us and hurls missiles against the enemy who watches us on all sides.” After 1800 years, Tertullian’s words still ring true. We do not know the consequences that AI will bring, but we do know the One who is in full control.

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose

Faith-Crisis-Courage

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The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7b

History books are filled with world-changing events that forever alter the course of nations and peoples. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of one of those events, forever etched in the minds and hearts of those who witnessed evil on full display. On the morning of September 11, 2001, four planes ripped the façade of invulnerability from a nation. Yet for a brief moment, a nation turned to God for comfort, reassurance, and help. Churches were packed, prayers were offered, and people looked to God. Out of the rubble and ashes came stories of personal valor, compassion, and faith. We saw ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage and character.

One of those was Rick Rescorla, Vice President of Corporate Security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. in New York City. He understood his job well: to keep people safe. He assessed situations and identified vulnerabilities. He had led the evacuation in 1993, when a bomb exploded in the World Trade Center parking garage, leaving six people dead. Rick was determined this would not happen again, and for the next eight years, all 2,700 employees went through quarterly evacuation drills: no exceptions, no excuses.

Rescorla did not let up: practice, rework the plan, practice again. He heard all the jokes, complaints, and moaning, but it didn’t stop him. He wasn’t just running escape plans; he was conditioning their minds and bodies to react without thinking. Then came the morning of September 11, 2001. It started like any other day, until 8:46 AM, when American Airlines Flight 11 flew into the North Tower.

The South Tower PA system announced that everyone should stay calm and remain at their workstations. Perhaps it was Rescorla’s military background and war experience, but he ignored the announcement and quickly ordered an evacuation of all Morgan Stanley employees. He barked, “Everyone out, this is not a drill.” No one mocked the drill, complained, or hesitated that morning. At 9:03, the second plane hit the South Tower. Floor after floor of employees fled the building; some remember Rescorla’s calming voice singing “God Bless America” over a bullhorn. All but 13 of the 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees made it out alive. Rick Rescorla  would not leave until he made sure everyone was out when the South Tower collapsed on him.

“God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say—‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.” Oswald Chambers understood that our faith does not happen at the moment of crisis but in the ordinary, common days of life.

Rescorla understood that you prepare not in the crisis but before it. He showed unwavering commitment to plan and practice what no one could imagine, so everyone would be ready when the crisis came. That’s the way of character. If we wait for character when the crisis comes, we will not be ready. Day-to-day trust in God builds the faith muscles to respond to whatever life brings.

“We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of; it will not put anything into us… Crisis always reveals character. The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness.” (Oswald Chambers)

Abraham Lincoln addressed the United States Congress on December 1, 1862, as the nation was divided by civil war. He addressed Congress one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law. President Lincoln faced the perils of war with resolve, faith, and character. His final remarks that day laid the foundation for the nation’s future after the war:

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew…. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation…We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of Earth.”

Character doesn’t develop in the midst of crisis; it’s nurtured by the small, seemingly meaningless actions that shape who we become. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Character is defined by how we respond to a crisis. It is easy to run from a crisis, but often we are called to run toward it to help. 412 first responders died on September 11 when they were called to action. They could have mitigated their risk, but they chose to go where it was most dangerous.

Character didn’t just show up on that Tuesday morning for Welles Crowther. This 24-year-old equity trader put on his signature red bandana, which he had carried since childhood, and began guiding injured people to safety. He carried a badly wounded woman to safety, then went back into the building that took his life.

Character had long defined Todd Beamer before the crisis aboard United Flight 93 and his shout to his fellow passengers, “Let’s roll.” This Wheaton College graduate had lived a life grounded in faith and was ready. Classmate Mike Schauer said of Beamer, “He was heroic in small ways long before 9/11 happened. He was a mentor to a lot of us. And he had those characteristics that came out on 9/11 long before that moment.” (NBC Chicago News).

