/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40) Sleep Turmoil on Flight FI602: Rivers of Faith, Part 22: Distracting Deceptions Our night flight left at 9:30 our time, or 21:30, as they say in Europe, and landed in Keflavik, Iceland at 6:30 in the morning. Just perfect fo ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Four Rooms with Potential When we were looking for a house Marianne and I had lofty and grand expectations. You know, that "dream house" each of us can describe right down to the door knobs. Reality, however, kept those dreams in check. I can clearly remember saying that we needed to look at houses and see the potential in them. Thus, ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: "A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side." (Luke 10:31-33) Mind Your Head. Awake Series, Part 29 We were sailing aboard a tour boat, heading for the Hole in the Rock in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Most of the tourists were at the ship's stern, complaining about the view, but I ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: 1 John 5:11-13 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." NIV The Answer One of the three year olds in a parent-tot drop in I run has been going through a very cute stage. Whenever ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom 10:15) Sacrificing Bone-dry Sneakered Feet. Awake Series, Part 28 On our way to Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, we stopped to view the Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial. This marked the spot where 229 passengers perished, just off of these very shores. I couldn't help but wonder how many of them had heard the good news about Jesus' resurrection! Glancing over the shoreline, I not ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: 1 Peter 3:15b - Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Spotlight On Passion And Authority I once met a young woman who was passionate about insects -- and that made her a true authority on them. Her life's goal, even as a child, was to study and know insects. She read literature on insects, researched them, and studied their every move. She still does. Her scorpions and spi ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: "Why did you doubt?" (Matt 14:31) But Why? Rivers of Faith, Part 21: Doubtful Delusions b Last time, in Doubtful Delusions, Part b, we discovered the importance of not doubting the One who provides for all of our needs. He is, after all, our Father, and He cares for each one of us. So often however, we are confronted with that question: "Why did you doubt?" In all reality, the only reason we doubt Him is because we have f ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: Col 3:2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ — that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. (The Message) Things Could Always Be Worse Another day was over. I sat in my car, turned the key and pulled out of the parking lot. It was Thursday. I had only one more day until the weekend. Two days alone with my wi ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matt 21:21-22) Can You Take a Shower in 4 Minutes? Rivers of Faith, Part 20: Doubtful Delusions If anyone had asked me if I could take a shower in 4 minutes, I w ...Continue Reading

/ Welcome to the Illustrator/ Today's Bible Verse: John 1:3 "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." Proclaiming Our Beliefs Driving back from church yesterday, I heard a good quote on a radio talk show. The presenters were talking about faith and one of them said: "Don't tell me what you believe; let me watch you for a while and then I'll tell you wha ...Continue Reading