As the sun gently disappeared over the desert horizon, a group of soldiers soon headed to war gathered to pray. Though we came from different faiths, including those with no faith traditions, we felt united in brotherhood. It was my duty as the Ministry Team Leader for our unit to lead and arrange these times we could gather in worship and prayer. That night it was also my honor to share a few words. Though I have long since forgotten…
Our beautiful friends, it’s been a joy to welcome you into our home, to share our joy, our love for our Savior Jesus Christ. He is indeed risen, triumphant in glory, He lives to bless us with His abundant love. To remember our Savior The gift of His atoning grace For He is risen in glory splendor Triumphant truth that we may know His arms await our soul to embrace No matter our burden, our challenges, our despair, He lives…
A failure in 1957 led to a present-day miracle. The failure was the death of a little girl “gravely ill from congenital heart disease.” The miracle was the healing of my heart. The world of health care was much different 65 years ago when President Russell M. Nelson was pioneering efforts in open-heart surgery. Pioneering efforts are fraught with trial and error, mistakes and failure. Yet, few have more dire consequences than the pioneer efforts in medical care. But without the…
There have been many over the course of my journey who I have seen as SPIRITUAL GIANTS. As I have pondered what it is that makes a person a spiritual giant to me, I believe it comes down to three core principles. FAITH They believe in their God and in the essence of how they connect with God, even if they doubt, have questions, or struggle to live the precepts they ascribe to. They hope for that which is true,…
We Stand All Amazed that the Lord can do impossible math. As we recently learned when we met Dallas Jenkins, Creator of The Chosen, the Lord will multiply our efforts. As we show up with our meager loaves and fish, the Lord will do the “impossible math”, as Jenkins calls it, to feed the 5,000. We Stand All Amazed at the love Jesus offers us. We “marvel that he would descend from his throne divine / To rescue a soul so…
The miracles of Jesus transformed people. He healed the crippled and fed the 5,000, calmed the storm and raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, restored sight to he who was blind and healed a woman of faith. 🎵 🎵 🎵 O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. 🎵 🎵 🎵 He called others…
I am celebrating today Davis and Jensen White, sons of our friends Paul and Ann White. Davis is headed for two years of missionary service while Jensen is receiving his Eagle Scout recognition. This celebration of each has caused me to ponder what it means to sacrifice and to serve. Davis will sacrifice two years of his normal life, put on hold education, working, and personal pursuits (like dating for one) in order to serve as a missionary. Jensen has…
Few words echo the united feeling we have as Americans more than Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The U.S.A.” Especially in times of tragedy. Written and released in 1983, the patriotic anthem has found new meaning over the last nearly forty years. “It keeps having a different kind of life,” Lee Greenwood said of his signature song. “I mean during the Gulf War, it was a song of the war for General Schwarzkopf. After Hurricane Katrina, it was a song for…
For the beauty of the earth, skies, and land For the plentiful blessing filling our hand On this beautiful day of sabbath praise To thee, our Lord, our grateful voice raise We Love You Friends! Les & Elisa #SundayReflections
Elisa’s mother Julia, who finished her mortal journey four years ago tomorrow, loved lighthouses. She had several throughout her home including paintings and figurines. The chorus of one of her most favorite hymns, “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy,” includes the line, “let the lower lights be burning”. Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. I have sung this hymn for years without knowing, until a few…