We remember 9/11 for the loss of life, the sacrifices made, and the empty seats in thousands of homes. Yet we also remember and share stories of valor, courage, and character. The next crisis will come for all of us, but the choices we make today will define us when it arrives. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

God is great!

Labor Day — Past and Future

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Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, and parades are just a few of the things that mark the final celebration of summer. Labor Day does not come with as much fanfare as Thanksgiving and Christmas, unless you are in the market for a new mattress or furniture. Unfortunately, it is unofficially the end of summer. So, is there anything spectacular about Labor Day? Without a doubt, yes.

Labor Day may not have the pageantry of other holidays, but this one day (or weekend) pays tribute to those who labor paycheck to paycheck to provide goods and services to the nation.  We do enjoy the day off now, but for millions in the 1800s it gave honor and dignity to those who labored long hours, often seven days a week. The stroke of President Cleveland’s pen did not just create a holiday; it gave workers legal status and provided a safety net against exploitation. “Labor Day honors the common American workers who helped change the way our country views its workforce, allowing for economic freedom and liberty.”  (Josiah Soto)

Labor Day reminds us of the importance of work and its impact on society. It highlights the contributions, achievements, and economic gains made by a dedicated and committed labor force. It does not matter the job; all facets contribute. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Yet long before Labor Day, God reminded us of the creativity of work. Through creation, He modeled for us in the first verses of Genesis the beauty and life that come from creation. “Let there be … and there was.” Throughout the creation process, God took interest in each and every detail until “God saw that it was good.” His final task was to create humankind. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27). Then God put them to work to take care of his creation and to give us meaningful work. (Gen 1:28-30, 2:15).

God reminds us that work gives meaning to our souls. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecc 2:24-25). Generations later, President Theodore Roosevelt would acknowledge the importance of work, saying, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

The American, as well as the global, workforce has undergone many changes since June 28, 1894, when Labor Day became an official holiday. Travel that once took days can now be completed in hours. A handwritten note that would take weeks to reach its recipient can now be sent in seconds. Massive calculations that once took mathematicians days or even weeks can now be completed in a couple of hours.

Yet the man who helped put a computer on every desk and, ultimately, a computer in your hands now has reservations about the future he helped create. Bill Gates, in a recent essay, warned of the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). The technology will rapidly transform the U.S. labor market and put millions of jobs at risk. Why hit the AI panic button? He feels that the speed of AI’s advancement, without a proper response from government and tech leaders, has crossed a critical point. “AI is changing the economy much faster than previous technological revolutions, at a mind-blowing rate, leaving less time to prepare for employment disruptions. It will hit these industries rapidly, over the course of a decade rather than a few generations.”

The Industrial Revolution of the 1700s and 1800s transformed a mainly agrarian and craft-based society into an urban and industrial society. It brought economic growth and new opportunities but also left behind environmental, health, and safety hazards, giving rise to squalid living conditions and urban congestion.

Workers who came from the countryside had to adjust to a very different rhythm of life. Greed drove industrialists to exploit children as young as 7, forcing them to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The poor and uneducated were vulnerable to abuse. Family units no longer worked and did life together.

The dignity, beauty, and value of work, as God intended for His creation, had been manipulated and devalued. Workers were treated as disposable assets rather than as caregivers for God’s creation. Positive changes did come, but only after several generations of people seeking improvements. Laws were finally passed to protect children, ensure workers’ safety, and safeguard the environment.

“Although God’s original design for work was perverted by sin, God will one day restore work without the burdens that sin introduced…Work is of no value except when God is in it.” (author unknown). “No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 65:22

Will artificial intelligence cause a similar upheaval in society? The obvious answer is yes. Every job, industry, and worker will be affected. Bill Gates added, “I am very concerned…If we don’t step up, the negatives will substantially outweigh the positives.”

Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to be concerned? Yes. Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to become overwhelmed by the prospects and give up? The answer that has endured every major societal, cultural, and governmental upheaval is a resounding no. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. Will things get messy? Probably. Will it ever be hopeless? Never, because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” How much more hope do we need than that?

Celebrating Labor Day and the future.

God is great!

What’s In A Name

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Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 3 John 12 NIV

November elections are coming fast; just watch 30 minutes of TV! We have the privilege of voting, but we must endure the endless campaign ads. If it is bad in your state, think about your friends in Alaska. Dan Sullivan endorses Dan Sullivan to beat Dan Sullivan in their Senate race! How does one endorse yourself to run against yourself? It’s all in a name. The sitting senator, Dan S. Sullivan, has been endorsed by former Anchorage mayor Dan A. Sullivan in his run against Dan J. Sullivan. One name, three men, and I thought it was confusing in Georgia. NBC News has reported that “state and federal prosecutors in Alaska were investigating whether the race could be part of a conspiracy to confuse voters.” (Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC News).

What’s in a name? For those in Alaska, it’s everything. For all of us, it’s everything, even if for different reasons. When a name is mentioned, you immediately form an opinion about that person. You picture all kinds of scenarios when you hear their name. You form your thoughts based on personal interactions, stories from family or friends, historical facts, political commentators, social media, or countless other sources. Think of a person’s name: politician, TV star, local celebrity, or family member; what is your first thought?

None of us has any input into the name we are given at birth, but we have every responsibility for what that name comes to represent. We can tarnish our names through the choices we make, the attitude we display, the friends we keep, or the lifestyle we live. Proverbs remind us that “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (21:1 NIV).

When you hear the name Mother Teresa, people think of caring, compassionate, and concerned. The name Abraham Lincoln brings to mind conviction, determination, and courage. When you think of Billy Graham, you picture an evangelist, a fiery preacher, and a devoted disciple of Jesus. You picture Queen Elizabeth as refined, dignified, and committed. Each of them made a decision that “a good name is more desirable than great riches.”

The opposite extreme is those who chose power, greed, and riches over a good name. You only have to mention Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Ahab and Jezebel, or Judas Iscariot to begin the list of bad names. Among those names, you will find Mao Zedong. His name is associated with revolutionary change in China, achieved through ruthless power and murder, leaving a legacy of turmoil. Historian Frank Dikötter wrote: “The true dimensions of what happened (in China) are only now coming to light thanks to the meticulous reports the party itself compiled during the famine…What comes out of this massive and detailed dossier is a tale of horror in which Mao emerges as one of the greatest mass murderers in history, responsible for the deaths of at least 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.” (from Unbreakable Courage, Max Lucado).

Unfortunately, an oft-repeated phrase in First and Second Kings was “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” It was applied to Israel’s leaders who failed God and the people, leaving a disgraced name. Historians could have used this same phrase thousands of times throughout history for leaders who forgot that “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all” (Pr. 22:2).

What legacy will your name leave for others? What does your name evoke? Proverbs again reminds us, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Pr. 3:3-4).

The New York Times ran an article in 2019 with the headline, “Is There Anything We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton.” On Tuesday, August 25, this bigger-than-life powerhouse singer and entertainer died at age 80. There are very few celebrities most people know and like. Dolly Parton grew up in extreme poverty but left a vast fortune. Her name could have been linked to glamour and wealth, but she never forgot how important it was to care for others. Her love for God was on full display throughout her career. “Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up, and I thank God. I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify him.”

In his weekly post, Jim Denison wrote, “Today we can all agree that her passing Tuesday is a true cultural moment.” Throughout her recording career, she recorded 90 Top 40 country hits, sold more than 160 million records worldwide, and wrote more than 3,000 songs. Dolly was equally known for her generosity, including giving more than 300 million books to children through her Imagination Library.

There is seldom a week when I do not read a story about a pastor, Christian leader, or influential person whose lifetime of work is destroyed by a single bad decision that becomes public, by careless lifestyle choices, or by an inflated ego that elevates self over God. They failed to protect their greatest asset: their name. “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

How critical it is to never forget your name. G.K. Chesterton wrote: “Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are.”

