 05/17/2013
Gracious words
Gracious words impressed those who heard the first sermon of Jesus (Luke 4:22). Words reveal the character of a person. Jesus spoke words that build up and encourage. Proverbs 18:21 says, “the tongue has the power of life and death. ” Could it be that every  more on this story...
 05/03/2013
Your kingdom
I have experienced a great deal of focus of late on “God’s Kingdom. ” I’ve just read three Ted Dekker novels, a favorite author who consistently sets his story themes in the reality of God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is immeasurably more real than the world we perceive around more on this story...
 04/17/2013
Come On Down!
It has already started; strange creatures are running around Pikeville wearing strange clothing of all colors and designs. They drive something with four wheels resembling an automobile. They appear to be having a lot of fun. Their music is a bluegrass style and you hear it sounding from cars, more on this story...
 04/05/2013
Bible and anxiety
Anxiety is a powerful feeling. Worrying and living in fear can have devastating effects on one’s life and it can lead to long-lasting psychological problems that can be difficult to overcome. The causes can be real or imagined, leaving some people to the point of more on this story...
 03/22/2013
Live wisely!
Prayer, at its root, is not a way of keeping God informed about our life situation. He already knows everything there is to know about it. Prayer, at its root, is not a method of telling God what we, in our finite wisdom, think we need. more on this story...
 03/08/2013
The main thing
I was recently reminded of a quote attributed to Lee Iacocca, “ the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. ” It is easy to lose focus and get distracted by secondary things that often are good things. For many Christians, Lent more on this story...
 02/22/2013
Horse Sense
In an amazing “dream come true,” God blessed me to perform on the Macinac Island Grand Hotel theatre stage. I saw “Somewhere In Time” as a young girl, knew I wanted to be an actress, and secretly prayed to one day perform on that very stage. It was a more on this story...
 02/08/2013
God Spoke
God spoke to his people and they didn’t hear him. He did many miracles and the people didn’t know what they meant. God revealed himself many times to the Israelites, and yet they continued to worship idols instead of worshiping him. more on this story...
 01/24/2013
God will meet our needs
I have always had a love of ornithology, or the study of birds, and one day I was observing some swamp sparrows (Melospiza Georgiana) feeding in what seemed to be a barren landscape in the late Fall. They hopped around feasting on grass seeds and more on this story...
 01/11/2013
Closer Than You Think
I have a grandson who lives near the Pacific Ocean in Western Oregon. There is a lot of space between us, mountains and rivers; canyon and desert; rolling grassland and asphalt covered metropolis. Or so it seems. It wasn’t too many more on this story...
 12/28/2012
Live Nativity
The Live Nativity scene is one of the high points of the Christmas celebration at Pikeville Medical Center. It is made up of live animals and Pikeville Medical Center employees dressed as shepherds, the Wisemen, Joseph and Mary. (A special thanks to all who participated) It more on this story...
 12/14/2012
Waiting on joyful hope
Throughout the years I lived in Houston, Texas, I regularly planned a retreat at a local convent, a wonderful old place, very much like a castle set on the edge of the city. The sisters who lived there were just darling — all Irish, and of retirement age, but more on this story...
 11/21/2012
Thanksgiving Blessings
Buford Easley was a classmate of mine in New Orleans Baptist Seminary for whom I had great respect. He was a gifted student pastor with a passion for Jesus and people. One evening he was returning to New Orleans on Interstate 10 and came across more on this story...
 11/08/2012
Be Aware
This past Sunday, I was traveling home from a palliative care conference in Miami with Nita Armstrong, a palliative care mentor and colleague. Feeling tired toward the end of the journey, it was a slight irritant when our gate in Atlanta was suddenly changed and we had to drag more on this story...
 10/25/2012
God's Creation
I have really enjoyed the last two weeks by taking advantage of God’s creation. How anyone can doubt there is a God, when they look at God’s artistic work in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, and other mountains. It has more on this story...
 10/05/2012
Personal Touch
If you lived in the Pikeville area during the 1980s, you are likely familiar with a local radio program called the “Personal Touch. ” I have many memories of my grandmother tuning into the endearing show while cleaning up after a family dinner to enjoy music, stories, and other “personal more on this story...
 09/14/2012
Conections in high places
I read in Daily Bread (August 16) about a woman who was working at home on her computer and noticed her laptop battery was low. The computer was about to shut down. The computer was plugged in and should not have been using the battery. She traced the laptop more on this story...
