Christlikeness – Pathway Journey

September 11, 2026September 10, 2026

Obscurity in a Crowded World

Sunlit forest path bordered by wildflowers and leafy trees

I know God has called some of us to the dark corners of the world to carry the light of Jesus. Perhaps, He wants some of us to be cloaked in obscurity to find those who are the forgotten lost and tell them, “Yes, God does love you and He has sent me to tell you that His love is expressed in His Son Jesus. You are not forgotten nor hidden from His eyes.”

God has called us not only to the forgotten lost but also to the hidden servants who labor tirelessly for the Kingdom of God. The Word of God says, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42 NKJV). The cup of cold water could be encouragement and fellowship to those who labor in the Kingdom of God in obscure places of the world.

August 13, 2026August 12, 2026

Walking in Circles

A person hiking along a forked trail in a green forest near a lake

It is true that people lost in the woods or in a desert will walk in a circular pattern, particularly counterclockwise. There have been many research studies that have proved this phenomenon.

To walk in a straight trajectory, land navigators will fix their sight on an unmovable object such as a tree or some other landmark. Even those who use a compass will align their compass reading on a landmark in the distance to set their course of direction. Once they arrive at the first landmark, they will sight another landmark with their compass bearing and continue their journey repeating the process to arrive at their destination.

In life, many people walk in circles. They are aimless in their journey and like a ball in a pinball machine, they just bounce from one point to the next. They have no bearing of direction. They have not chosen a landmark or a standard. Then after many failures of lostness they will proclaim they are just unlucky when they are actually lost.

June 19, 2026June 20, 2026

Daddy Bought a Nissan

My daddy was born in 1914 in the ridges of Northeast Alabama. He was deserted by his father when he was a school-age boy and raised by his single mother in the midst of the Great Depression. He was raised dirt-poor.

May 1, 2026April 30, 2026

Pattern of Living

Man and child holding hands walking on a dirt path surrounded by autumn foliage

Sometimes, we hear people say, “Do as I say but don’t do as I do.” This quote is morphed from a warning of Jesus to His followers about the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matt. 23:3 NKJV).

We all have patterns of living. The habitual lifestyle of good or bad actions creates a pattern by which we are known. Others observe us subconsciously and purposefully. Those around us know us by our patterns. We are generally known by our lifestyle. It is not that people are judging us; they are only taking note of their observations.

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Tension: Strengthening by Two Forces

I have been thinking about the concept of tension for a few weeks. In the physical world, you need two opposing forces to have tension. Think of limp rope that is tied securely on one end to an object. It will remain limp until the other end is attached to another object and the slack pulled from the rope. In society and everyday life, people dislike tension in their lives. We gravitate to one side while despising the other end.

We grow stronger by having some tension in our lives. There is no need to look for trouble/tension because it has a way of finding us. We need to see the opportunity of becoming stronger when trouble comes.

November 8, 2025November 8, 2025

Four Pillars of Discipleship

We often complicate things too much. Lofty philosophical and theological ideas often leave no footprints in the dirt.

After trusting Christ as our Savior and Lord, what do we do to mature in our faith? Here are four basic points everyone needs to do consistently.

September 26, 2025September 26, 2025

Christian Martyrdom

Most of us have read accounts of religious martyrdom in historical books and the Bible. Few of us have witnessed it with our own eyes. Recently, we saw Charlie Kirk killed at one of his events. Some would argue that this was a political hit, not a religious one. Whether you loved or hated him, he was an adamant Christian who never minced his words.

The original Greek New Testament word for martyr is the word ‘martus’ pronounced [mar’-toos]. Its basic meaning is witness. A martyr is a person killed for his witness.

It is estimated that over 70 million Christians have been martyred since Jesus Christ himself was martyred on the cross. Most of those have been in the 1900s under fascist and communist rulers. Depending on the historian, some estimates say that since 2000 there has been an average of 100,000 per year. Martyrdom is not just in biblical times but also in relative modern times.

September 12, 2025September 12, 2025

Murder Grows from the Seed of Hate

Most of us watched in horror as Charlie Kirk was assassinated before our eyes. Many of us viewed the footage where Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee was stabbed to death on a Charlotte train with no provocation. Those of us with any sense of morality or common sense, ask the question, “Why?”

I am relieved to know that so many of us can’t fathom how these things can happen. It seems such a senseless act to destroy another human being—a being made in the very image of God. Our hearts cry and our reasoning minds can’t comprehend the depths of hate.

August 23, 2025August 23, 2025

Faith Over Fear: Pursuing God’s Calling

The calling of God’s work must be greater than our strength or it is only the work of a man. If it can be accomplished outside of God’s power, it is the mere work of man. The work of God’s kingdom is accomplished only by the strength and power of God.

Jesus said it very plainly in John 15:4-5 (NKJV). “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

When a person believes he has a God-given calling in His kingdom, he must see something beyond himself. With such a calling or dream, there are two possible outcomes. One, it is a miracle only God can do. Secondly, we look foolish. The fear of failure or looking foolish causes many to not pursue the work of God.

July 31, 2025July 30, 2025

Oh To Be A Child Again

While reading through the Bible again this year, I saw something for the first time. That happens when you crack the Book again and again!

I discovered two accounts of Jesus’ ministry that were back-to-back. I had never seen them related. I am talking about Jesus with the children and then the young, rich ruler. Both are found in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. For reference purposes, they are found in Matt. 19:13-30, Mark 10:13-31, and Luke 18:15-30).

Let’s look at the comparison.