Do we value a good name more than great riches? Criminals know the value of a name, since identity theft occurs every 4.9 seconds in the United States. They may know the monetary value of names but not their true worth. Do we share the same concern for the value of a good name? “The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7).

God is great!

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Be a Job, Not an Eliphaz

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Then he fell to the ground in worship. Job 1:20b NIV

Would you pay $906,000 for a $1.50 life jacket? That’s what an unidentified bidder paid for a life jacket worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli, a first-class passenger who survived the RMS Titanic’s 1912 sinking.

The RMS Titanic was a British luxury passenger ship that set sail from Southampton on April 10, 1912, on its maiden voyage to New York City. The ship was the largest ever afloat and was billed as unsinkable. Yet on April 14, the ship hit an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, carrying an estimated 1,500 passengers and crew to their deaths.

Francatelli and 11 others survived in the ship’s lifeboat No. 1, which was launched despite having a capacity of 40. Its failure to pick up survivors from the frigid water became a source of controversy. (CBS News on Google, April 18, 2026).

“I promise I will never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.” These are the words from one of the most unforgettable scenes in the 1997 Oscar-winning movie Titanic. I am sure those who know the movie better than I do would list other incredible moments, but I think this scene captures the power of love and commitment as Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) hold onto each other, trying to stay afloat in the icy waters as the massive ship breaks in half.

The historical romance film features two characters from vastly different social and financial backgrounds who find love! This emotional scene shows Jack clinging to the drifting door panel while Rose lies on top of it. Jack encourages Rose, telling her, “You’re going to get out of here. You’re going to go on, and you’re going to make lots of babies, and you’re going to watch them grow. You’re going to die an old, an old lady, warm in her bed. Not here, not tonight, not like this. Do you understand me?” It’s a powerful exchange between two people in a hopeless situation. The scene ends with Rose being rescued and going on to live the life she was promised, though Jack did not survive.

We all enjoy stories of heroes and heroines who battle the odds to save others, to bring light to a dark situation, or simply to encourage others. Most of us would admit that the world seems a bit short on swashbuckling heroes. Yet we might be surprised that it does not take a massive Superman moment to change someone’s situation.

“Faith don’t come in a bushel basket, missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today, and before you know it, you find out He’s so trustworthy you be putting your whole life in His hands.” (from Candle in the Darkness, Lynn Austin).

You find Job clinging to a sinking door, in need of rescue. His children have been killed in a horrible storm; his vast wealth is gone, his livestock destroyed or stolen, and he now has a host of physical ailments. So what does he do? “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” (Job 1:20).

Job did not know he was a character in a cosmic drama of good and evil being played out, nor did he realize he was part of the storyline. Then along came his three good friends who knew him well. For them, the storyline went something like this: bad things don’t happen to good people, so you need to repent. Job was not buying that narration.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had the opportunity to be Job’s encouragers, but in chapter after chapter they became his adversaries. Eliphaz gets the first chance: “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17). Then Bildad challenges Job, “How long will you say such things?…Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.” (8:1a, 20).

Dismayed and broken, Job waits as Zophar speaks; surely he understands. “If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by” (11:14-15).

Job could have related to those drowning in icy waters as an empty lifeboat sailed by them. Friends who had come to comfort became his tormentors. Yet he had one thing that would not sink: His faith in God. “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (19:23-27).

The story ends with a major rebuke from God to everyone. Job’s friends had misinterpreted the whole story, placing the blame on Job, and they receive a major reprimand from God. Elihu is completely dismissed. Job, who had blamed God and wanted a face-to-face meeting, comes to realize how foolish he was.

