Author: Kevin Corbin

I spent some time this morning reading Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul jumps right into the reason Jesus came to earth.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, that is an old hat message. We know it. We’ve been there, done that. It is very easy to become blasé about our salvation and Jesus’ sacrifice.

We can begin to think we are saved because we are worthy of it, or because we are somehow special and deserving. We might not be so bold as to come out and actually say those words, but we can turn God’s incredible grace and mercy into some form of self-righteousness.

Or, we might go to the extreme of thinking that His grace is somehow not enough. We start doing works “for God” in an effort to please him, as if our efforts had that little something extra to His shed blood.

We can easily become distracted from the miracle that a holy God would love us so much that He took on human flesh and died in our stead.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

You and I aren’t saved because we were somehow special. We were saved because He loves us despite our sin and failings. We are His because He chose to call us and make us His own.

That truth ought to humble us and cause us to serve out of love and gratitude.

I know who I was before Christ, and who I can still be even after becoming His. I’m amazed that He would bother saving me, let alone at such a high cost.

Lord, forgive us when we take your gift of forgiveness for granted or when we try to earn our way into your good graces. Teach us to humbly accept your love and mercy and abide in you.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

As I walked near the schoolyard, I saw some elementary-age girls  skipping rope. Two girls turned the rope, and the rest of the girls took turns jumping in and out. 

Instead of the usual jump rope songs I remember from childhood, these girls were making up songs from old nursery rhymes.

I don’t recall the exact words, but one of their songs went something like this, “Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. And wow, that lamb could go.” 

At “that lamb could go,” the rope turners moved into “pepper” mode and turned it as quickly as their little arms could spin the rope.

They sang a couple of other songs as well, but for some reason, Mary and her lamb stuck in my head. Now, the nursery rhyme is about a real person and a lamb. It was first published around 1830 and has become a children’s staple.

As I walked further, my mind kept repeating the verse. 

As the song played in my mind, a thought struck me. It’s so obvious that I wondered why it had never occurred to me before. Mary did indeed have a little lamb. His name is Jesus.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. He’s the pure, spotless lamb that makes our salvation possible.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!John 1:29

The next day, again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” John 1:35-36

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. 1 Peter 1:13-20 

Until next time, rejoice when you hear the old nursery rhyme about Mary and her lamb. Her lamb is our salvation, and that’s something worth celebrating.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

The lawn mower picked up a rock and threw it with great force  into the windshield of the oncoming car. Fortunately, windshields are made of safety glass, because the stone hit right in front of the driver’s face. 

What could have been a significant, life-threatening disaster was relegated instead to the category of a minor accident. No one was hurt, and the damage was easily repaired.

My friend said that all he saw was the blur of a shape moving towards him at incredible speed. Then he heard a rifle shot like “crack” as the rock hit the windshield. It took some phone calls, but he was eventually able to get the offending party to pay for the damage without having to make an insurance claim.

My friend later commented, “I know what Goliath must have felt like when he saw that rock coming. There was nothing I could do. I was sure I was dead.”

We often think of the story of David and Goliath when stones are hurled. It is an incredible true tale of a young man’s zeal for God and the courage that gave him (for a refresher, read 1 Samuel 17). 

It is also a warning to those who would mock the God Most High. 

They may stand for a long time, as Goliath did, seemingly without punishment, but God will eventually lose His patience with them. Mocking God is a hazardous thing to do.

The Scriptures are very clear on that fact.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.Galatians 6:7

In my pre-Christian days, I was often guilty of mocking God. It seemed perfectly safe, after all; either there was no real god, or He seemed powerless to do anything about it. A powerless god is something that cries out to be mocked.

I did not realize that, rather than an absence of God’s power keeping me safe, it was the presence of a great deal of God’s patience.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 

There will come a day of reckoning. All accounts will be reviewed, and all outstanding debts will be settled. The mocker will be found wanting and pay the penalty. 

Only those who have accepted the Lord’s wondrous gift of grace and mercy will come through the judgment unscathed. Are you one of them?

Until next time, praise God for His patience with us.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

A blast from the past this morning. This one from February 2006. 

Yesterday, Genni the wonder dog and I took a mid-afternoon stroll through the bush. We stayed on the trails rather than cutting cross-country. 

