Category Archives: February 2026

She is my oldest sister, born about eight years before I became the fourth of five children of Theodore and Margaret in Van Buren County, southeastern Iowa. Mary Ann was the first born, and she has always demonstrated an individualistic spirit. She is an avid reader, a loyal friend, a lover of fine china, aContinue reading “MY SISTER MARY ANN”

Jeremiah, the prophet who had said that there was no sorrow like his sorrow, (Lam. 1:12) could later say, recalling to mind the Lord’s mercies, compassions, and faithfulness: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” (Lam. 3:21) Helen Keller, born blind and deaf, said: “Once I knew the depth where no hopeContinue reading ““Therefore Have I Hope””

Ok, Bible scholars, if I were to give you a one-question Old Testament history quiz, and that one questions was, “Who was Judah’s greatest king?”—what would your answer be? Solomon and David would probably pop into your minds immediately, and both were great kings. But they lived and died before the kingdom of Judah wasContinue reading “Judah’s Greatest King”

The believer’s arch-enemy, Satan, has one goal in mind for you if you are a Christian striving to live a devoted life for Jesus Christ: plainly stated, he wants in the worst way to devour you. (I Peter 5:8) He has a formidable arsenal of spiritual weapons with which to do it, and he hasContinue reading “Satan’s Unrelenting Attacks”

I do not know how many—if any—Valentine’s Days I will have left to share some sentiments; and since I am editor in chief of “You and God,” I am going to beg your pardon while I put into circulation a poem of passion (more or less) that I wrote to Ellen when we were engagedContinue reading “Valentine’s Day, 2026”

Words of wisdom that have stood the test of time: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Ps. 127:1) It was God who designed and “built” the first home that first week of the world, forming the man out of the dust of the ground and fashioning the womanContinue reading “Who’s Your Builder?”

Solomon said that where there is no vision, the people perish. When God called me to preach as a young Bible college freshman, I had no idea that I would ever pastor a church. My heroes at that time were Bill Rice and Glen Schunk, both evangelists. But, I have had the unspeakable privilege ofContinue reading “My Dream Church”

The “they’re” in my title means believers in Christ—followers of the Lord Jesus, members of His Body, the Church—who have been “gifted” by the Holy Spirit for service in advancing His Kingdom through the church by exercising their spiritual gift for edification of the Church. Every believer in any and every local, New Testament churchContinue reading “They’re in Every New Testament Church”