Author: Larry Murray

I'm a child of One, a son of two, a husband of my one and only, a dad of three + two, Pop to one, a pastor of sheep, and a fan of baseball. Follow me...as I follow Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1; Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21)

Resurrection (Easter) Sunday

When considering something so critical and potentially life changing, like the resurrection of Jesus, the facts need to be solid, witnesses have to be credible, evidence must be persuasive, corroboration is always crucial, and alibis have to be dismantled. But ultimately, facts about Jesus don’t save us, it’s faith in who He is that matters. … Continue reading Resurrection (Easter) Sunday →

Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent

Growing up in a non-denominational, evangelical tradition of worship, I was never particularly encouraged to participate in a liturgical event like Lent. Historically, after the Reformation, many Protestant churches abandoned the observance of Lent and other liturgical practices in distancing themselves from abuses in the Catholic church. Personally, the obscene excesses of Mardi Gras, the licentiousness of Fat … Continue reading Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent →

Marcescence

Marcescence. You know what that is, right? Yea, neither did I when I first saw the word, although I have seen it in action. Marcescence is the retention of dead plant organs that normally are shed. It's the 'holding-on' of dead leaves through the winter months. We see it today in our shumard red oaks. A … Continue reading Marcescence →

Love One Another

At the core of every person's life is a need for relationships — with God and with God’s people.  God designed us, as people made in His image, with a desire to love and be loved. And yet, in our selfishness and sinfulness, it seems all we can think of is ourselves - me, myself, and … Continue reading Love One Another →

Read thru the Bible

Want to read the Bible with others and me in 2019? Here are a couple options: read thru the entire Bible (http://bit.ly/2F0ABCn) or just the New Testament (http://bit.ly/2s1xRgq). The most important thing is taking time to know God through His Word on a regular basis and living it out each day with others. "Let the … Continue reading Read thru the Bible →

Revelation

Reading thru the Bible  over the last 365 days, I'm finishing with the vision revealed to the Apostle John who was exiled on the island of Patmos because of His testimony about Jesus some time after 90AD. What John wrote in the book of Revelation fascinates us and has caused generations of Christ followers to … Continue reading Revelation →

Christmas Clothes

Born on Christmas morning, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a feeding trough (Luke 2:1-15). Transfigured on the mountain, His clothes became dazzling white to reveal His heavenly glory (Luke 9:28-36). Condemned by sinful men, He was dressed with a purple robe and mocked as the King of the Jews (Mark 15:16-20, … Continue reading Christmas Clothes →

Wasted Wisdom

Why do really smart people do really dumb things? With regularity, we’re shocked to hear of great men and women who have thrown away their lives with foolish actions or words. But, how is it that some who are older and, supposedly, wiser end up following the wrong people and worshiping the wrong things? A lack of godly discipline.

Tour Guide

When traveling to another country, it’s great to have the help of an experienced, knowledgeable, articulate tour guide. Sure you could do some research on your own, utilize your well-honed skills of observation, and draw your own conclusions.  But for important, once in a lifetime travel, a seasoned tour guide reveals details you couldn’t see … Continue reading Tour Guide →