 08/31/2012
Dragons
Have you ever noticed that when you take a stand for God, bad things seem to happen? I’ve heard the question all my life: Why do bad things happen to good people? I’ve encountered many Christians who experience great suffering at a crucial time of obedience to God. more on this story...
 08/17/2012
Hurt
We all have experienced hurt in some form or another, it may be physical pain, it may be emotional hurt, even spiritual hurt. You may say where is God when I hurt? Where is God when sleep won’t come? Where is God when I awaken in a hospital bed more on this story...
 08/03/2012
Importance of Prayer
Prayer is one of the key fundamental actions in our walk with God. It is part of a personal relationship with him and it gives us a feeling of comfort knowing we can talk with him about anything and he is always there. To petition more on this story...
 07/20/2012
Second chance at life
Over the course of the last three years more than fifty dogs have called our place their foster home. It has been an oasis after lives of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Each dog has discovered what it means to not be sitting on death row; they have experienced a more on this story...
 06/29/2012
The Love of Jesus
There is an old hymn titled “Isn’t the Love of Jesus Something Wonderful!” This is a true statement indeed. The love that he has for us is astonishing and unexplainable and is an example of the kind of love we should have for one another. Jesus, because of his more on this story...
 06/15/2012
What I learned in the candy store
I listened to the radio as the hosts reminisced about long forgotten candy from their youth. It triggered memories from the early 1960s when Mom would go into town to visit my grandparents. Somewhere in the course of the visit we’d more on this story...
 05/18/2012
Nothing to undo
I received the most amazing message via cell phone the other day! Perhaps it would not have been so shocking had it been a voicemail or a text from a friend. But it was neither. If I am not mistaken, more on this story...
05/04/2012
God’s love is great When I think of love, I automatically think of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him would not perish, but have everlasting life. ” Because of God’s love, there is a more on this story...
 04/05/2012
Broken Pen
It all began with a bump. I was writing a note to myself as I began to walk down the hall and I bumped into a nurse. Neither of us were hurt but the pen suffered a catastrophic break. If more on this story...
 03/23/2012
Royal dignity in being a foot washer
During Jesus’ last Passover meal, he demonstrates a love that amazes me. Every time I read it, I stand in awe of this expression of love for his disciples that points to the sacrifice soon to take place on the cross. Jesus is the King, more on this story...
 03/03/2012
Beauty from Ashes
Last week, many churches celebrated the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday services. A solemn ceremony, Ash Wednesday reminds us of the humble origin of mankind as stated in Genesis 3:19, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return,” and opens the season of Lent with a more on this story...
 02/10/2012
Walking the walk
Being a Christian is more than merely attending church on Sunday or giving large sums of money to ministries. It is a lifestyle of total devotion to God. After all, the word “Christian” means “Christ like. ” It is a life of total separation more on this story...
 01/27/2012
John 16:22
One month ago we were in the midst of a holiday-driven frenzy, purchasing gifts and attending parties. Now life is a little more subdued. What about those many gifts– do they all still work? Do they bring the same pleasure that was so more on this story...
 01/06/2012
New Year’s resolution
Does anyone ever keep their New Year’s resolution? People will vow to lose weight, quit smoking, quit drinking and the list goes on and on. If I may proffer a suggestion; let your New Year’s resolution be to make more time for God. Not only is more on this story...
 12/23/2011
Gifts we give
Christmas is known as the season for giving. But you never know the impact a gift might make on another life. I have been taken (via my mind’s time machine) back to 1969 and a gift that still makes me stop to marvel to this more on this story...
 12/09/2011
Endless Mercy
The book titled “What is God Really Like” edited by, Craig Groshel, seeks to answer the most important question that comes to the mind of man. In chapter 17 Stovall Weems writes about the mercy of God. more on this story...
 11/23/2011
Our lives are so blessed
Thanksgiving is a week of travel — both to visit with family and covering high school football playoffs. My wife Lisa and I will journey to Wyoming County in West Virginia to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my mom and other family members. That’s more on this story...
 11/11/2011
The Soldier’s Psalm
As I reflect on the upcoming day celebrated for all veterans, I am reminded of Psalm 91 that has been called “The Soldier’s Psalm. It has been a blessing and prayer for veterans since WWI and has continued through the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Psalm more on this story...
 10/28/2011
Reminiscence of Ravens
I am a member of several online writers’ groups. One blogger recently asked a rather random question: “What comes to mind when you think of ravens?” I was amused by this, so I answered. First, always, Poe’s enchanting poem I loved as more on this story...
