Despite the way things look at times in the world, we have much to be thankful for! A relatively quiet hurricane season is coming to a close, and we will soon see the temperatures moderating just a bit. As Thanksgiving approaches, we are blessed to have you as a part of our extended family. Your faithful commitment to the mission of WIVH has allowed us to share the message of hope, love, and salvation through the airwaves, and for that we are truly thankful!
During this time of the year, my wife and I sometimes sit in the backyard looking up at the sky on a clear night. As we watch the stars twinkle and peer into the depth of the universe, our conversations can turn deep as well. We contemplate many things as we chat in our chairs. Consider. Ponder. Think about. That's what the psalmist asks us to do in Psalm 8:3. What is he asking us to think about? The sun, the moon, the stars... the vastness of space. I don't know about you, but if I reflect on it for any length of time, I begin to realize how small I really am!
I don't know about you, but for Heather and me, summertime is porch time! We eat our meals there listening to the birds chattering at the feeder; we relax there in the evening and watch the fireflies blinking in the trees. Any opportunity finds us either sitting on the porch together, or Heather tending to her flowers that decorate it. These simple pleasures bring peace to our summer days, all the while in the back of our mind knowing that all too soon the busyness of back-to-school season will begin.
It's hard to believe that 30 years ago this month WIVH signed on the air for the first time! Since that time we have seen the reach and impact of the station grow. We have also been blessed getting to know many of you personally over the years.
You've heard the phrase "cleanliness is next to godliness," right? No, it's not in the Bible–although the earliest mention of it is from the great preacher, John Wesley. In 1791 he wrote "...cleanliness is indeed next to godliness." That phrase popped into my mind when I was reading from 2 Timothy 3 recently.
I love the way Paul opens and closes his letters to the churches in the New Testament. In the beginning of many of his letters, he addresses them as beloved, as saints, as those who are sanctified (made holy), as faithful brothers. It is with these greetings in mind that I write to each of you in this month's letter.
I love the way Paul opens and closes his letters to the churches in the New Testament. In the beginning of many of his letters, he addresses them as beloved, as saints, as those who are sanctified (made holy), as faithful brothers. It is with these greetings in mind that I write to each of you in this month's letter.
I love the way Paul opens and closes his letters to the churches in the New Testament. In the beginning of many of his letters, he addresses them as beloved, as saints, as those who are sanctified (made holy), as faithful brothers. It is with these greetings in mind that I write to each of you in this month's letter.
As we embark on another year, and possibly even ponder the past year (or past several years), many people begin to wax philosophical. We think about what could or should have been, or maybe what we hope will be.
"For unto us..." Three simple words. Put them in the context of the prophecy from Isaiah 9, and those three simple words turn into a powerful, world-changing prophecy!