Staff Blog

Father

By Seth Gatchell | June 10, 2025

A joy-filled, but hard task, Be a dad? Sacrifice. Of you, much will be asked. Live for self? Won’t suffice!   Loving and living, Serving and sharing, Guiding and giving, Teaching and trying.   Give them a model, How you love your wife. No room to be idle. Face problems in your life.   Wisdom…

DESERT

By Seth Gatchell | May 13, 2025

We live in a desert, desert sand all around, So little life, so hot, in this heat will I “drown”? Parched, bone dry and weary, where is water to drink? Where is an oasis? In these dunes will I sink?   The heat so oppressive, beating down, a furnace, The sun so relentless, much of…

Mother

By Seth Gatchell | May 6, 2025

Before I could see you I labored for long weeks. When you finally came, I kissed your rosy cheeks. Every day we loved you for almost eighteen years, Every day in our home, through fun, work, prayers and tears.   Nighttime feeding, Diaper-changing, Baby-cooing, Not much snoozing!   Learning to talk, Learning to walk, ‘Fraid…

Life Can Be Hard

By Lance Brown | April 29, 2025

We all know that life can beat us up from time to time. We can go through difficult things, or people close to us can go through difficult things. When people we love (even our kids) go through hard things, we want to have words of encouragement for them. That can be very powerful. The…

TWO THIEVES

By Seth Gatchell | April 14, 2025

Two thieves were crucified, one on His left, one right. Both robbers heaped insults with sinister delight. The townsfolks hurled insults at Jesus, Innocent. The crowd on a mission, enraged and militant. “Father, please forgive them, they don’t know what they do.” This stunning prayer for them? This hostile retinue?! “Save us and save yourself!…

Justice and Mercy

By Seth Gatchell | April 7, 2025

He was tried for murder, faced harsh imprisonment, Convicted of treason, capital punishment. The wrath of government would make him a lesson,Publicly scorned, tortured, loathed, shamed, harsh oppression. On execution day, the city in uproar,A more heinous convict was found; all did abhor!Mercy for convict one, the judge threw out his case.Convict two, more loathsome,…

Repentance in the season of Lent

By Allie Adams | April 3, 2025

In this season of Lent, I have been learning a lot about repentance. Repentance is more than confession or feeling sorry for what we have done. It is a commitment to turn away from it, to make a plan and do what it takes to not fall into that sin again. I am convicted that…

HER HEART’S TRAGEDY

By Seth Gatchell | March 16, 2025

Her life’s outer story was forged in tragic pain, Fueled by self-protection and what crumbs she can gain. “Why would I turn to God? Where was He years ago? I can protect my heart! Him? No desire to know.” What happens to a heart, when God we turn away? The Maker of our heart, from…

THE SOLDIER

By Seth Gatchell | March 3, 2025

The soldier loved gambling, the rolling of the dice, Breaks up monotony, though a fool’s paradise. “A God-forsaken land, a thousand miles from home, At discharge will I have post-traumatic syndrome?” Punishment here, severe, death for two lousy thieves, Was the third one sentenced for just what he believes? Cruel justice meted out, on this…