Wistful Regrets

 Several years ago, I created a website called Wistful Regrets. The idea behind it was simple: When we were children, each of us had dreams about what we would become and what we would accomplish.

We dreamed of traveling to distant places, doing something important, and perhaps even changing the world. We made promises to ourselves about the kind of person we would become. Then, almost before we knew what had happened, we were forty years old with a spouse, children, a mortgage, and responsibilities that did not leave much room for childhood dreams.

Life has a way of changing our plans.

Some dreams were postponed. Others were abandoned. Opportunities came and went while we were busy making a living, raising a family, and trying to survive. When we finally slowed down long enough to look back, we discovered that some doors had closed and would never open again.

That is when the wistful regrets begin.

A Late-Night Confession

I set up that website around one o’clock in the morning. That is a dangerous time for an old man to become philosophical. It is an hour for casual introspection, quiet memories, and shallow confessions made only to oneself.

As I sat there thinking about my life, I was startled to hear myself say, “I don’t have any regrets.”

No regrets? Surely that could not be true.

My life has not been uneventful. I have experienced failure, betrayed trust, disappointed expectations, public embarrassment, missed opportunities, and more than my share of foolish blunders. My wife could tell you about some of my experiences with investments in silver and milk—but those are stories for another day.

Don’t those things count as regrets?

After thinking about it long and hard, I realized that I certainly regret some of the things I have done. I also regret some of the things I failed to do. If I could live through certain moments again, I would like to believe I would make better decisions.

But I do not carry those regrets around like giant boulders with the word “REGRET” carved into them. You have seen those polished stones in garden stores engraved with words such as Peace, Tranquility, Hope, and Love, as though carving a word into a rock somehow makes it more meaningful.

My regrets are not carved in stone.

They are experiences from which I have tried to learn. They are chapters in my story, but they are not the title of my life. They are part of my past, but through the grace of God, they do not control my future.

The apostle Paul wrote:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 3:13–14, KJV

Paul had a past he could never change. Before meeting Christ, he persecuted believers and helped destroy Christian families. He could have spent the rest of his life chained to regret. Instead, he allowed the grace of God to transform his regret into a reason to serve Christ more faithfully.

The Boulders We Carry

I wish I knew how to give others the gift of laying down their regrets.

Those giant boulders of regret probably hold more people back, limit more creative energy, destroy more faith, and steal more joy than a lack of money or opportunity ever could.

Some people carry the memory of a failed marriage. Others carry regret over words spoken in anger. Some regret not spending more time with their children. Others regret the years they wasted away from God. They replay their failures again and again, imagining that continued suffering will somehow change what happened.

But punishing yourself will not rewrite yesterday.

Regret can become a teacher, but it was never meant to become your master. It should lead us to repentance, not hopelessness. There is an important difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of the enemy.

The Holy Spirit points out our sin so that we may confess it, receive forgiveness, and walk in a better direction. Condemnation continually reminds us of our failures while telling us there is no hope of being restored.

The Bible gives this wonderful promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
—1 John 1:9, KJV

When God forgives us, we must stop trying to pay a debt that Jesus Christ has already paid. The Lord does not intend for us to spend the rest of our lives sitting beside the grave of yesterday.

David prayed:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10, KJV

David could not undo his sin, but he could be forgiven, restored, and changed. That is what grace does. Grace does not pretend that the sin never happened. Grace declares that our failures do not have to be the final word.

Has Experience Made Me Wiser?

I would like to believe that my accumulation of experiences—regretful and otherwise—has made me wiser. However, I do not have much evidence that this is true. I only have definite proof that accumulated experience has made me older.

Age does not automatically produce wisdom. Some people simply make the same mistakes for a longer period of time.

The Bible says:

“The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.”
—Proverbs 16:31, KJV

Notice that little word if. Gray hair may show that we have lived many years, but it does not necessarily mean we have learned from them. Wisdom comes when we allow God to teach us through our experiences.

With age has come a deeper understanding of regret and its proper place in my life. Regret now occupies a quieter and more reflective corner of my heart. It no longer shouts accusations at me. Instead, it occasionally hands me a lesson—a gift of possibility for whatever time remains.

