Author's posts
Oct 21
What Type of Tent Did Paul Make?
Suppose you had come to Corinth, Greece for the famous Isthmian Games of 51 AD and needed a tent. You stubble upon a leather working man who makes, repairs, and sells tents. His name is Paul (Acts 18:3). You hear reports that he is a relatively well-known religious teacher. He is a trained Jewish Rabbi …
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Oct 13
Finding Faithfulness on a Hike
In February of 2018, Amanda and I hiked Abrams Falls trail in the Cade’s Cove region of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It is a beautiful five mile round trip hike which is highlighted by Abrams Falls; a 20 foot waterfall with high water volume. The hike involves going up and over three ridges …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/finding-faithfulness-on-a-hike/
Sep 30
A Quiet Life
Noise! We are used to it every day; our world is chaotic and busy. In the midst of this chaos, Paul gives us an unusual command, “aspire to live quietly” (1 Thes. 4:11). Does Paul want us to quit talking so much? While that is a part of the idea, it seems the concept is …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/a-quiet-life/
Sep 23
A Lesson from RBG’s Death
Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020. Her death, while met with memorials and sadness by many, primarily has created a firestorm over who will replace her. Given the election year timing of her death, political sides quickly divided on when and who should appoint the next Supreme Court justice. While …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/a-lesson-from-rbgs-death/
Sep 16
The Dangers of Idle Mind
It was a delightful spring afternoon, King David was lounging around the palace with nothing to do. Typically, he would have been with his army, because this was the time of the year when kings go out to battle, but David stayed home. His kingdom was blossoming. Everything was going so well, he could take …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/the-danger-of-idle-minds/
Sep 09
Responsibilities of Harvest
Harvest is here. Farmers are in the fields harvesting crops and will be gathering them for the next several months. One of my favorite books of the Old Testament, Ruth, is set in the context of the barley harvest. Ruth and her mother-in-law have returned back to Bethlehem, which is an agricultural area with fertile …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/responsibilities-of-harvest/
Sep 03
A Chicken Living with Pigs
Our chickens have had it rough on the farm. We slowly lost our flock of birds to predators throughout the spring and summer. We got down to one rooster. He was all alone, wandering alone during the day and spending nights in the coop by himself. This rooster looked around and couldn’t find all of …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/a-chicken-living-with-pigs/
Aug 26
A Prayer for Our Schools
As our schools begin their new year, I invite you to join me in this petition to our Heavenly Father. I know there are many concerns, so let us not be “anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [our] requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Father we …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/a-prayer-for-our-schools/
Aug 19
Chocolate Snow Flakes
2020 has been a rough year, but residents of Olten, Switzerland woke to a pleasant surprise recently–chocolate particles falling from the sky and covering the landscape. While this may sound like a scene out of the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, this really happened. The Lindt chocolate factory had a cooling ventilation defect …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/chocolate-snow-flakes/
Aug 12
Reaping the Whirlwind
The prophet Hosea wrote that Israel was sowing the wind and would reap the whirlwind (Hos. 8:7). The powerful and evocative image convicts Israel of having sown what was worthless and profitless, and thus reaping the same with interest. The harvest to follow would be one of violence and destruction! When I see the current …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/reaping-the-whirlwind/
