Summer Tuesdays with Ezra (Chapter 4)

Ezra 4 The beginning of the reconstruction of the Temple, signaled by loud shouts “heard far away” (3:13), garners the attention of “the peoples of the lands” (3:3).  Some of these neighbouring peoples, who are “adversaries of Judah and Benjamin”…

Summer Tuesdays with Ezra (Chapter 2)

Ezra 2 The closing verse of Ezra 1 speaks of “exiles” who were “brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem” (1:11).  Chapter 2 provides a record of which Jewish families and towns were represented among the exiles who returned to repopulate…

Summer Tuesdays with Ezra (Chapter 1)

This year I spent time digging into the Old Testament book of Ezra. While the book contains a fascinating historical account of the return of the Jewish exiles after the Babylonian captivity, it's more than a history book. It's a…

Praise and Prayer Update (May 23, 2025)

A few weeks back, I asked you to pray with us about some upcoming ministry opportunities Linda and I were anticipating.  I (Rick) was scheduled to speak at a men’s conference and also invited to train a group of pastors…

How to Navigate Through Life’s Rough Waters (Part 1)

I don’t have to tell you life is not exactly smooth sailing right now.  Internationally, the waters are choppy and chaotic.  Closer to home, we feel storm tossed by rising prices and falling stock markets.  It’s hard to stay steady…

Tips for Teachers: Learning from Billy Graham

As I type these words, I’m listening to Billy Graham preach.  It’s a rebroadcast of one of the messages he preached decades ago.  You can tell that from the hairstyles and clothes worn by those in the arena. But while…