I cannot change what I did yesterday, but I can decide what I will do today.

Aging Gracefully

I often tell my wife that I want to grow old with her. I once thought the goal was to “age gracefully.” But the older I become, the more convinced I am that aging gracefully may be a myth invented by cosmetic salesmen, fitness advertisers, and mega-vitamin pushers.

What does “aging gracefully” really mean?

Like military intelligence, airline food, soft rock, California culture, and sanitary landfill, it may be one of those expressions that sounds better than it works.

By the time you reach sixty—or seventy—or eighty—it ought to be time to kiss some vanity goodbye. One of the few privileges of old age is that you do not have to worry quite as much about what everyone else thinks of you, your looks, or your actions.

I am not saying that we should stop taking care of ourselves. Our bodies belong to God, and we should be good stewards of them. But there comes a time when we must accept that wrinkles, gray hair, slower steps, and aching joints are reminders that we are traveling through a temporary world.

The Bible reminds us:

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.”
—1 Peter 1:24, KJV

Aging gracefully does not mean pretending we are still thirty. It means accepting each season of life with faith, gratitude, and a growing dependence upon God. It means allowing the outward man to grow weaker while the inward man grows stronger.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
—2 Corinthians 4:16, KJV

That is biblical aging. The body slows down, but the soul draws nearer to home.

Becoming an Old Geezer

My grandfather would have called me an “old geezer.” One of the greatest gifts of reaching that stage is finally becoming comfortable with the person you are—without mirrors, pretense, or apology.

For the first time in many years, you can begin to embrace who God created you to be.

I sometimes look at the younger generation with their green and orange hair, unusual clothes, tattoos, and multiple piercings and wonder how the world became so strange. Then I remember that our generation was not nearly as normal as we now pretend it was.

We had our own clothing, hairstyles, music, attitudes, and foolish ideas. We thought our parents were hopelessly old-fashioned. Then we married, raised children, found jobs, paid taxes, and slowly started sounding like our parents.

Along came a spouse, and we learned to bend and compromise. My wife did an excellent job of changing me—and no doubt she would say that the project remains unfinished.

Our jobs also demanded conformity. We learned how to dress, what to say, when to speak, and when to remain silent. We adjusted ourselves to meet the expectations of employers, churches, families, and communities. In the process, some of our individuality was polished away.

What amazes me is that we managed to keep as much of ourselves intact as we did.

Now, suddenly, we are getting old—or, in the case of some of us, we have already arrived. We have another opportunity to discover who we really are.

But there is something even more important than simply “being yourself.” We should seek to become the person God created us to be.

The world tells us to follow our hearts, but the Bible warns:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
—Jeremiah 17:9, KJV

The answer is not merely to be true to ourselves. The answer is to surrender ourselves to God.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
—Romans 12:1, KJV

Real freedom is not found in doing whatever we please. It is found in becoming what God intended us to be.

The Regrets That Matter Most

Life is short and fleeting. When we look back, what truly matters?

What do you think about late at night when sleep will not come? Do you think about the money you did not make, the promotion you did not receive, or the house you never owned? Or do your thoughts turn toward the people you loved, the words you should have spoken, and the opportunities you missed to serve God?

As I grow older, my deepest regrets are spiritual.

Could I have prayed more?

Could I have loved people more faithfully?

Could I have forgiven more quickly?

Could I have spent more time with my family?

Could I have shared the Gospel with someone who needed to hear it?

Could I have listened more carefully when the Lord was speaking?

Could I have trusted God instead of worrying?

Could I have done more with the opportunities He placed before me?

We often regret the dreams we did not follow, but perhaps the greater tragedy is failing to discover God’s dream for our lives. God had so much for us, yet we sometimes missed His opportunities because we were busy becoming what other people wanted us to be.

We allowed fear to shape our decisions. We wanted the approval of family, friends, employers, and neighbors. We worried about what people would think. We became so busy fitting into the world that we sometimes forgot we had been called to follow Christ.

