Friends: I’m thanking the Lord for the Christian encouragers in my life, and for a good story. See the column below ... Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #957

March 18, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

The Tie That Binds

By Bob Walters

“I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.” Paul, writing about Timothy’s ministry, Philippians 2:20.

Who are – or who was or is – your closest Christian mentor(s) and friend(s)?

No, I’m serious.  Stop reading and think about and pray with great thanks for the one or for those who have formed, influenced, encouraged, and sustained your Christian faith and life. List them, thank God for them, and pray for those you lead, too.

I’m doing that right now … thinking and praying about the human ties that bind me with other Christians, and with the Lord whose Spirit binds our faith and fellowship.

“Thank you, God, for the those who have led me and shared in the faith.”

Now, the story, seen in a recent video from John Samples about Russ Blowers.

The video link is below, and I obtained John’s approval before posting this.  For many of you, John and Russ are familiar figures.  They are both on my short list of the most influential encouragers of my life in Christ. Others at the top are Dave Faust, George Bebawi, my wife Pam, and my son Eric who first asked, at 13, to go to church.

Russ died in November 2007 after 56 years of ministry in Indianapolis.  I have written often about Russ, and like many at our East 91^st Street Christian Church, I still miss him every day. It was during Russ’s 50^th Anniversary sermon at E91, September 2, 2001 – my first Sunday in any church in decades – that I got it. It was my “Awake Date,” and I grew to know Russ – and Jesus – well. Russ baptized my sons, John and Eric.

John Samples, still a mainstay though retired pastoral presence at E91 “showing a genuine concern for our welfare,” officiated Russ’s funeral, November 15, 2007.

Russ’s funeral is where I met my wife Pam.  We both had arrived early at the service; she was to play tympani (drums) in the brass ensemble, and I was a pall bearer.  Pam and I spoke briefly about a tribute website I had set up for Russ, asking her to share the site info with the E91 orchestra and choir, which Russ very much loved.

A year and a half later, John officiated our wedding at E91, June 22, 2009.

John had arrived on staff at E91 in 1999 at the insistence of his colleague Dave Faust, who had just come aboard as Senior Minister. Dave, by the way, baptized me in November 2001. In September 2004, with Russ’s imprimatur, we convinced E91 to host a Wednesday evening Bible study with retired Cambridge divinity lecturer Dr. George Bebawi. I was secretary/coordinator of that weekly class during its entire 14 year run.

In May of 2007, Russ was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Christian Theological Seminary, near Butler University in Indianapolis. I remember attending the event with Russ, and recall the aforementioned tale John recently told about Russ and a necktie at an E91 “Storytellers” event February 28. Here is the LINK.

John titled his four-minute presentation, “The Tie That Binds,” after several Bible references to the way the faithful are bound together and supportive of each other in Christ. I was blessed to witness and, in many ways, share first-hand in the pastoral love clearly evident between Russ and John. We are all richer in faith for models like them.

The love of Jesus is the tie that binds us, today and forever, in the truth of God.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) has written often about everyone here mentioned, easily searched on the blog (white box in upper left corner). We thank E91 master-storyteller Gerri Baker for arranging the event.

P.S. – In case you were looking for a St. Patrick’s Day article, here is an oldie but a goodie: (Link) Bars Closed on St. Patrick’s Day #174, 3-16-20-10. Erin go Bragh!

Friends: Fear shouldn’t be the coin of the realm, but it often is.  Love is so much better. See the column ...  God bless! Bob

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Spirituality Column #956

March 11, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Fear and Loving   

By Bob Walters

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18

Perhaps you’ve noticed the cultural forces of fear embedded in and surrounding our politics, journalism, government, education, entertainment, and religion. Common sense and faith are healthier than fear, but fear is the greater driver of control.

You want people’s unquestioning action or compliance? Scare ‘em. Threaten them. Punish them.  Mixed in with adequate doses of hatred, distrust, stupidity, and prevarication – i.e., lying to folks – one can perpetrate the most awful, damaging, and vicious violations of the human spirit.  We willfully harm our fellow humans; we all suffer.

