THE THIRD DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. CONGRATS RON CURTIS Congratulations to gracEmail subscriber Ron Curtis, whose book manuscript on how to have an almost-perfect marriage won FIRST PLACE in the Readers Choice Awards at the recent Ridgecrest Christian Writers Conference. I grew up with Ron (then Ronnie, who became an engineer as an adult) and he was brilliant as a kid. The kind of person who would not surprise you if he decided to build a radio, but write a book -- never. Especially about psychology and relationships. But God touched his heart and mind … [Read more...]

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. GRACEMAIL ENTERS 20TH YEAR The date came and went last month with no fanfare, not even a special announcement. It was April 15--the annual deadline day for paying federal income taxes in the USA. The same day marked another anniversary of a different kind. On that date in the year 1996, some 30 or so people received an email from me based on the contrasting visions the writer of Hebrew draws between the intimidating and fearsome Mount Sinai and the welcoming and celebrative scenes of our heavenly "Mount Zion." … [Read more...]

THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN DVD NOW IN WALMART STORES Shoppers in 3,500 Walmart stores throughout the USA can now purchase DVDs of the award-winning film "Hell and Mr. Fudge" on their next trip to the friendly neighborhood superstore. Using its massive purchasing power, Walmart recently negotiated a fantastic wholesale purchase from the distributor of the prize-winning movie. Now Walmart is shattering the Price Barrier by offering the $20 movie for just $9.69! This is the time to stock up on this once-in-a-lifetime film, then share the DVD of … [Read more...]

THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN UPSIDE DOWN MAYBE? My April issue of The Christian Chronicle, "An international newspaper for Churches of Christ," arrived in today's postal mail delivery. Emblazoned across the top of page one, the banner headline screamed, "Church in decline: U.S. culture to blame?" Before I could consciously consider its meaning, another headline raced through my mind as likely stating more truth: "U.S. culture in decline: church to blame?" MEET THE FAMILY Yes, GracEmail is now in its 20th year and subscribers really do … [Read more...]

THE EIGHTH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN BRAZIL ENCOURAGEMENT Jesus man and gracEmail subscriber Larry Zinck reports from Rio de Janeiro that more than 500 brothers from all over Brazil were present on a recent weekend for an annual men’s retreat, spending two uplifting days singing and praying together. Teaching was encouraging and also challenging. It was a time of renewing old friendships and making new ones. Larry comments: "Times like this make us stop and think how wonderful heaven will be!" WORLD RELIGIONS 2050 The Pew Research Center has … [Read more...]

Surely some of the grandest of God's creation yet unspoiled by the hand of man! That was Alaska's Inside Passage as we experienced it aboard and ashore from The Dawn Princess, sailing from picturesque Seattle, Washington on Saturday, August 26, 2006 and returning on Saturday, September 2. The cruise ship itself is a floating village 856 feet long, 13 stories high and home for a week to more than 2,000 passengers of all ages and stations in life hailing from six continents and islands of the seas. Yet for all the cosmopolitan diversity, it was a small world still. One day we chatted with a … [Read more...]

It was Sunday, September 7 (2008) and the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna had blown through New York the night before. The afternoon sun shone brightly as the Caribbean Princess glided through New York Harbor, past the Statue of Liberty into the Atlantic Ocean. For a year we had anticipated this seven-day cruise with our friends Mark & Phyllis Whitt, to Halifax, Nova Scotia and back to New York, with stops at St. John (New Brunswick), Bar Harbor (Maine), Boston (Mass.) and Newport (R.I.) along the way. By midweek, I became increasingly short of breath but pressed on. After a severe asthma … [Read more...]

As you know, Hurricane Ike unleashed its wrath on South Texas last week (September 2008), with disastrous consequences on states as far removed as Indiana and Ohio. The storm took precious lives, destroyed billions of dollars in property and still leaves millions of people without electrical or other basic services. So today I pray for every victim of Ike, and give thanks for protection of my own and others' homes, an undeserved mercy which has no rational explanation in view of losses suffered by many faithful servants of God. I also give thanks for deliverance through a personal storm … [Read more...]