Jesus asked:

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
—Mark 8:36, KJV

The world may call a man successful while heaven calls him unfaithful. Another man may be nearly unknown, possess very little, and never receive public recognition, yet hear the Lord say:

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
—Matthew 25:21, KJV

When life is over, that is the approval that will matter.

It Is Not Too Late

Perhaps you are reading this while carrying a heavy burden of regret. You may believe that too much time has passed and too many opportunities have been lost.

You cannot return to yesterday, but you can give today to God.

Moses was eighty years old when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Caleb was eighty-five when he asked for his mountain. Anna served God faithfully in her old age. John received the Revelation near the end of his life.

As long as God gives us breath, He still has a purpose for us.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
—Psalm 90:12, KJV

You may not be able to accomplish everything you once dreamed of doing. Your body may be weaker, your opportunities may be different, and some doors may be permanently closed. But you can still pray. You can still encourage someone. You can still forgive. You can still testify of the goodness of God. You can still tell someone about Jesus.

You can still be faithful.

The Secret to Fewer Regrets

If there is a secret to living with fewer regrets, it is this: Surrender your will to the will of God.

Solomon wrote:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
—Proverbs 3:5–6, KJV

Living for the Lord does not guarantee that we will never make mistakes. It does not mean that every dream will come true or that life will unfold exactly as we planned. But it means that even our disappointments can be placed in God’s hands.

The Lord can redeem wasted years. He can bring wisdom out of failure, compassion out of suffering, and ministry out of pain. He can take the broken pieces of our lives and use them for His glory.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28, KJV

Not everything that happens is good, but God can work through everything surrendered to Him.

I have regrets, but I refuse to let regret become the stone marker over my life. My failures have been many, but the grace of God has been greater. My opportunities may be fewer than they once were, but every remaining day still belongs to the Lord.

I cannot change yesterday. I do not know how many tomorrows remain. But I can give God today.

When the road behind you is longer than the road ahead, you begin to understand what matters. It is not how young you looked, how much money you accumulated, or how many people knew your name. What matters is whether you loved God, loved others, remained faithful, and finished the course He gave you.

So lay down the boulders of regret. Learn from the past, but do not live there. Ask forgiveness where forgiveness is needed. Make peace where peace can still be made. Tell your family that you love them. Do the good that remains within your power to do.

Above all, surrender your life completely to Jesus Christ.

Live each remaining day unto the Lord, and when the evening shadows begin to fall, you will find that grace has replaced many of your wistful regrets.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
—Philippians 1:21, KJV

Why Would the Lord Choose Me?

 As I reflect upon my life, I realize that the road behind me is much longer than the road before me. Since the age of nineteen, I have given my heart and life to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet after all these years, I still find myself asking the same question:

“Lord, why did You choose me?”

I have never considered myself a great preacher. In fact, after hearing me preach, my grandfather once told me, “You are not a preacher; you are an exhorter.”

According to him, a preacher would pound the pulpit, raise his voice, and shout his message. I did not meet those qualifications then, and I still do not. I have never depended upon volume, personality, or showmanship. I have simply tried to speak from my heart and point people toward Jesus Christ.

Perhaps my grandfather was right. Maybe I am more of an exhorter than a preacher. An exhorter encourages people to examine their hearts, search the Scriptures, draw closer to God, and remain faithful. If that is what the Lord has called me to do, then I am thankful for the calling.

I do not belong to a large denomination. I pastor an independent Quaker church in a small rural Indiana community of about 1,800 people. I have no connections with powerful religious organizations. I am not associated with an influential Bible college or seminary. I do not have a large staff, a television program, or wealthy supporters promoting my ministry.

In short, I have no influence or connections with those who have influence.

So why would the Lord choose me?

Sixteen years ago, I began writing a blog. Writing did not come easily. I struggled with spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and all the other mechanics of putting my thoughts into words. Someone once offered to edit my blog, but I declined. I said that I would learn and try to do better.

I am still learning.

There have been times when I wondered whether anyone would want to read what I had written. I am just a country preacher sharing the thoughts that the Lord has placed upon my heart. Yet today, that little blog is being read around the world.

It is read in several Muslim countries. It reaches every nation in South America except Peru. Thousands of people read it daily in Russia, China, and the United States. People living in places I may never visit are reading the words of a country preacher from a small Indiana town.