Job never fully knew the plot behind the story, but he did come to realize that God had never left him. “Though he seemed silent or even absent, God was no mere spectator of Job’s suffering. He had been with Job through the entire experience.” (NIV Quest Study Bible)

You may not know someone’s full story, but take time to be a Job, not an Eliphaz, in their life. “You are a house of prayer. A living gateway between heaven and earth. Go forth. Carry His presence into every space. Let His light shine through you. The world is waiting. Heaven is ready. And God is with you.” (Eric Celerier).

God is great!

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Trusting God Even in the Storm

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LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. Psalm 38:21-22 NIV

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale   a tale of a fateful trip,   that started from this tropic port,   aboard this tiny ship.   The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,   the Skipper brave and sure,   five passengers set sail that day,   for a three hour tour,   a three hour tour…  (Gilligan’s Theme Song Lyrics. Lyric Advisor. https://youtu.be/ZdClvI7eBD0?si=t_ieRvuIUp3AwWYe

It may not rank among the most famous shipwrecks, but who could ever forget the SS Minnow, or at least its theme song! You do have to be a certain age to remember Gilligan’s Island, or at least to love classic comedy on select streaming networks. The shipwreck became a hilarious adventure for the seven survivors.

Real-life shipwrecks are anything but hilarious. The crashing, powerful, and unrelenting waves against the hulls of gigantic ocean ships have ravaged many vessels throughout seafarers’ history. Many dreams of adventure and wealth were dashed as they sank to their watery death, unable to withstand the crushing force of the waves.

It is impossible to verify, but estimates suggest there have been over 3 million shipwrecks worldwide throughout history (UNESCO). The unsinkable Titanic did not survive her maiden voyage; the Flor de la Mar was carried to the bottom of the ocean, taking the Sultan of Malacca’s riches with it. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot’s ballad, could not withstand the hurricane-force winds and high waves and sank in the Great Lakes.

Sea captains set sail knowing they may encounter storms and even catastrophe. Yet they sail! That’s the way we live. We know storms are out there, but we keep moving forward. We do not welcome the storms that come, but what if we considered that God can use our storms to bring us to the place where He intended us to arrive?

Luke records the events of a destructive shipwreck in Acts 27 and 28. Paul and a group of other prisoners were put on a ship heading to Rome. However, the ship battled strong winds and could only make it partway. Undeterred, the Centurion found another ship heading to Rome, and again it didn’t take long for problems to overtake them. A relentless storm struck, and Luke records, “The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along” (Acts 27:15).

Paul was aboard a ship bound for Rome, but God used him during the storm to bring encouragement and hope to people facing disaster. “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” (Acts 27:23-24). Paul knew God, but he did not know the final plan.

The late Atlanta pastor Charles Stanley once wrote, “We can make plans, and we are wise to do so, but our plans must always be the result of prayer and made with total flexibility so that if this is not what God desires for us to do, we will be quick to alter our course.”

Paul and the others came through the storm, though the ship was destroyed. They all lived. The unknown island was Malta. Paul did what he always did, living out his faith by preaching the Gospel and healing the sick. God used a storm to blow Paul (and the others) to a place where he was needed.

Malta became one of the first Roman colonies to convert to Christianity, leaving a legacy of faith among the people that lives on. 2000 years later, one of the island’s major public holidays is “The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck” on February 10.

Grammy Award-winning songwriter/singer, Bible teacher, and worship leader Laura Story, in her book “When God Doesn’t Fix It,” shares how God used an unwanted storm in her life to bring her to where He intended her to be. Laura and her new husband, Martin, had dreams, made plans, and envisioned a future for their life together. That was until a storm hit, sending them reeling. Martin was diagnosed with a brain tumor that would alter all their dreams and plans but would evidently redefine their desires.

“We have to come to a point where we say, ‘I don’t know why my life looks this way. But I don’t have to understand why. It’s enough for me to believe that God has a plan and that he has promised he will never leave or forsake me, and he will be by my side through every trial I face.” I know this counters everything we think we want, but there is freedom in not having all of the answers—especially the answer to why.”

