Dear Faith Family, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows,(Psalm 23:5). It's that time of year again. I know. I know. "It's too hot!" But, deer season isback. And, up in the stand I did climb. Keep in mind that it was notyetfully light. Around the stand was acamouflage wrap that was folded on itself over...

Dear Faith Family, While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off,(Acts 13:2-3). Mark and Sheila Shelby have served the Faith Family and this community well for over 20 years! On staff, Mark ...

"Taking Him at His Word" Dear Faith Family, And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You havepromised this good thing to Your servant,2 Samuel 7:28. The Cambridgedictionary defines the word "reservation" as"an arrangementin which something such as a seat on an aircraft or a table at a restaurant is kept for you." Recently a fri...

Dear Faith Family, And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him,Matthew20:34. "I'll just follow you." Famous last words! Been there?A friend quickly runs through the73 turns necessary to get the two of you where you're going. Like,"turn left just after theblue pickup truck that sits at the end of the driveway. Then loo...

Dear Faith Family, Then Job arose and toe his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. There are at least twoplacesin the Bible whenthe word"worship"strikes me as out of place. You know, like when you discover an...

Dear Faith Family, But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death,James 1:14-15. Tucked in the valley between tworises in the terrainis a little taste of heaven. A three acrelake. A solace of still water. Nestledneatly in a pasture reflectin...

Dear Faith Family, Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!(Psalm 139:23-24) Well, it's that time of year. The "bug man" just came and performed our termite inspection. What was he looking for? No, not money! He was looking for any termite activity. And he was looking...

"Choosing to Bloom" Dear Faith Family, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all therest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are muchmore boldto speak the wor...

Dear Faith Family, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect,(Romans ...

Dear Faith Family, Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days, (Psalm 90:14). He once described himself as, a "poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc.!!!!" John Muir remains one of California's most important historical personalities and is generally still known today as one of the fat...