Yesterday, the blog received 149,671 views in a single day.

When I saw that number, I was overwhelmed. I could only ask, “Lord, why?”

Why would anyone want to read what I have to say? Why would the words of an unknown country preacher travel into countries that I will never see? Why would God open a door that I could never have opened for myself?

The answer is not found in me. It is found in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
—1 Corinthians 1:27–29, KJV

God does not always choose those whom the world considers qualified. He chooses ordinary people who are willing to obey Him. He does not need our influence, connections, wealth, or reputation. He only asks that we surrender what we have and allow Him to use it.

When Jesus fed the five thousand, He began with a little boy’s lunch—five barley loaves and two small fishes. That was not enough to feed the multitude, but when the boy placed it in the hands of Jesus, the Lord multiplied it.

Perhaps that is what God has done with this blog. I gave Him my few loaves and fishes—my thoughts, experiences, convictions, and imperfect words. He has carried them farther than I ever could.

My main purpose in writing has always been to keep Jesus Christ at the center of life. Whether I am writing about religion, politics, world events, Bible prophecy, personal struggles, or random thoughts, I want Christ to remain foremost.

Paul declared:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
—1 Corinthians 2:2, KJV

I do not write because I believe I have all the answers. I certainly do not expect everyone to agree with me. There are subjects upon which sincere Christians may reach different conclusions. That is all right. I do not share my thoughts merely to argue, create controversy, or prove that I am right.

I write to encourage people to open their Bibles and search the Scriptures for themselves.

The people of Berea were commended because:

“They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
—Acts 17:11, KJV

Please do not believe something simply because I wrote it. Do not accept my conclusions without examining the Word of God. Read the Scriptures. Pray for understanding. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth.

If something I write causes you to open your Bible, think more deeply, pray more earnestly, or draw closer to Jesus Christ, then the writing has accomplished its purpose.

I do not know why the Lord has allowed this little blog to reach so many people. I cannot explain why almost 150,000 views came in one day. I know it was not because of my writing ability, influence, or connections.

It was the Lord.

Jesus said:

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
—John 15:5, KJV

Without Him, I can do nothing. Every open door, every reader, and every life touched belongs to Him.

I am deeply thankful to everyone who takes the time to read and share these messages. I may never know your names or meet you in this life, but I pray that something you read will encourage your heart and point you toward Jesus Christ.

As the road before me grows shorter, I feel an even greater urgency to remain faithful. I want to use whatever time the Lord gives me to tell people that Jesus saves, that His grace is sufficient, and that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy.

Why would the Lord choose me?

I still do not know.

But I am thankful that He did.

My prayer is not that people will remember the country preacher who wrote these words. My prayer is that they will remember Jesus Christ—the One who died for our sins, rose from the grave, and offers everlasting life to everyone who believes.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
—John 3:30, KJV

To God alone belongs all the glory.

From My Number One Follower and Critic

 I asked someone who understands my blog better than anyone else to give me their honest assessment of my writing. They have helped me to become a better writer. Here is what they thought.

In my opinion, your blog is different because it does not read like the work of someone trying to build a religious platform. It reads like the personal witness of a country preacher who has walked with the Lord for many years and wants others to search for truth.

Several qualities make your writing distinctive:

• Christ remains at the center. Whether you write about Scripture, politics, prophecy, suffering, war, loneliness, or personal memories, you bring the subject back to Jesus Christ and the condition of the human heart.
• You write as an exhorter. Your grandfather’s description was accurate, but it was not a criticism. You may not pound the pulpit, but you press the truth upon the conscience. You ask readers to wake up, examine themselves, open their Bibles, and draw closer to God.
• You speak personally. You do not write from a distant academic position. You share your experiences, questions, concerns, failures, and observations. Readers feel that they are sitting across the table from you, talking with a country preacher who sincerely cares about their souls.
• You allow room for disagreement. You hold strong convictions, but you often say, “I may be wrong; search the Scriptures for yourself.” That humility is unusual, especially in writing about politics and prophecy. You challenge readers without demanding that they accept every conclusion.
• You connect Scripture with current life. You do not treat the Bible as an ancient book with no relevance today. You apply it to war, government, persecution, loneliness, church indifference, personal responsibility, and world events.
• You write out of a lifetime of ministry. Your words carry the experience of decades spent preaching, teaching, pastoring, working, suffering, and watching human nature. You are not merely repeating theories learned from books. You are reflecting upon what you have witnessed.
• You speak to ordinary people. Your writing is not filled with complicated theological language. It can be understood by a farmer in Indiana, a new believer in South America, or a reader in a Muslim country who may be encountering Christian truth for the first time.

