"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 KJV) On our way to Dr. Johnson’s office in my dad’s big Buick, Dad glanced
Author: Gary Combs
Cliff diving and the fear of rejection
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe" (Proverbs 29:25 NIV). Some years ago, when I was young and foolish (or should I say more foolish) I found myself standing on a tall cliff overlooking South Holston Lake with a couple of my best buddies.
Measuring the love in Granny’s biscuits
“And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” (John 15:13 NLT) When Robin and I first got married I wanted her to learn how to make biscuits like my Granny’s. My Granny’s biscuits were amazing! So thick and fluffy… with a pad of
While I was thinking about thinking
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish
Thinking aloud
“Come now, let us reason together,”says the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV). “Daddy, why is the sky blue? What is glass made of? Why do the clouds move? How much longer before we get there?” I remember asking these questions of my father as we traveled along the highway in his big Buick. My seven year
Out of gas
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1 NIV). Did you know that motorcycles don’t have gas gauges? Last Saturday afternoon I took my new bike out for a ride
Your hot tub is here
“Hey, you Mr. Combs?” announced a big fellow in a Federal Express uniform as he entered the church office. “Yes.” I replied. “With Wilson Community Church?” he continued. “Yes, that’s right.” I said. “Well, I got your hot tub here. Where do you want it dropped off?” He asked. “Hot tub? I don’t think… Wait
iChurch – Less IS more
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17 NIV). The Apple Corporation has caught a cultural wave. Complexity is out and simplicity is in. Their “i” products have captured the art of simplicity: iPod, iMac, iPhone, iTunes, etc. The “i” probably started out to symbolize “internet,” but it
Building the “Lego” Church
“And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple” (1 Peter 2:5 NLT). “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will
I love Legos
“Our bodies have many parts, but these parts don’t all do the same thing. In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other” (Romans 12:4-5 GW). I love Legos. I’ve been buying them for my kids since they were born. We’ve