An Omaha television station (wowt.com/2024/02/28/elkhorn-soldier-surprises-kids-school-upon-early-return-deployment/) shared this recent true story of a soldier returning home early to surprise his twin children at their school. For the majority of us, Tuesday was just a regular day. But for the Wobig family, it was so much more. “I’m with the Army National Guard, I’ve been gone a little over nine months, and I’m here to surprise my 7-year-old twins,” said Maj. Timothy Wobig, standing in the front entrance of Elkhorn’s Blue Sage Elementary school, minutes before seeing his kids. Wobig ret ..read more

Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, today the city of Izmir on the west coast of Turkey. According to one tradition, he was taught by the apostle John and was appointed to his office by the apostles themselves. At age eighty-six, Polycarp was arrested by the Roman proconsul and burned to death when he refused to renounce Christianity. Due to his advanced age, Polycarp was given the opportunity to save himself. He was asked, “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and saving yourself from death?” (Coins throughout the Roman Empire proclaimed the Emperor’s divinity ..read more

We are blessed to have Surr and Hailey Vang with us this Sunday, our newest missionary partners. They are making a Big difference for Christ’s Kingdom at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Students from all across Hawaii, the Mainland, and literally around the world have come to UH and are hearing about Jesus! Get ready for an exciting report about what the Lord is doing at UH as Surr (pronounced “Sure”) and Hailey share about their ministry, Chi Alpha Hawaii, in the 9:30am Adult Bible Class and the 10:35am worship service. What is Chi Alpha Hawaii? From Chi Alpha’s website, xahawaii ..read more

Enjoy this wonderful true story about a Mother’s Day never-to-be-forgotten memory (author: Lawrence Brotherton). (It was) Mothers Day in Georgia in 1970. I had just retired from the Air Force and was in Milledgeville attending Georgia College. That Mother’s Day Sunday, my family and I were at Molesville Baptist Church waiting for the preacher to begin when I looked around noticing our 12-year-old son was absent. My wife and I looked at each other with questioning eyes, thinking he was probably outside playing with his friends. Ten or fifteen minutes later the choir was singing and still n ..read more

Rick Renner is a long-time missionary to Russia and author of the excellent series, Sparkling Gems from the Greek. He shares this true story and Bible commentary at his website, renner.org. A friend of mine had a goat he dearly loved. Very late one night, he received a telephone call from the local police, who informed him that his goat had wandered away from home, been hit by a car, and now lay dead in a ditch by the side of the road. My friend was grieved and broken-hearted, but he knew he needed to retrieve the dead goat. When he approached the ditch where the goat lay, he saw that ..read more

One of my favorite authors, Chuck Swindoll, shares this beautiful insight in his article, “Amazing Grace on Display,” found at his website, insight.org. The word grace means many things to many people. We refer to a ballet dancer as having grace. We say grace at meals. We talk about the queen of England bringing grace to events she attends. Grace can mean coordination of movement, it can mean a prayer, it can refer to dignity and elegance. Most important, grace can mean unmerited favor—extending special favor to someone who doesn’t deserve it, who hasn’t earned it, and who can never repay i ..read more

Enjoy this wonderful modern-day parable about the tyranny of bondage and the beauty of freedom. The Enemy of the world, Satan, was on the side of life’s road with a very large cage. The one coming towards him noticed that it was crammed full of people of every kind – young and old, rich and poor, from every race and nation. “Where did you get these people?” the man asked. “Oh, from all over the world,” Satan replied. “I lure them with drinking, drugs, lust, lies, anger, hate, love of money, and all manner of things. I pretend I’m their friend, out to give them a good time, and then, when ..read more

On the cross Jesus declared “It is Finished!” What was finished? The three words, “It is finished” come from one Greek word Tetelestai. Warren Wiersbe (pastor, Bible teacher, and commentator – now deceased) writes, “The word Tetelestai is unfamiliar to us, but it was used by various people in everyday life in New Testament days. A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me” (see John 17:4; ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do.’) When a priest examined the animal sacrifice and found it faultless ..read more

In his 1960 book, Planet in Rebellion, George Vandeman shared this incredible true story about the power of sacrifice. It was May 21, 1946. The place—Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became c ..read more

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a day of praise and worship and rejoicing in the King of kings and Lord of Lords. A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday morning so he stayed home from church with his mother. After the service his father returned home holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, Dad?” Dad replied, “You see, son, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor Him, so we got palm branches today.” His son replied, “Aw, man! The one Sunday I miss is th ..read more