Hey there eNeighbors! We are still basking in the glow of Resurrection Sunday! We pray you had a wonderful time celebrating with your family, both related and church! A lot of you have been asking and it's been a while since we gave an update on our lives, so here's the latest. On the ministry front, this is our 30th year spreading God's good news! We are still traveling and doing concerts, just not at the hectic pace we used to keep. Phil is also celebrating over a year as the Minister of...
7 days ago • 2 min read
It's Personal by Phil This Sunday we celebrate the apex of the Christian year - Resurrection Sunday, also known as Easter! Most of the year we strive to remember that "it's not about me." We are not the center of our universe, God is, and everything revolves around Him. The message of this season is the exact opposite - "it's all about me." God's love for us is so great, even if you or I were the only person in need, Jesus would have still died on that cross. The crucifixion is the ultimate...
14 days ago • 2 min read
The Distance Between Blessed and Blessing by Phil A popular phrase over the past several years is "Pay it forward." According to Google's AI overview, "Pay it forward" means to repay a kindness you receive by doing a good deed for someone else, rather than paying back the original person, creating a chain reaction of generosity. Instead of returning a favor directly, you pass on the goodwill to a new person, often a stranger, with the hope that they will do the same for someone else. In our...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Authentically Irish? by Phil Happy St. Patrick's Day! Last year we celebrated by taking a closer (and somewhat disturbing) look at St. Patrick himself, who wasn't Irish or even a saint. (Yes, he is recognized as the patron saint of Ireland, but was never formally canonized by a pope, because he lived before the modern, official canonization process was established. Oh, the things you learn in these devotions!) As I said, we already covered that ground, so this year I thought we'd investigate...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Do As The Romans Do by Phil In their heyday, the ancient Romans had several military formations for soldiers going into battle. One of these was called the Testudo (or tortoise). The soldiers would march in rows in the shape of a square, with the first row holding their large shields in front. The sides and back would also hold their shields to the sides and behind, while the inner soldiers would hold their shields overhead. In this formation, each soldier was not only covering himself, but...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Path by Phil We are a couple of weeks into the Lenten season. Believe it or not, Lent is not just about Friday Fish Frys at the Catholic church (although I do appreciate some tasty filets!). It is a 40 day focus on seeking God, denying self, and serving others in remembrance of Christ's 40 days of temptation in the desert. The purpose is to prepare for the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter through repentance, reflection, and spiritual renewal. Some denominations observe Lent and others...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Second Chances by Phil Depending on when you are reading this, Valentine's Day has most likely come and gone. Guys, I hope you came through with flying colors and made your little lady feel like Queen of the castle. If that's the case, you can skip this devotion. Now, for the rest of you, I understand how we fellows sometimes misread a situation. I remember one wedding anniversary early in our ministry when I thought Pam would love to celebrate by doing a concert on that day. WRONG. I was...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Intestinally Speaking by Phil All this talk of love around Valentine's Day probably has most people thinking about 1 Corinthians 13 - "Love is patient, love is kind...". Some may even pontificate on the creator of love - "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." - 1 John 4. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not like most people. When I think about matters of the heart, I think about body parts, such as... "The human body has many parts, but the many...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hope for the Hurting Heart by Phil On the 14th of this month we observe the day dedicated to love - Valentine’s Day. It is common to celebrate by showering the object of our affection with candy and flowers (which is not nearly as impressive if your person has allergies). Apparently, to truly feel loved it is to be fat and sneezy. Seriously though, for many this is a difficult time as we are reminded of loved ones who are no longer with us. Holidays can be lonely and sometimes accompanied by...
2 months ago • 2 min read