10/14/2011
Be an eagle How many times have you said or heard someone say, "Aw, everyone else is doing it. " ? Have you ever given that as a reason for wishing to do something that others did not think you should do? Perhaps you more on this story...
|  05/10/2013
The Lord is my shepherd
I was reminiscing about the elementary school I attended in the 1970s. In those days, a lady who we called Ms. Grace would travel from Southland Bible Institute once a week with her flannel-board and teach us Bible lessons. We would receive certificates with gold stars or win various prizes more on this story...
 04/26/2013
Helping hands
Our hands, we take them for granted. I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about the work of our hands. Particularly I’ve considered how extreme the role of hands played in the recent Boston Marathon bombing. Four hands assembled the deadly and devastating contents more on this story...
 04/12/2013
‘Our Daily Bread’
The April 5 devotion in “Our Daily Bread” reminded me of the “small print” that is so much a part of advertising today. Because the print is so small, many people do not read it. It looks good when it says an item is 50 more on this story...
 03/29/2013
It’s Holy Week!
This is Holy Week!— my favorite season in the church (until Advent comes around again — then it will be my favorite). I took a road trip last week to meet friends from Houston I haven’t seen since leaving Texas. The lengthy drive turned into more on this story...
 03/15/2013
Tell others about Jesus
There may be no better form of advertising than word of mouth. I listen carefully to the reporting of others who have tried a new restaurant or store. If I hear good news I’m inclined to try it myself, and so goes the chain of more on this story...
 03/01/2013
Paging Dr. Jesus!
Sometimes, when we are ill, we might think that God is punishing us for something we have done. This is not always the case; however, some of our illnesses can be from the results of lifestyle choices. For example, we can contract hepatitis from sharing needles with someone who more on this story...
 02/15/2013
Expressing their love
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ” John 3:16 In the middle of this well known scripture regarding the love of God, “valentine” is spelled out…literally. more on this story...
 02/01/2013
Reminders
Some people may remember July 20, 1969, the day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. He certainly was a pioneer in the 20th century. In Preaching Magazine, J. Michael Shannon relates a story that was told at Armstrong’s memorial service. more on this story...
 01/18/2013
In The Potter's Hands
Robert Alewine is a hero of mine. He is the founder of Alewine Pottery in the Craftsman Community of Gatlinburg, Tenn. He started with a passion for pottery as a teen and began a thriving business now blessing a third generation of his family. I have more on this story...
 01/04/2013
The Father's Will
“Which of the two did the Father’s will?” (Matthew 21:31) The story is told of a rather tight-fisted elderly man who arrived at the Pearly Gates where he was greeted by an angel. “Before I can open up the gates and let you more on this story...
 12/21/2012
Meaning for the Holiday
Once upon a time, but not so far away, A small child asked, “What is the Holiday?” Eyes became wide and all noise was hushed, Many people told the child to shush. But an elderly man, whose eyes began to tear, Beckoned the little more on this story...
 12/07/2012
Hope you invest
As a young man I worked for a small independent auto parts store. About this time of year, we would be getting ready for Christmas and inventory. It was always tedious but necessary! We had to know what we had. Each of us more on this story...
 11/16/2012
Thanksgiving
The word “thanksgiving” evokes images of turkey, dressing, and a day off with pay; however, thanksgiving has a much deeper significance than that with our relationship with God: not just one day, but every day of the year. We are commanded to give thank. For more on this story...
 11/02/2012
Busyness can blind us
In the last few days it seems as though a switch was thrown and the seasons changed. Warmer clothes have come out of storage and the radio is reminding me that there are many children who don’t have a good coat to keep warm. Equally more on this story...
 10/19/2012
Unanswered Prayers
A quote from Lou Holtz, ESPN college football analyst and former coach at Notre Dame, on unanswered prayer deals with an issue many people struggle with. Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth, said she was glad God did not answer all her prayers. more on this story...
 09/21/2012
Be An Eagle
How many times have you said or heard someone say, “Aw, everyone else is doing it?” Have you ever given that as a reason for wishing to do something that others did not think you should do? Perhaps you did not really believe it was the more on this story...
 09/07/2012
God's Blessings
Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness relate to the battles the individual Christian face in receiving God’s blessings. It is a picture of human nature conflicting with walking by faith. We seem never to be satisfied and constantly wanting more and complain when we do not get what we want. more on this story...
