Musings

By Matthew Vanderford Being a part of a community means different things to different people. As a public insurance adjuster, being a part of the community means being present for businesses, property owners, renters and contractors who’ve experienced damage, suffered loss and need assistance in reaching a fair insurance claim...

By Sean Dietrich My doctor gave me some very bad news. I can’t even bring myself to talk about it. I’m so scared right now. I don’t know why God is doing all this to me. I am so angry with God right now. I hate God. Thanks, SLEEPLESS-IN-NEW-YORK DEAR SLEEPLESS: About 300 years...

By Pastor Doug Stauffer I cannot count the number of times I have cautioned people to check their motives. Why do you do what you do? The “ends justifying the means” usually involves doing something questionable to achieve a positive outcome. Those who justify wrongdoing by pointing to the positive...

By Sean Dietrich This is not my story. It was told to me. In fact, I’m hearing it for the first time, just like you are. The year was 1982. The old man climbed out of a rust-red Ford. He was ancient. He walked with a shuffle as he hobbled into...

By Victoria Ostrosky Small groups, life groups, and connect groups seem to be all the rage in Christian circles nowadays. There are so many devotional books and courses available that it would be impossible to take advantage of each one in any lifetime. You may wonder why this is. Why do...

By Pastor Doug Stauffer The “ends” in this cliché represent a good outcome, while the “means” refer to the method or actions used to achieve the desired result. When a person says, “the ends justify the means,” this implies that a noble enough outcome justifies whatever measures taken to achieve...

By Sean Dietrich These aren’t my stories, but I’m going to tell them. Let’s call her Dana. Dana was going for a walk near her home. It was a dirt road. Her high-school reunion was coming up, she was getting into shape. A truck pulled beside her. He slowed down. He rolled...

By Pastor Doug Stauffer Over my four decades in the ministry, one of the most frequently asked questions revolves around the purpose of life and how to recognize the will of God. I always point out one truth first: God made us in His own image, intending for us to...

By Rick Moore Many years ago, I was asked to drive the bus for a field trip from Mobile, Alabama to Navarre Beach, Florida. We were going to eat an early lunch on the beach, go to the zoo, and then have the students back home by the time the...

By Victoria Ostrosky Domestic. Backyard barbeques, washing dishes, mowing lawns, bedtime stories, popcorn and a movie on the couch. Peaceful, happy scenes that give us warm fuzzies. Everyday tasks performed with people we love making our lives worth living. Abuse. Fighting and yelling. Screaming and threats. Bullies and bruises, contusions and...