You want divine relationship, hope, and peace? All you need is love.

Considering the New Testament was written nearly 2,000 years ago, and the Old Testament was coming together for a couple thousand years before that, fear’s impact on the human psyche and actions is nothing new. Fear of the unknown and the punitive wrath of a righteous God were logical upshots of human sin and the Fall.

As Adam and Eve stood naked and ashamed in the Garden, they hid from God, fearing what He would think of their disobedience. But we can only “hide” from God for so long, and the important third lesson here – after lesson 1) shame and lesson 2) fear – was even though knowing what Adam and Eve had done, God went looking for them.  

Lesson 3: God cares.

There is a reason Jesus, in the New Testament bringing a new covenant of faith, repeatedly says to believers, “Do not fear.” After thousands of years of human disobedience, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the perfect beacon and representation of God’s love, grace, mercy, and truth, came looking for us, “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). And we are still sinners today, but now we know Jesus.  Game changer.

The OT massively speaks of fearing God, while God’s love is rarely mentioned. God’s character – His creativity, righteousness, truth, and glory – is on full display.  The New Testament’s full display of Jesus’s character is faith, trust, obedience, and love of God.  What we must learn is that what is good for God is good for us.  Our “obedience,” etc., doesn’t improve God’s life; it improves ours. God’s glory can’t be harmed; but our unbelief – our fear – harms everyone.  That is what living in fear does to humanity.

The OT reveals not just the character of God but the character of humanity. What Jesus – God the Son – does is reveal the way cursed man is restored, by faith, to relationship with God the Father. That is why in information presented to me, whether in a sermon, a newscast, on the Internet, in commentaries, books, or whatever – what I am listening and looking for is the glory of God found in restoring my divine relationship.

I see far too much divisive human communication aimed at fomenting submission to ungodly ideas fueled by fear.  Truth is better because Jesus is truth and God is love.

I’ve learned that joy comes in the love part of it, not the fear part of it.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that today’s column title, “Fear and Loving,” is a rip-off of Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 book, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” about the fall of America’s counterculture.  Love is better than fear; that’s all Walters is saying.

Friends: What did the cursed fig tree ever do to Jesus? Let’s discuss. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #955

March 4, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Withering Curse

By Bob Walters

“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.” – Mark 11:20, said Tuesday morning, of the fig tree Jesus cursed Monday evening

Jesus is much more known for healing things than cursing and destroying things, but here we have Jesus Tuesday morning of the first “Holy Week” with a dead fig tree.

What did the tree do to Him to become “withered from the roots,” i.e., dead?

This is a story / parable that initially mystified me in my early days of Bible study 20 years ago.  But with the pre-Easter season of Lent upon us – Ash Wednesday is this week – let’s go over the ostensibly simple explanation: the fig tree is a metaphor of and for failed Israel. God’s own nation has shunned Jesus, rewritten the holy laws, and in three more days will have Jesus killed by crucifixion.

The fig tree is what Jesus sees as the present – and future – of Israel.

To back up the story by two days, on Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the rousing Hosanna’s of the people already gathered for that week’s Passover Feast. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). Especially excited were the Galileans from the north, where Jesus had occupied most of his three-year ministry.

But Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem as a conquering king on a horse; He rode in humbly sitting on a year-old donkey. And before He mounted the donkey, within sight of Jerusalem, Jesus wept loudly for what Israel had become and what He knew would eventually happen to the Holy City.  Israel had not kept the Law and did not even recognize God’s Son. Did Jesus weep for his own pending doom? Perhaps, but Isaiah 53:7 says that later, facing crucifixion, Jesus was “silent, like a lamb led to slaughter.”

God had made Israel His own centuries before.  Now the Son of God Jesus, recognized by some, entered Jerusalem not to save the Jews from the Romans but to save the Jews – and all humanity – from its sin. Jews simply wanted the Romans dead. For all the scripture and prophecy available and studied, Israel failed to see its need for salvation and didn’t even understand its real problem: its sin and distance from God.

