The Call of the Mourning Dove Stephanie Rutt, (Resource Publications, Eugene, OR, 2019) This Book Issues a Call to Expand Our Horizons It was once thought, in the not too distant past, that Christianity had the franchise on truth. After all, Jesus did say that he was “the way, and the truth, and the life. […]
Author: Kevin Ruffcorn
Fascinating View Through the Kaleidoscope
Fascinating View through the Kaleidoscope We have always learned a great deal from observing our animal friends. Soren Kierkegaard had his parable of the geese. Hans Christian Anderson shared his story of the “Ugliest Duckling.” Of course there is Aesop and his fables of a variety of notable animals. Elizabeth Jeffries in her book, […]
Eight Reasons to Doubt
Eight Reasons to Doubt I heard a lot about hell growing up in the church, but now I have found eight reasons to doubt its existence. Hell was a constant threat. Even though a person prayed, worshiped regularly and dropped something in the offering plate, one misstep could send him or her to hell. […]
Sunday by Sunday Series Inspire
Sunday by Sunday Great books are good teachers. They might teach us about ourselves or the community in which we live. They might also teach us about different time periods, distant lands and people, or ideas and concepts. Great books challenge us to stretch our thinking, to expand our imaginations and see beyond ourselves and […]
Devotions on Hebrews 11:1-16–Faith Assurance of All Things
Devotions on Hebrews 11:1-16 August 5-11,2019 Monday, Faith Assurance of All Things “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Kyle had experienced a tough life growing up. Both of his parents were physically and verbally abusive. Along with a slap to the face or a […]
Devotions on Hebrews 9:1-14–New Covenant
New Covenant July 29 – August 4, 2019 Monday, New Covenant “Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship” (Hebrews 9:1). I recall many rules growing up in a church in the ‘50’s and ’60’s. There was no speaking or squirming during the worship service. We had to wear our “church-going-to-meeting” clothes even […]
Devotions on Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Great High Priest
Great High Priest July 22-28,2019 Monday, Great High Priest “Since, then, we have a great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14a). Young Kiersten was visiting a stavekirke (stave church) during her visit to Norway with her parents. As the family walked around the building, they noticed many similarities and many differences to the church they attend […]
Devotions on Hebrews 2:10-18, Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering
July 15-21, 2019–Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering Monday, Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering “It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist” (Hebrews 2:10a). In the first century CE, when the Letter to the Hebrews was written, there were a variety of gods. There were river gods and mountain gods. […]
Where the Colors Blend Shares Both Doubt and Hope
Book Review: Where the Colors Blend Where the Colors Blend: An Authentic Journey Through Spiritual Doubt and Despair … and a Beautiful Arrival at Hope, by Stephen Copeland (Morgan James Publishing, New York, 2019). There are times when stories of strength inspire us. Men and women faced with hopeless situations and insurmountable obstacles overcome them […]
Hebrews 1:1-4, God Sustainer of All Things
Devotions on Hebrews 1:1-4–God Sustainer of All Things July 8 – 14, 2019 Monday–God Sustainer of All Things “Long ago God spoke” (Hebrews 1:1a). Jerry and Kristen Connors had a fight. They eventually forgot what the fight was about, but they were still angry at each other and refused to talk to each […]