I believe another important difference is your independence. You are not writing to defend a denominational statement, protect an institution, please financial supporters, or promote a religious organization. That gives you the freedom to ask questions that others may avoid.

Your writing is not polished in the way an academic journal is polished—and that may actually be part of its strength. Readers can tell that they are hearing your heart rather than the carefully managed voice of an organization. The imperfections make it human, while the sincerity makes it believable.

If I had to describe your blog in one sentence, I would say:

“Ramblings of a Country Preacher” is a personal, Scripture-centered conversation from an experienced pastor who is not asking readers to follow him, but encouraging them to open their Bibles and follow Jesus Christ.

That is what makes it different. Your influence does not come from fame, institutional connections, or literary perfection. It comes from authenticity, conviction, humility, and a consistent desire to point people toward Christ.

To the Christian Walking Through Persecution

 My dear brother, my dear sister, I want to speak to you personally—not as someone who fully understands what you are suffering, but as one believer speaking to another.

I have not walked the road you are walking. I have never had to hide my Bible because owning it might place my life in danger. I have never gathered for worship wondering whether soldiers might break through the door. I have not watched my home destroyed because I confessed the name of Jesus. I have not faced imprisonment, violence, or the possibility of losing my family because of my faith.

I would never insult your suffering by pretending I understand it.

But I do know the One who is walking beside you.

I know that Jesus Christ has never abandoned one of His children. I know that when trouble comes, He is faithful. When the night becomes dark, He remains the Light. When earthly friends are taken away, He is still the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother.

The Lord promised:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
—Hebrews 13:5

You may feel alone, but you are not alone. You may be separated from your church, your family, and everyone you love, but no prison wall can keep Jesus out. No government can ban His presence. No soldier can take away His promises. No persecutor can separate you from His love.

Paul wrote:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
—Romans 8:35

His answer was certain:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 8:38–39

Dear friend, your persecutors may take your possessions, but they cannot take your salvation. They may close your church, but they cannot close heaven. They may silence your public testimony, but they cannot silence the witness of your faithful life. They may bind your hands, but they cannot bind the Word of God.

The Lord sees every tear you shed. He hears every prayer you whisper. He knows every fear that troubles your heart. There may be times when you cannot find the words to pray, but the Lord understands the groaning of your spirit.

David said:

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
—Psalm 56:8

Not one of your tears is forgotten. Not one act of faithfulness goes unnoticed. Heaven knows your name, your suffering, and the price you are paying to follow Christ.

You may wonder how much longer you can endure. You may feel tired, frightened, or discouraged. Please do not condemn yourself for feeling that way. Courage does not mean that fear is never present. Courage means that, while trembling, you still place your hand in the hand of Jesus and take another step.

The Lord does not always give us strength for the entire journey at once. Sometimes He gives us enough grace for the next hour, the next prayer, and the next step.

Jesus said:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9

You do not have to be strong by yourself. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. When you feel that you cannot hold on any longer, remember that your salvation does not depend upon how tightly you can hold His hand. Your hope is found in the fact that He is holding yours.

Jesus said of His sheep:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
—John 10:28

I cannot promise that your circumstances will become easier tomorrow. I cannot tell you that persecution will suddenly end or that everything you have lost will be restored in this life. I would not offer you an empty promise merely to make you feel better for a moment.

But I can remind you of the promise Jesus has already made:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

Christ has overcome the world. Your suffering is real, but it will not have the final word. Your persecutors may appear powerful, but their power is temporary. Jesus Christ is Lord, and His kingdom shall never end.

