Night Candle Meditations

The Ukraine War's affect on family separation is difficult to fully comprehend by those not involved. Newscasts portrayed a daughter desperately clinging to a father holding back tears as he said goodbye before returning to the war front. Similar separations during this war are repeated thousands of times per day, but distance and repetition lessen the empathy of many. One can only speculate as to how all this will affect the generations to come. Separation from loved ones will eventually come to most of us. Scripture tells us that the iniquity of the fathers will affect the generations of children and grandchildren (Exodus 34:7). What can be done to rectify the mistakes and ameliorate life for future generations? My own mistakes went unfettered until culminating in the horrific crime of murder for which I am imprisoned. It is unfortunate that some prison fathers see sons and nephews following them into the prison system. I determined to do what I can in preventing others from fo...

Buying the gasoline necessary for transportation to work now requires drastic changes in the budgets of most households. For some this may cut into their entertainment or clothing allowance, but for many it means doing without what most people would perceive as necessities. Dramatic increases in food prices and utilities potentially have a negative affect on the whole of society. How can one be content under such circumstances? Being content means desiring no more than what one has; to be satisfied. People naturally seek to improve their position in life, especially when seeing what others have. Words from Hebrews 13:5 counsel us while providing a hint of where to focus our thoughts: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" On the mountainside beside the Sea of Galilee, Christ's words to the people reveal why we need not worry about our food or clothi...

It is difficult to imagine one of this country's leaders stooping to the despicable act of murder for any reason. Yet that is exactly what David did in his attempt to cover up the results of adultery with another man's wife (see chapter 11 of 1 Samuel). Despite this transgression of law common to all cultures and societies, Paul reminds us of God's words: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will (Acts 13:22; see also 1 Samuel 13:14). Most people will deny that the capacity for murder exists within each of us (Matthew 5:21,22). Recognizing the evil in others is easier, especially when remote from our own lives. Many see the epitome of evil manifest in Putin, the Russian president, as his soldiers invade Ukraine. With our attention focused on the events in Ukraine, it is easy to overlook the brooding evil within the hearts of our own country's leadership. They invest in energy and weapons stocks while soaring inflation...