Favorite Posts in 2018

Twenty-Six Posts This Year

It's hard to pick a handful of 'favorite posts' out of the 26 posts this year. But, there were some that I really liked and enjoyed putting together.  So, here's a list of those that make my top five list.

Oh, the Waiting - January 31
Prayer Warriors Make Comments
I asked some dedicated prayer warriors about the waiting. My friend Toby summed this all up pretty well I think. “Staying the course when you think God is not answering our prayers requires a lot of faith. Faith and a Christian walk are a full-time job.”

Pro Athletes Walking the Walk - Feb 7
There are a significant number of pro players who love Christ and work to be good Christ followers. As difficult as that must be, I pray that they will all let God transform them into new persons!

Relax, God is in Control - Feb 21
Trusting Him is easier said than done. I get it. However, hear this - He is in control and rules over all things. God is sovereign. He loves you and nothing will ever separate us from God’s love!

Summer in the Mountains - Aug 29
Because this camp has a strong Christian focus, each week during the Closing Campfire everyone present was given the opportunity to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. A lot of lives were changed during the course of the summer.

Service to Others - Oct 24
I am proud to say that I am a 1979 graduate of Presbyterian College. While at PC, I was fortunate to learn a great deal about serving others. The motto of PC is Dum Vivimus Servimus, or While We Live We Serve.

We are to obey His Word and serve Him by serving others as Christ showed us. Anyone can think about, talk about and even have convictions about Jesus Christ.

Now What
I hope you'll take a minute to go back and read any of these that you might not have read. If there are other posts you read during the year that you think was worthy of a top five list, comment below. It's always nice to know which pieces are the favorites of your readers.


Next Post in January
With the holidays upon us, we'll take a break from the routine of writing for the blog. I want to have plenty of time to study His Word, and learn even more about the Christ Child.

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until January 2019...

Chaplain Gray

Greater Than

We is greater than me!

We are taught to seek companionship, not isolation throughout scripture. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT says “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

This is just one example of how cooperation has its advantages. Here’s another example seen in history time and time again. The phalanx formation was a close-rank, dense grouping of warriors armed with long spears and interlocking shields. It was a very effective formation used by armies for thousands of years. They can protect an asset located within, and they can defend themselves by the close-rank to many attacks.

Let’s work together. We were not created to be isolated and we are not here to serve just ourselves. We are to serve others and to serve God. So, if someone is hurting, being taken down by health issues or despair, we as Christians can close rank, be protective, erect a defense! We are all part of the body of Christ. We each have our own special work! 

Remember, Paul instructs us and the Galatians “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2



"His faithful love endures forever."



Until next time...


Chaplain Gray

This True Servant Depended Upon God

I was asked to teach a Sunday School lesson recently. So, I read the materials that were provided to me and spent a little time in my own Study Bible reviewing the scripture and the study notes. I found an amazing character back in Genesis in the story of Abraham's challenge of finding an appropriate wife for his son Isaac.

A Servant, Likely Eliezer, Accepts Abraham's Challenge
You can find the story in Genesis 24. Eliezer was a trusted servant, in charge of Abraham's household. Abraham laid out a task in verse 3 and he accepts the challenge in verse 9. Eliezer questioned Abraham about some alternatives he might come across. But Abraham was adamant about his instructions and Eliezer promised to follow them.

After loading camels with provisions and gifts, he headed to a distant land where Abraham's brother Nahor had settled. Scripture tells us that this servant made a plan, and submitted it to God for guidance. In verses 12-14, we see that part of his plan was simply part of the hospitality he would experience anyway. However, it was quite an act of service for someone to offer to water the animals as well. This was important insight on Eliezer's part. He was in search of a woman who had an exceptional attitude of service. 

An Answer to his prayer unfolds before him
Before Eliezer had even finished his prayer, a woman approached the well with her water jug. He approached Rebekah and asked her for a drink. What do you know? Not only did she immediately prepare him a drink of water but without being asked she said she would also water his camels. This is way beyond what would be expected of her. The camels would drink a huge amount of water after such a trek. Eliezer watched patiently as she went about doing so. Rebekah's servant spirit was clearly demonstrated. It was customary for a man (in this case his servant) to give a nose ring and bracelets as a sign of marriage. He did this and found at the same time that Rebekah's family was indeed related to Abraham. 

After learning this, Eliezer bowed and worshipped the Lord, thanking Him for showing love and faithfulness to his master.

Eliezer explains the situation
He is welcomed by Rebekah's family and explains who he is and who his master is. The family recognizes that the Lord had brought him here! They agreed to the marriage.

They asked that she remain there for ten more days, but Eliezer asked them not to delay him. 

He followed through and brought Rebekah to Abraham's son Isaac.

Impressed with the servant's approach
This loyal servant really went about this in a special way.

• He accepted the challenge
• He examined alternatives
• He promised to carry out his task
• He made a plan
• Submitted it to God
• Prayed for guidance
• He waited and watched the answer unfold
• He accepted the answer thankfully
• He explained the situation to stakeholders
• He refused the unnecessary delay
• He faithfully carried out his plan to completion

Eliezer ultimately depended on the Lord and was focused throughout the process. Do we submit our plans to the Lord and pray for guidance when we have a big decision or project?