Remember also that the Savior you follow understands suffering. Jesus was rejected, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and crucified. When you cry out to Him, you are not praying to someone unfamiliar with pain. You are speaking to the Man of sorrows who carried the cross before you.

Scripture tells us:

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
—Hebrews 2:18

Jesus understands. Jesus sees. Jesus cares. Jesus is near.

Please remember that you also have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Many of us have never met you and may never know your name on this side of eternity, but we are part of the same body. When you suffer, we should suffer with you. When you weep, we should weep with you. When you need prayer, we should lift you before the throne of grace.

I confess that it is easy for those of us living in safety to say, “I will pray for you,” and then return to our comfortable lives. Forgive us when we forget the cost you are paying. Your faithfulness humbles us. Your courage reminds us that following Jesus is more than attending church when it is convenient. Your testimony shows us that Christ is worth living for and, if necessary, worth dying for.

Yet I do not want to place another burden upon you. You do not have to appear fearless for our sake. You are allowed to weep. You are allowed to admit that you are tired. You are allowed to ask others to pray for you.

Even Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, asked His disciples to watch with Him. There is no shame in needing the prayers and encouragement of other believers.

My dear brother or sister, hold on to the Lord. When you cannot see the road ahead, trust the One who can. When you cannot understand what He is doing, rest in what you know about His character. He is good. He is faithful. He is merciful. He will not abandon you in the fire.

The three Hebrew children were not kept from entering the furnace, but they were not alone inside it. The king looked into the fire and said:

“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt.”
—Daniel 3:25

The Lord may not always keep us from the fire, but He will walk with us through it.

I cannot say that I understand the depth of your suffering. But I can say with confidence that Jesus Christ understands it completely. I cannot personally stand beside every persecuted Christian, but the Lord can—and He does.

So, if you are reading this while walking through persecution, please hear my heart: You are not forgotten. Your prayers are not wasted. Your suffering is not unseen. Your faithfulness matters. The Lord is walking beside you, even in the darkest valley.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
—Psalm 23:4

One day the suffering will end. One day the prison doors will no longer matter. One day every tear will be wiped away. One day you will stand before the Savior who stood beside you through it all.

Until that day, keep looking unto Jesus. Take one step at a time. Trust Him for one more day.

And know that somewhere, perhaps in a quiet country church in Indiana, there is an old preacher praying for you.

May the Lord strengthen your heart, protect your family, supply your needs, and surround you with His presence. May He give you courage when you are afraid, peace when the world is raging, and hope when the night seems endless.

You are not walking alone.

Jesus is with you—and He will remain faithful all the way home.

Come Just as You Are

 My friend, if I could sit down with you today over a cup of coffee, I’d ask you one simple question.

How is your soul?

Not your job.

Not your finances.

Not your health.

Not your reputation.

How is your soul?

Maybe you’ve made mistakes that still haunt you. Maybe there are things in your past that you hope no one ever discovers. Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself that you’ve gone too far, sinned too much, or failed too many times for God to want anything to do with you.

If that’s what you’re thinking, I want you to know something.

That is exactly the kind of person Jesus came looking for.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world searching for people who thought they had everything together. He came seeking those who knew they were lost.

Luke 19:10 (KJV) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Have you ever been lost?

I don’t mean driving down some country road and taking a wrong turn. I mean being lost inside—wondering if life will ever change, carrying guilt that won’t go away, trying to cover up the emptiness in your heart with anything the world offers.

Jesus knows exactly where you are.

He knows every tear you’ve cried.

He knows every regret you’ve carried.

He knows every sin you’ve committed.

And knowing all of that…

He still loves you.

Think about that for a moment.

He knows everything about you, yet He still stretched out His hands on an old rugged cross and died for your sins.

The devil will tell you that you’re too dirty to come to Christ.

Jesus says, “Come.”

The devil says you’ve waited too long.

Jesus says, “Come.”

The devil says your life can never change.

Jesus says,

John 6:37 (KJV) “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

That means exactly what it says.

If you come to Jesus with a repentant heart, He will not turn you away.

Not because you deserve it.

Not because you’ve earned it.

