Author Archives: Jim Gleason

It takes courage to stand up for what is right. When we take such a stand, we may look around and find that no one is standing with us. Then it is easy for others to attack us. We have put ourselves in the line of fire. II Samuel 23 tells us about Eleazar. HeContinue reading “Line of Fire”

I am still weak from my battle with COVID a couple weeks ago. I can’t do some of the things that I routinely did before. But even on my best days there are many things that I cannot do. I don’t have enough strength to do some things or enough wisdom to do other things.Continue reading “Far Greater”

A qualified pest inspector looks for evidence of termites or conditions that termites use to damage a building. Rotting wood or water saturated wood are often breeding grounds for these pests. If left untreated the structure of the building can become compromised or sections of the building destroyed. An untrained eye is unaware of theContinue reading “Termites of the Soul”

When I was in school, I did well on the exams for which I was prepared, but not as well on the exams for which my preparation was inadequate. Preparation always seemed so mundane. I tried to avoid the boring study work and get right to the challenge of the test. Later in life, IContinue reading “Inadequate Preparation”

When I hike through the forests around here, I am continually amazed at the beauty of the trees. I love the colors and the evidence of the strength of the trees. But autumn always comes, and the leaves will eventually wither and fall from the trees, leaving the trees barren and rather weak looking. PsalmContinue reading “Does Not Wither”

We went to the beach on the east shore of Lake Michigan this morning. I always enjoy the serenity of the seashore. But today the wind was strong and storm clouds were visible on the horizon. We walked out onto the pier but the waves were crashing over the walkway. Matthew 8 tells the storyContinue reading “Storms on the Horizon”

We often evaluate the quality of a message by the character of the messenger. You wouldn’t buy a used car from a dealership that has demonstrated shady practices. You wouldn’t take financial advice from someone convicted of financial crimes. And you shouldn’t listen to spiritual counsel from someone whose life does not demonstrate spiritual fruitContinue reading “Quality of the Message”

I have gone into many buildings, both public and private, and seen a sign restricting access to a room or section of the building. I have even called people on the phone and heard that I cannot speak to the person, because access to them is restricted. It makes me wonder, what are they hiding?Continue reading “Access Restricted”

The last few years have brought a whirlwind of change to our lives. We have been living under the constant upheaval of fluctuating health mandates, prices and wages, product availability, and store closures. It is hard to know what to expect from one day to the next. All of us are searching for some sortContinue reading “Unchangeable”