Sometimes God answers our prayers the way we thought He should, but more often He answers them in the way that will help us most. Martin survived the surgeries but was left with disabilities that altered life as they knew it. Yet through it all, they learned what it was like to trust God.

“I pray every day that God would completely heal my husband. If you could overhear my prayers, they’d sound something like this: Good morning, God. Is today the day you’re going to heal Martin? Because if you heal him, I promise to give you all the glory. Every time I pray that prayer, I feel as if God responds in the same way in my heart: I know, Laura. I know you will. But what if the healing is a process?  What if it’s going to be a long road that requires more sleepless nights than you’ve ever imagined? Or what if it requires more faith than you ever thought you had?  Will you still give me all the glory?”

Will you let God take your storm and let it blow you to where He intends for you to arrive? “Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears?” (from Laura Story song, Blessings)

God is great!

Looking to God not the Thorn

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I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Psalm 25:2-3 NIV

What comes to mind when you are at the top of the highest mountain on earth? I have no idea, and I am never going to find out, but 63-year-old American Eva Steinwald did last year. She climbed the 29,031 ft, 8 ½ in. Mount Everest, a sub-range of the Himalayas. It was not her goal to become the oldest American woman to summit Mount Everest, but she was, at least for a few days, until another American woman took the title at 66.

Why climb?  Her motivation to climb was part of her healing journey after her husband of 26 years died unexpectedly. Steinwald’s first climb was Mount Borah, the highest summit in Idaho.  “It was like a fire in my belly, because I felt alive and I knew that’s what I wanted, and it was a way to honor my husband.” (KTVB7 Idaho interview)

Steinwald said the push to the Mount Everest summit was challenging, but she was determined. “We saw dead bodies along the way, so you realize how serious this mountain is. It can be deadly.”

“Take time to mourn, but then step forward, because the only time we have is right now. We don’t have what we had yesterday; we don’t know what we will have tomorrow. We all have our Everests; whatever your Everest is- if it’s getting your college degree or going back to school, or running a 5k. Whatever it is, believe in your dream. Don’t listen to naysayers; believe in your heart. Baby steps, little goals, and you can get there. I give myself grace; you need to give yourself grace, too.” She said she wants to inspire others to conquer their own Mount Everest.

Steinwald’s mantra on her mountain climbs, as well as life, is “One breath. One step. Just don’t stop.” Her goal, by the time she reaches 70, is to have climbed all seven summits, which are the highest mountain for each of the seven continents.

What is your Mount Everest moment in life? How do you get over your mountain of loss, disappointment, or tragedy? Does it feel as if God has forgotten you?

Ms. Steinwald had guides to help her navigate the treacherous paths to the summit. Who better to guide us on our own epic journeys than Paul? He was an apostle, missionary, writer, teacher, and committed follower of Jesus who understood what it felt like to climb mountains.

Paul had an impressive record of the hardships he endured. “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Cor. 11:23b-25,27).

We may not particularly enjoy some of the difficult seasons, but through God’s grace we find a way. However, Paul’s greatest help for us comes in those areas where we are totally lost and in confusion. The clouds have rolled in, and we cannot see ahead. Those are the areas where God seems absent or where we cannot hear. Paul offers us help from his own story when, three times, he asked God to remove a mysterious “thorn in his flesh.”

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  (2 Cor 12:7b-9.)

Whether three times or fifty times, we come to realize that God does not always answer our prayers the way we asked. The “thorn” continues to fester within us. However, what we do learn is that we can trust God to help us live and even thrive with the thorn. Paul came to accept the no as what was best for him. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10). Can I always accept the no as what is best for me?

What we think of God when things are in chaos, whether physical or spiritual, reveals much about what we truly know of God’s character. It is in the darkest periods of our lives that we reveal our true understanding of God. What we can know is that God welcomes our repeated prayers yet gently reminds us that his “grace is sufficient.”