But because He loves you.

I’ve watched the Lord change lives that everyone else had given up on.

I’ve seen alcoholics become faithful husbands and fathers.

I’ve seen bitter people filled with peace.

I’ve seen proud hearts humbled.

I’ve seen broken marriages restored.

I’ve seen people who thought life wasn’t worth living discover joy they never imagined possible.

The greatest miracle isn’t that Jesus healed blind eyes.

The greatest miracle is that He still changes human hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Notice the words “any man.”

Not the religious man.

Not the moral man.

Not the church member.

Any man.

That includes you.

No matter what you’ve done.

No matter where you’ve been.

No matter how ashamed you feel.

Your past does not have to be your future.

The blood of Jesus Christ is greater than your greatest sin.

Sometimes people tell me, “Preacher, if you knew what I’ve done, you wouldn’t say that.”

You’re right.

I may not know.

But Jesus does.

And He still says,

“Come unto me.”

Matthew 11:28 (KJV) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Notice He didn’t say, “Clean yourself up first.”

He didn’t say, “Fix your life before you come.”

He simply said,

“Come.”

You don’t wash before taking a bath.

You don’t get well before going to the doctor.

And you don’t make yourself righteous before coming to the Savior.

You come just as you are.

Then He begins the work of changing your life.

My friend, life is uncertain.

None of us knows what tomorrow holds.

Every sunrise is another gift from God.

Every heartbeat is another reminder that His mercy has given us one more opportunity to seek Him.

The Bible says,

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV) “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”

Don’t wait for tomorrow.

Don’t wait until you think you’re good enough.

Don’t wait until life settles down.

Come today.

Come just as you are.

Lay your sins at the foot of the Cross.

Trust the One who died in your place.

Believe that His blood is sufficient to wash away every sin you’ve ever committed.

He can forgive your past.

He can give you peace for today.

He can give you hope for tomorrow.

And He can give you eternal life.

I cannot promise you that following Christ will remove every trial from your life. We still live in a fallen world. There will still be heartaches, disappointments, and burdens to bear.

But I can promise you this:

You will never face them alone.

The Savior who forgives your sins will walk beside you every step of the journey until the day He welcomes you Home.

So let me ask you once more.

What is keeping you from coming to Jesus?

Whatever it is, it is not stronger than His love.

Whatever your sin, His grace is greater.

Whatever your burden, His shoulders are broad enough to carry it.

Whatever your past, His blood is able to cleanse it.

Come today.

Come while His invitation is still open.

Come while His Spirit is calling.

Come just as you are.

For the Lord Himself has promised,

Romans 10:13 (KJV) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Friend, “whosoever” includes you.

Jesus is waiting.

Will you come?

Share this with others.

The LORD Never Ceases to Amaze Me

 There are times in life when the LORD reminds us that His work has never depended upon our strength, our ability, or our plans. It has always depended upon His power.

For the past several months, my blog has been averaging around 2,000 views each day. Over the last few days, however, that number dropped to around 1,300. Like many writers and ministers, I have often wondered how I might reach more people with the message of Jesus Christ. My desire has never been popularity or recognition. My prayer has simply been that the Gospel would reach one more soul, encourage one more weary believer, and point one more person to the saving grace of our Lord.

Then yesterday something happened that left me speechless.

The blog received 104,368 views in a single day.

When I saw the number, I could hardly believe my eyes. I checked it again because I thought there must have been some mistake. Yet there it was.

All I could do was bow my head and thank the LORD.

Over the years, I have learned that God often works when we least expect Him. His ways are not our ways, and His timing is always perfect.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." — Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)

This was a reminder to me that the Gospel still has power. The Word of God still reaches hearts. The Holy Spirit is still drawing people to Christ. We may plant the seed, and another may water it, but it is God who gives the increase.

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." — 1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)

I want to express my sincere thanks to every person who has taken the time to read these articles. Many of you have faithfully returned day after day, offering words of encouragement, praying for this ministry, and sharing these messages with your family and friends.

Thank you.

You may never know what your simple act of sharing a message has meant to someone searching for hope. A single article can reach a discouraged Christian, answer the question of a seeker, comfort someone walking through sorrow, or point a lost soul to the cross of Jesus Christ.

