born and raised twice in the bay, I preach Jesus and him crucified
It's 1985, and someone walks into Service Merchandise, opens the catalog, and sees a new television. The price tag reads $500 (about $1,700 in today’s dollars) They hesitate, knowing it is a big purchase, something they will have to save for. Now, fast forward to today. That same person, if they were still around, could walk into... Continue Reading →
As we process grief and struggle to understand, we often think that if someone knows they’re loved, that should be enough to keep them here. It’s as if love has a built-in safety net that keeps people from falling into despair as if it can reach into the darkest places and pull someone back just because it exists. That... Continue Reading →
Reading Methods and Approaches The Hebrew Bible was not written in a vacuum. It came from real places, people, and history, shaped by centuries of experience and expectation. From antiquity, it was not just read but wrestled with, debated, and cherished. People kept returning to these words, searching for meaning, searching for God. That has... Continue Reading →
““Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom... Continue Reading →
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, ESV) Approval is a powerful force. It shapes decisions, molds identities, and influences the way people see themselves.... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 