That’s what Jesus came to fix and restore as a perfect sacrifice for the Jews and all mankind. Compared with the world’s fallenness, the Romans were merely a “light and momentary trouble” (2 Corinthians 4:17). God’s will was to restore humanity back into eternal relationship with Him in heaven; all Israel could think about was killing Romans.

The Jews would then plot to have Jesus killed: some because He wasn’t the warrior they had hoped for, many because He revealed the corruption of the Pharisees.

The fig tree, then, is a Godly symbol for the unfruitfulness of Israel. A fig tree has leaves and small, inedible figs in the early growing season, as in springtime’s Passover. That indicates edible fruit will come later. Jesus found none of the small figs on the leafy tree, which signaled there would never be edible fruit from that particular tree.

So, the curse levied on the fig tree was a picture of Jesus’s levy of justice on Israel, over which He had wept bitterly on His approach two days prior. We all know that just as God’s mercy is great, God’s righteousness is absolute. Jesus, by His death and resurrection, would fulfil the Law of Israel and save for eternity all who believe in Him.

Jesus didn’t give a fig about the Romans; He came to save us from ourselves.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that Easter is very late this year, April 20.

Friends: King David cried out to God in Psalm 51 for a salvation Christ would eventually provide. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #954

February 25, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Restoration Project

By Bob Walters

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” – King David, Psalms 51:12

We read in Psalms 51 the burden of King David for his sins with Bathsheba, his commission of a heinous transgression against her husband Uriah, and experience David’s howling self-conviction following the prophecy of Nathan.

You can read all about it in 2 Samuel 11 and 12: King David impregnates lovely Bathsheba who is married to military commander Uriah.  When David’s plan to cover up his affair with Bathsheba fails, David arranges to have Uriah killed in battle.

David’s secret is safe from everyone … except God.

God then plants in Nathan’s heart a prophecy that mirror’s David’s sin.  Nathan shares the prophecy with David, which David understands only as treachery of another, not his own sin.  When Nathan tells David he, David, is the sinner, David’s great lament to God becomes Psalm 51, and especially this well-known passage in verses 10-12:

“10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

“11 Do not cast me from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me.

“12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

We routinely think of the Old Testament as God alone dealing with humanity and then his chosen people Israel. We see God as a monolith, purveying the Law from heaven and both protecting and punishing this nation God has chosen as his own.

But God is not a monolith; God the Trinity is an eternal relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit. We see the Trinity boldly declared in this surprising Old Testament passage.

In verse 10, David knowingly or not is invoking of God the pure heart of Jesus Christ, and David pleas for his own spirit to be steadfastly renewed in the Spirit of God.

Verse 11 has David praying to remain in God’s company in this life, the gift of the company we ultimately have in Jesus Christ.  David begs God not to withdraw the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, the mechanism by which we know God’s truth.

Verse 12 is where we see one of the most surprising active revelations of the Old Testament … humanity’s coming salvation in Christ.  Salvation is not typically an Old Testament idea. The Law of Israel demands obedience and works, but the salvation a Jew imagined in God is vastly different from the salvation we are promised in Christ.

In John 11:24, as Jesus is about to revive dead Lazarus, his sister Martha tells Jesus she knows of “resurrection at the last day.”  For the Jews, the eternal afterlife with God was not understood as “part of the deal.” Many Jews believed death to be the catastrophic, final end of life. Israel’s “last day” resurrection was a hope, not a promise.

In Christ, our heavenly eternal life is one of restored relationship with God thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus.  Jesus’s forgiving gift of salvation for all humanity – mentioned by various Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah – was not a salvation David could have imagined.  Yet, here he is in Psalm 51 calling on such forgiveness as well as a restored and sustaining strength of grace from the Holy Spirit. It is God’s eternal truth.