If even one person comes to know Christ as Savior because a message was shared, every hour spent studying, writing, and praying has been worthwhile.

That has always been my heart's desire.

As many of you know, after many years in the ministry, I am preparing for retirement from the pastorate. Yet I believe the LORD is opening another door through writing. Age may slow these old legs, but it cannot stop the Word of God.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17 (KJV)

My prayer continues to be simple.

I pray that every Christian who reads these articles will be strengthened in their faith, challenged to walk closer with the Lord, and encouraged to remain faithful until Jesus comes.

I also pray for those who may have stumbled across these writings without knowing Christ. If that is you, I want you to know there is hope. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. No life is too broken. No sin is too great. His mercy is still available today.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." — Romans 10:13 (KJV)

If these messages have been a blessing to you, I ask only one favor.

Please continue to share them.

You never know whose life may be changed because you took a moment to pass along the message of God's love.

I stand amazed at the faithfulness of the LORD.

He has never failed me.

He has never forsaken me.

And once again, He has reminded this old country preacher that when we faithfully sow the seed, He is able to do far more than we could ever imagine.

May all the glory be given to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing. Most of all, thank you for helping carry the Gospel to a world that desperately needs the Light of Christ.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." — Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

To God be all the glory.

My View of Zionism and Biblical Israel

 For many years I have not embraced the Zionist interpretation of modern Israel that is common in many evangelical circles. My conclusions have come through years of studying the Scriptures, history, and the development of modern political movements. I recognize that many sincere Christians disagree with me, and I offer these thoughts for careful biblical consideration rather than as a final authority

It is important that I make my position clear.                      

Since there is a movement to target those who do not support the Zionist movement, I need to explain where I stand and why.

I do not hate the Jewish people. I do not desire harm to come upon them. The gospel of Jesus Christ is offered equally to Jew and Gentile, for God “is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34, KJV), and the apostle Paul declared that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Galatians 3:28, KJV). Every person is invited to come to Christ by faith.

Neither do I believe that every Jew is a Zionist, nor do I believe that every Zionist is Jewish. Zionism is a political movement with supporters from many different backgrounds, including people who are not Jewish at all. Likewise, many Jewish people hold differing views about Zionism and the modern State of Israel.

My concern is not with an ethnic people but with an ideology that I believe has had significant influence on world affairs and on how many Christians interpret biblical prophecy.

When I read Revelation 2:9 and 3:9, where the Lord speaks of “the synagogue of Satan,” I understand those passages as referring to people who claimed a covenant standing with God while opposing His purposes. I do not interpret those verses as describing all Jewish people, either in the first century or today. Rather, I believe they warn that there can be religious or political movements which claim divine authority while standing in opposition to Christ.

For that reason, I do not identify modern political Zionism with the covenant people whom God called through Abraham. The promises to Abraham were given so that “all families of the earth” would be blessed through his Seed, which the New Testament identifies as Christ (Galatians 3:16, KJV). I believe the true people of God are ultimately defined by faith in the Messiah rather than by ethnicity or political nationality.

I also believe that God, in His sovereign providence, can permit nations, governments, and movements to accomplish His prophetic purposes without thereby approving everything they do. Throughout the Old Testament, God used Babylon, Assyria, Persia, and other kingdoms as instruments in His plan, yet He also judged them for their pride, violence, and unbelief. In the same way, it is possible for God to allow events in our own generation to unfold according to His purposes without those events representing His approval of every government or political ideology involved.

My criticism, therefore, is directed toward political ideology and the misuse of Scripture—not toward an ethnic group. Every nation, every religion, and every political system should be measured by the Word of God. No government should be placed beyond biblical examination simply because it claims a special place in prophecy.

I readily acknowledge that I could be mistaken in some of my conclusions. My desire is not to provoke hatred or division but to encourage thoughtful, prayerful study of the Scriptures. I encourage every believer to search the Word of God carefully, testing every teaching—including my own—by the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11, KJV).

Our hope is not in any earthly nation, political movement, or human government. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose kingdom shall never be destroyed.