 08/24/2012
The Gift of Salvation
A few short weeks ago my grandson Reagan turned six. Regan lives 2500 miles away, and unfortunately the distance made it impossible for “Pops” to be present at his party. When I finally found the right gift there were only about five days left before more on this story...
 08/10/2012
Recalls
The July 31 devotion from “Our Daily Bread” wrote of recall notices from automobile manufacturers. In 2010 more than 20 million cars in the United States were recalled for various defects. Even more surprising is the apathy of the car owners. The Executive Director for more on this story...
 07/27/2012
Snakes in the grass
It seems odd to me to be writing this at the present time. It became my birthday just two hours ago, and I spent the majority of the fleeting hours of my past year running emergency vet trips with my Mom and the two Jack Russell siblings I endearingly more on this story...
07/13/2012
The young and the old When I was young and in my teenage years life was exciting. My life was full of adventure, mystery, hope and great expectations for the future. I could not wait to get my driver’s license, get a car, get out of school, get out of military service, get married, more on this story...
 06/22/2012
The duck stops here
A couple weeks ago, my Mom and I were in Lexington. Suddenly Mom slammed on the brakes and blared the horn, and I saw a mother duck jump off the curb and start to cross the busy four-lane street with seven ducklings in tow! more on this story...
 06/01/2012
True Peace
This past Memorial Day, I came across an article by Charles Colson on the reasons for celebrating Memorial Day. It is always important to remember those brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our most precious freedoms. It is also important more on this story...
 05/11/2012
Be a Good Samaritan
A recent situation with one of our fellow chaplains has caused me to reflect on one of Jesus’ most impactful stories, “The Good Samaritan. ” It is a powerful story meant to teach us the importance of doing what’s right when we find a fellow human in more on this story...
 04/20/2012
The price of sin
There is one thing that we are all guilty of: Sin. That is one thing that we as humans have in common and it separates us from God and hinders the effectiveness of our prayers. We may enjoy sin for more on this story...
03/30/2012
The Cross When we think of the Cross, we automatically think of a suffering Christ, and a shameful way to die. We live in a day when the Church is producing a brand of religion that humanizes God, defiles man, and compromises sin. We live in a day more on this story...
 03/16/2012
Love thy neighbor
Most of us have an annoying neighbor which I am sure you all can relate to. There is always that one who constantly stares, peeps through the bushes and cannot live their life for being absorbed in yours. Sometimes they will more on this story...
 02/17/2012
Think heart healthy
February is heart month, the month we observe Valentine’s Day, the symbol being a heart. The Chaplaincy Department has been reminded of the importance of a healthy heart both physically and spiritually. Our director, Kaminski Robinson, and his wife, more on this story...
 02/03/2012
Roots
I have become quite obsessed with genealogy lately. I’ve always had a passion for my family’s heritage, but recently it has become a daily hobby. This week I was connected to someone who would be, oh, my cousin 20 times removed or so. He is also more on this story...
 01/13/2012
Battle for the crown
Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum chaplain, writing in his blog “Battle for the Crown” reminds us of an imperishable crown. This past Monday evening drew to a close one of the busiest sports weeks in the history of New Orleans. Last Tuesday night, Michigan defeated Virginia more on this story...
 12/30/2011
Holding mighty to our faith
“Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are more on this story...
12/16/2011
Win Christmas Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations, extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious more on this story...
 12/02/2011
Lift someone’s spirit
At this festive time of year, we gather with our families and celebrate Christ’s nativity with a nice dinner, presents and the singing of traditional carols as the Yule log burns with a warm, cheerful glow in the fireplace. Sometimes during our frolic and merry-making, we more on this story...
 11/23/2011
Thankful for every momen
A few years ago there was a wonderful song in the contemporary Christian music realm entitled “Every Moment” by artist Joy Williams. Both moving and uplifting, the words reminded listeners to cherish each moment of life, to not let minutes be wasted unnoticed. To sum it up: more on this story...
 11/04/2011
Coping with mental illness
Coping with mental illness can be a challenging experience for all those involved. It can tear away at families and separate friends if not handled with much care. Always remember that in difficult situations such as this, we can always turn to God for guidance. more on this story...
10/21/2011
Praise God! Darkness is secretive and ever active in the art of deception. I sit in darkness every morning waiting for the moon and stars to fade and the world around me to come out of hiding and into the light. As the more on this story...
10/14/2011
Your Daily Bread Sunday Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalms 51:6 Monday For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to more on this story...
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