I memorized this passage years ago not because I needed to match the lament of King David, but as a reminder of the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit, present always.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) recognizes the promises of Jesus … praise God. 

Friends: Artificial Intelligence gives surprising props to Christianity.  See the column below. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #953

February 18, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

A.I. Answer Bee

By Bob Walters

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” – Jesus, to Thomas and the Disciples, John 14:6

I am a subscribed, monthly-paying, daily-reading fan of the The Babylon Bee satire website and its off-beat and wryly humorous “news” site, Not the Bee.

For your entertainment, the links to the two sites are in the customary “witty epigram” at the column’s conclusion, but I want you to hang with me here for a moment.

Both sites are brazenly, unapologetically Christian, with a strong side-dose of conservative political and cultural memes, jibes, and droll observations. Each site posts three to six items daily, inspired by the wry and the odd of current topics and events.

The Bee posts satire headlines like “RFK Jr.’s New Food Pyramid”: raw steak at the bottom and squid ink and steroids at the top. From the Bible for Valentine’s Day, it posted, “Disaster As King Solomon Only Buys 698 Valentine’s Day Gifts.” IYKYK.  

The Not the Bee “news” side on Saturday posted one of last week’s viral internet memes, too good not to share here. A Christian asked Artificial Intelligence (A.I.):

“ChatGPT, out of all the religions in the world, which one do you think is most likely to be true? Answer in one word only, please.”

A.I., after a two second pause: “Christianity.”

Christian: “And why do you say that?”

A.I., immediately: “Based on historical evidence, fulfilled prophecies, and the life and resurrection of Jesus.”

Christian: “Any other reasons?”

A.I.: “The consistency and coherence of its teachings and, the transformative impact on individual’s lives.”  Over in 39 seconds. “Thank you so much.” Ah, truth.

Someone whose online handle is “Sovereign Brah” posted this at 8:20 p.m. last Wednesday, Feb. 12. By 8:36 p.m., “Brah” reported, “Looks like they patched it.” Meaning, in less than 16 minutes ChatGPT changed the A.I. answer to what I got when I tried it: “There are many religions that are based on personal …” yada, yada, yada.

Not the Bee’s Christian meme is linked HERE, or dial up ChatGPT yourself, ask the question, and see what you get.  Some reportedly still get the straight answer.

We all know that A.I. has its moments of inaccuracy and misdirection, but when one already knows the subject matter and can discern the solid from the waste, A.I. can be very much a time-saving tool.  In this case, IMHO, ChatGPT nailed it. No way can I imagine personally being that direct, accurate, succinct, and quick.  A win for ChatGPT.

If you scroll down in that same Not the Bee post, below the Christian meme is this ChatGPT answer to “Explain the Christian Gospel.” I would pick a doctrinal bone over its “pay the penalty” language – To wit: Whom did Jesus pay? I prefer instead the more biblically accurate, “sacrificed as atonement for sin” – but otherwise spot on. It goes on to answer “What exactly is Faith in Jesus Christ” and “What happens if you do not put your faith in Jesus?” In my book, A.I. gets it.

Granted, these are definitions that will satisfy a believer, not convince a skeptic. And A.I. is not the arbiter of what is the divine and eternal way, truth, and life; Jesus is.

But I appreciate language I can borrow to express the inexpressible in my heart.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) offers these links: Babylon Bee | Fake News You Can Trust and Not the Bee | What a time to be alive. “Explain the Gospel” etc., A.I. text below.

EXTRA: A.I. “Explain the Gospel” Text in three parts

What is the Christian gospel?

The Christian gospel is the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is based on the belief that God created the world and all that is in it, but humanity’s sin brought death and eternal separation from God.

The gospel teaches that Jesus Christ, who is God in human form, came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  He rose from the dead on the third day, proving his power over sin and death, and offering eternal life to all who believe in him.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be reconciled to God and receive forgiveness for our sins.  This reconciliation is a gift of grace, not something we can earn or deserve by our own efforts.  The gospel also teaches that believers in Christ are called to live a life of obedience to God’s commands, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to share the good news of salvation with others.