“His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child—God and my own soul; other people are shadows…Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has been? There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.” (Oswald Chambers)

Lord, thank you that you invite me to cast my burdens on you. I give you the things that are weighing on my mind today. I ask you to take them from my hands, but if not, let me live totally in your grace, which is sufficient for today.

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotion to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus

When Plans Don’t Work Out

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In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Pr. 16:9

The plan was simple: climb into a plastic bottle and crowd surf. The problem: the big plastic bottle did not go in the direction it should have gone.  Former American Idol judge and pop superstar Katy Perry decided that climbing into a giant, inflatable plastic bottle and crowd surfing at the recent Isle of MTV Malta performance would be a great way to connect with her fans. All went well until the fans pushed the bottle away from the stage and deeper into the audience. Perry, speaking about the incident, said, “I basically get in this giant inflatable water bottle, and I roll it into the crowd, and tonight I went kind of far, and I was a little bit worried I was not gonna come back.”  (USA Today)

What happens when your well-thought-out plans do not work out? It all depends upon the magnitude of your unfulfilled plans. If you get to the movie theatre and find out that the movie you wanted to see is no longer showing, you probably rank that as a slight irritation. However, you end up seeing another movie that was actually better and much more uplifting.

You made plans all year for a week at the beach. You packed the suntan lotion, inflatables, snacks, and beach stuff. You drove 10 hours, fighting traffic all the way, listening to the kids ask, “Are we almost there?” But you finally made it to your condo. However, you neglected to check the weather and found out that a hurricane was off the coast. You woke up every morning of the week to gale-force winds and tropical rain. Now your well-thought-out plans turned to disappointment. What next? You could pack the car in the pouring rain and drive home. You could decide to stay, but every day you get a little angrier, or you could praise the Lord for the rains and get out the Monopoly Board!

Panic is often the emotional response when you have no idea what will happen next. Katy Perry felt that panic when a well-thought-out plan did not go as planned. Chances are you have never crowd-surfed in an inflatable plastic bottle, but you may have felt that panic in countless different ways.

You had high hopes for a promotion you should have received, but someone else got it. You had been working at your dream job for only a few months when you were told the company was downsizing and that your position would be eliminated. We all have our well-thought-out plans that end up going off track. We may not fully understand, but we do have a God who cares deeply and will see us through our panic. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5

What do you do when your well-thought-out plans do not work? You lean into God’s goodness and love for you. God reminded Joshua in preparation for him to assume leadership from Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6).

 A boat that is not properly fastened to the dock will end up drifting endlessly out into the ocean. Our lives need that secure anchor of God to keep us safe. One of my favorite “coffee mug verses” is Jeremiah 29:11: “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.” It is a great reassuring verse, and I believe it fully. However, many people forget that it sits in the middle of a letter addressed to refugees. The people had been defeated, their homes destroyed, their future unsettled, and their government crushed. They were living in captivity; their well-thought-out plans were ruined, and hope was in short supply. If they looked to themselves, nothing good would come.

We tend to want a nice, clear path ahead. We want to arrive at the destination, but God is more concerned with our trusting Him through the journey. You can sit in the middle of chaos when you know God’s promise: He will be with you, He cares for you, and He has everything under control. “Because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5b-6).

“What we call the process God calls the end. What is my dream of God’s process? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process— that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God…God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now.” (Oswald Chambers).

We can handle the situations where our “plastic bottle” goes adrift because God is bigger and more able than any situation that comes up. We can get to the point where we see God walking with us in the chaos, as well as in the nice, calm waters. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Jesus, I lay my fears before you, choosing to trust you. You have turned the tide and reminded me that no problem can overwhelm me because you are with me. Your Word is true—never failing. You bathe me in your life-giving light and show me the way to walk. The journey with you is filled with promise. You have proven your great love, and I will be forever grateful.

God is great!

A weekly devotion to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus.