Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Announcement December 3, 2025 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. ~ Luke 2:9 NIV ~ "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them." (Luke 2:9 NIV) "Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Haunting Memory December 1, 2025 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~ James 1:27 NIV ~ "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27 NIV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Tears in a Bottle November 30, 2025 You have collected all my tears in your bottle ~ Psalms 56:8b NLT ~ When was the last time you shed a tear, or many tears? Just this morning, while watching an online church service, I was moved to tears as I prayed for my wife during a healing prayer as offered by the church pastor. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I brushed them away with my sleeve onc ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Case of the Disappearing Parrot: Seeking the Lost, Part 3 November 28, 2025 God is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9 NIV ~ These past two Fridays we have been exploring the first two of the three categories of those who are spiritually lost. We ha ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Thanksgiving in July November 26, 2025 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV ~ "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Friendship in Jesus November 24, 2025 You are my friends if you do what I command. ~ John 15:14a NIV ~ Do you have a tried-and-true friend, someone that you can pour your heart out to and trust implicitly with everything going on in your life, both good and bad? I was curious about the friends we make in our lives, so I did a Google search and discovered that on average, we make roug ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Faith Is What You Do November 23, 2025 ...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ~ James 2:17 NIV ~ "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17 NIV) I was a young man finishing up my teaching degree at college. I was driving to a high school to do my student teaching in my 20 year o ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Case of the Disappearing Cat: Seeking the Lost, Part 2 November 21, 2025 God is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9 NIV ~ Last Friday, I told the story of my disappearing pet turtles, comparing this to the story of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10, for ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Case Full of Cassettes November 19, 2025 ...forgive those who sin against us. ~ Luke 11:4b NLT ~ I can still remember it like it was yesterday. My children were still young and we had all gotten into the car to go grocery shopping. Our car was a beat up, old, Ford Escort with a cassette player in it. We had a case full of cassettes behind the gear shift that we would listen to when the radio ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR An Urgent Call for Today's Turmoil November 17, 2025 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you... ~ Psalms 31:19a NIV ~ Some weeks back, my computer froze. I fought the panic and called my friend for help. “You have too many windows open,” she said, “that’s your problem.” Duh! That’s exact ...Continue Reading