 What exactly is “faith in Jesus Christ”?

Faith in Jesus Christ is the act of trusting in him as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead, and committing oneself to follow him as Lord and Savior.  It involves acknowledging that we are sinners in need of salvation, and recognizing that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled with God.

Faith in Jesus Christ is not just a matter of intellectual assent, but a personal commitment to him that involves the whole person, including the emotions, will, and actions. It means putting our trust in Jesus to save us and to guide us in our daily lives, and seeking to obey his teaching and commands.

According to Christian doctrine, faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of God’s grace that comes through the work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s heart. It is not something that can be earned or achieved by our own efforts, but is a response to the message of the gospel and the prompting of the Spirit. The Bible teaches that faith without works is dead, so a true faith in Jesus Christ will result in a life of obedience and good works.

 According to Christianity, what happens to those who do not put their faith in Jesus?

According to Christianity, those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ will not receive salvation and will be separated from God for eternity.  This is based on the belief that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to God, and that without him, this is no forgiveness of sins and no hope of eternal life.

The Bible teaches that all human beings are sinners and fall short of God’s standard of righteousness, and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). However, God has provided a way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross as a sacrifice for our since and rose from the dead to offer eternal life to all who believe in him.

Those who reject this offer of salvation by refusing to put their faith in Jesus Christ will remain in their sins and will face judgment and eternal separation from God. This is often referred to as hell, a place of eternal punishment and suffering.  It is important to note that this belief is not meant to be judgmental or exclusive, but rather a call to salvation and a warning of the consequence of rejecting God’s offer of grace.

 

Friends; Jesus spoke with authority that infuriated some and stunned everyone else. It was amazing.  Have a super week … Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #952

February 11, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Amazing Authority

By Bob Walters

“When Jesus finished … the crowds were amazed at his teaching …because he taught with authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” – Matthew 7:28-29

At our E91 Christian Church, adult Sunday school classes are aptly called “Adult Bible Fellowships” – ABFs – because their reach far exceeds Sunday mornings.

Larger churches, generally, need to build in the smallness of tight communities of Bible study with intimate knowledge and caring for each other.  Our Logos class, which I’ve been a part of since 2002 (I was baptized in late 2001), 53 years ago started as a group of young parents. Today we are all grand- and even great-grand parents. Anyone not yet on Medicare would be considered the youth group.

While there are strong social and service aspects in all our ABFs, teaching and amplifying scripture to deepen relationship with Jesus and each other is our core objective; our mission being to constantly mature in faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.

That’s something that requires fellowship to accomplish. “Small Groups” often emanate from larger ABF relationships, as we “do life together” sharing joys and challenges. Small groups of 10-12 are common features of any vibrant, Jesus-focused, Bible-based church.  Everybody gets in the act of study, sharing, serving, and teaching.

Anyway, we had a good session in Logos ABF last Sunday discussing the familiar Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. It is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-6-7 and recast in Luke 6:17-49). The prayer appears again, shortened, in Luke 11:2-4

Logos had a guest teacher, Andy Baker, a missions leader at E91, filling in for regular teacher Dave Schlueter (a retired physician who is warming up in southern Florida for a couple of these winter months). Like Dave, Andy is one of those guys who gets everyone thinking and (especially me) talking, and noticing fresh dimensions of even the most familiar passages.

The authority Jesus invoked in his teaching – as noted in Matthew 7:28-29 above – would truly have been amazing to his first-century listeners.  We recite the prayer now as Christians almost by rote. Jews would have been shocked by the whole sermon.

Practically everything Jesus said was virtually opposite the demands of the Law. Reading the Gospels today as a believing Christian is an exercise in affirming what we generally already know.  A pious, Law-obedient Jew, then, would never turn the other cheek, love or forgive an enemy (Matthew 5:38-47), or bless the poor, the mourner, the meek, the hungry, or the persecuted (Beatitudes, Matthew 5:2-11).

The merciful, pure of heart, and peacemakers (Matthew 5:7-9) would envisage Jesus, but be antithetical to the Law’s insistence on righteousness and vengeance.

Does that mean God changed when Jesus arrived?  No, the Covenant changed. The Law, God always knew, was what man could not do.  Jesus, God knew, replaced the non-saving obedience of Law with salvation by faith.  Man could not recover his lost relationship with God through the Law; God’s loving perseverance – in Jesus, His Son – now invited and demanded man’s faith. The Law was true, but Jesus was the truth.

Did Jews have faith?  Absolutely. Could they save themselves through works?  No. And neither can we.  Salvation is in the gracious and amazing authority of Jesus.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that Jesus’s parables typically undo the Law.

Friends: I am always eager to share, but am lousy at sales. What’s a Christian to do? Tell a great story. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #951

February 4, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Sharing the Gospel

By Bob Walters

“… set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” – 1 Peter 3:15

I have always been a lousy salesman. What I’m good at is telling stories, explaining things, reporting news, and recasting-revealing-identifying-finding not-so-obvious connections and associations, and doing it with lively perspective and phrasing.

I love “Hey, look at this!” moments.

“Telling stories” was and is the foundation of my career in journalism, corporate, public, and media relations, and now in “retirement,” teaching high school social studies and Church history at a very fun Christian academy. Yes, teaching high school is fun.

But getting back to my dearth of talent in actual “sales” of anything, I’ve attended sales training seminars and read books on sales. I tried my hand in one career low-point of selling life and health insurance (a disaster despite passing the licensing test).  And I’ve seen master-class sales ninjas in action. “Sell me this pen.” I can only tell you about ink.

But, “sharing the Gospel.” Is that a sales pitch? Or a story? Or truth in action? Or living a life of service to others? Or as 1 Peter 3:15 says, setting “apart Christ as Lord?”

My point here is, what exactly does one say to share the Gospel? What are the words? What is the 30-second “elevator speech” that boils down the glorious purpose of this life – serving God in love through faith in Jesus Christ – to a soul far from the Lord?

Many “come to Jesus” tracts I’ve seen begin by saying, approximately, “You’re a liar and a thief and you’re going to hell!” And then, shortly thereafter, claiming how much God loves you anyway.  It’s all true, of course, but the sales progression, the logic, is lost on me. The most important thing Jesus says to those confounded by his miracles is, “Fear not.” “Why?” one might ask. “For I am the Lord.” Hmm. What does that mean?

This is where a savvy sales pitch would be really handy.  While some folks look at sales as the art of convincing people to do what they don’t want to do, I believe it is more the art of merging truth with reality to discover what one most wants to do.

Granted, man’s nature is fallen – we are all sinners – but Jesus isn’t merely the ladder out of the pit; Jesus is the highway to the mountaintop and the surety of God. 

My great comfort about “evangelizing” is knowing that salvation really isn’t up to me; it is the Holy Spirit who captures and convicts a soul, i.e., makes the sale and closes the deal. But we are each, thankfully and joyfully, part of the process: sharing relationship, trust, knowledge, testimony, and our witness, i.e., living a life that reveals our own love of God and others. There is more power in “show me,” than in “tell me.”

As 1 Peter directs, we must be prepared to give an answer for our hope.  And we all know that our words are as big of an encouragement to us as to the soul we’d like to see sharing the Gospel life with Jesus. Peter’s context in this passage is dealing with persecutors, not, say, random people on an elevator. So the great strength of our own hope, when challenged, is knowing – and being able to explain – what we believe.

What is the reason for my own hope?  It is that, in Jesus, I know truth exists, God exists, reality is illuminated only in faith, and life’s purpose is to love God and others.

Not everybody will buy it, but that’s what I’m selling and sharing. That’s my story.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) marvels at God’s talent for stories.