Genni was on full alert because the trails were full of fresh rabbit sign. Last week, in the same area we had seen a rabbit on the trail we were traveling, and the area is home to many of them.

That is technically not true. There were no rabbits in the area. To be more precise, my “rabbits” are the North American Varying Hare, Lepus americanus, also known as the snowshoe rabbit. However, I have called them rabbits my entire life, so I will stick with it.

Genni is a border collie basset hound cross (picture a border collie on basset-length legs, and you will have her), and her basset brain was hard at work. She was working the scent trail hard. Several times, she veered to go off one of the many side trails.

The side trails may be great for rabbits, but going through the thick brambles and underbrush down a two-foot-tall trail is not my idea of a good time. Not only that, but in our area, all dogs must be on a leash, so it would not have taken long before Genni was so tangled up she never would have gotten free.

Had I been hunting rabbits for something to eat, I probably would have worked my way down the trails with her. Since we were only out walking, I pulled her back, and we continued. 

Each time I pulled her back, she gave a snort of displeasure and her “Boss, you’re messing with my work” look and carried on down the main trail.

We did not see any rabbits, although I suspect that they were not very far away down some of the trails. A couple of times I caught a glimpse of movement in the thick brush.

Oftentimes, we get sidetracked on our walk with the Lord and pulled down any number of rabbit trails. It can even start with good things, but before long, we find ourselves tangled in the brush, covered in scratches, and wondering which way to turn next. We may even have completely lost sight of both our original goal and the path back.

One area where we can get lost is arguing about unimportant aspects of doctrine and practice. Now, before you get your hackles up, let me assure you that I am all for sound doctrine and wish that the “average Christian in the pew” knew what they believed and why they believe it better than they do. There is an appalling level of Biblical illiteracy and doctrinal weakness within the church as a whole.

There are many divisions within the church over unimportant and trivial matters. While admonishing Timothy to stick to sound doctrine, he also warned him against foolish arguments.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 

2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV

The Lord, in all likelihood, does not care what color the sanctuary carpet and walls are. Yet many churches have been decimated by arguments over such things. 

Should the pastor wear a suit, a robe, or blue jeans? Again, I suspect the Lord probably does not care if the truth is being proclaimed and people are being drawn to Him. Yet, I know pastors who have been admonished because their shoes were not shiny enough.

The exact timing and nature of the Second Coming is another. Will we be raptured? If so, when? Great material to discuss and an area where strong opinions are held on all sides. 

Ultimately, we will not know until He comes back or we join Him in the air. So why do we not accept it as an area where good and godly people can disagree?

Bible translations are yet another. Oh, I can already feel the hate mail being typed. Some translations are superior to others, and a translation beats a paraphrase hands down (for accuracy, although not always for ease of reading) … yet even a poor paraphrase that is being read beats no Scripture or an excellent translation that sits on the shelf gathering dust. 

Yet churches divide over such things. Lighten up, people! Jesus never spoke a word of English in His entire life on earth. All of the translations are people’s best efforts to be faithful to the truth.

Let us stick to the business of winning people to Jesus, ministering to them, equipping them to minister, and sending them out. Let us not fall into the rabbit trail of foolish arguments and, in avoiding those trails, avoid the snares of the devil.

Until next time, in the words of someone else, “Remember to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

There was no Gleanings yesterday, as Kathy and I took a  spontaneous break. We left the house at 6:30 to catch a 9:15 ferry headed to Salt Spring Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands we had never visited.

It was a quick exploration of parts of the island as we only had five hours before the last ferry of the day returned to the mainland. We saw some beautiful beaches and pinpointed some places for future exploration.

We also had a brief visit with one of Kathy’s cousins and her husband, whom she hadn’t seen in 50 years. It was a great time of catching up.

We sailed on the Salish Heron. It’s a small but relatively new (2022) LNG-powered ferry that can carry 138 vehicles and 600 passengers. At 351 feet long, it has a displacement of 4295 tons.

We don’t think twice about driving onto a ferry, yet when you consider that someone had the ingenuity to make large amounts of concrete and steel float, it’s truly amazing. The designer’s skills are incredible.

The engineer(s) who built the Salish undoubtedly have many years of engineering training and the experience of countless generations of sailors to draw on. They had a plethora of materials to work with.

How much more so are the skills and power of God, who created entire galaxies and all the life therein? He had no raw materials and created everything ex nihilo (out of nothing).

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-4

That’s nothing new to us if you have been a Christian for any length of time. Even many non-believers know we believe God created from nothing.

Yet, how often do we stop and think about the implications?

God has incredible power, more than we can comprehend. As the Creator of all things, He is the sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing ruler.  He has the right to(and the ability) to do whatever He wants with all of it.

He chooses to redeem rebellious sinners at the cost of Jesus’ life. What marvelous love. It’s love on a scale I cannot even begin to fathom.

Look around. See the wonders of what He has done and praise hIm for His love and mercy.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Campbell Valley Park is one of my favorite places for a walk. We  usually take the river loop, which wanders through shady trails and marshlands along the river. 

Well, it’s a river in name only, at least through the park. The Campbell River is more of a meandering stream that isn’t particularly deep.

At one point, there is a viewing area on a boardwalk that crosses the river. That boardwalk is a great place to stand and do some birdwatching. Mallards and wood ducks are often very close by.

Wood ducks are beautifully bright and colorful. One source describes them as “one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. “

Even their call is different from most ducks, which I find hard to describe. That same source says “Female makes loud “oo-eek, oo-eek” when disturbed and taking flight. Male has thin, rising and falling zeeting whistle.”

They have another characteristic that sets them apart from most species of duck: they are perching ducks.

Woodies nest in trees and are often found perched on tree branches. I had read somewhere about their fondness for perching, but the first time I observed it, I was still surprised.

I’ve never seen the Campbell Valley woodies in trees, but since their nesting ground of choice is a hole in a tree, they must spend at least some time there.

Ducks aren’t specifically mentioned in the Scripture as far as I have been able to tell. Still seeing them often makes me think about God.

He created them.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:20-21

When you see these beautifully colored, strange-sounding ducks sitting in a tree, it’s hard not to marvel at the diversity and beauty of God’s creation.

God’s abundant care and provision for His creation are demonstrated when the ducklings leave the nest. They are designed to jump out of trees and land on the ground, often far below, when they are ready to go. 

I have only observed that happening twice, and both times I was sure that they would end up severely injured on landing. Both times, they gently bounced and followed their parents towards the water.

His creative power, mercy, and compassion are exhibited in the wood ducks and in so many other sights we often take for granted.

Whether there are wood ducks nearby or not, I pray that you look around today and see the hand of God everywhere.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

We were deep in the countryside of Laos on a medical mission  trip. What I saw looked like a scene from a National Geographic magazine or from every Vietnam-era movie that I had ever seen. 

Rice paddies as far as the eye could see, with Lao women in the traditional “coolie” hat planting rice. To them, it was common, everyday labor. To me, it was exciting, as I never thought I would see it in person.

The paddies are ingenious in design. Small mud dams hold the water back and flood the crops. Controlled openings regulate the flow of water from paddy to paddy, allowing maximum use of a given amount of water. 

Stalks of rice are brought from the nursery area and planted by hand in the mud. There, they will be tended until the dry season, when the ground around the rice will dry.

The heads of rice will be hand harvested with a sickle. The stalks will be burned in place, fertilizing the soil, and the dams repaired in anticipation of the next harvest. It is labor-intensive work, and all steps of the process must be completed before the rice is ready for harvest.

Like any crop, it takes work and time and a degree of faith to bring to fruition. I was reminded of Jesus at the Samaritan well, after He had sent the woman off. The disciples have rejoined Jesus.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
John 4:31-38 

The disciples were confused. What could Jesus mean when he told them that his food was to do the Father’s will? 

Did it mean that He did not need to eat? Of course not! Jesus was fully man as well as fully God. His body had the exact needs of any human.

He meant that He did not need temporary sustenance to continue His work. He knew that bringing souls to harvest was a labor of many parts. 

Like a rice harvest, each step must take place before the harvest can begin. Each step is undertaken in faith that the harvest will come to fruition.

When we share the truth or minister to others, we may not see any results. We do not have to grow discouraged by that fact. We can be sustained by the knowledge that God is responsible for the harvest. Each of us does our part in faith and leaves the results to God.

The Apostle Paul understood that fact very well.

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Till the soil, pick the rocks, prepare the seedbed, plant, weed, water, or harvest. 

Do your part faithfully, and the harvest will come in season. Do not grow discouraged if you do not see results. Continue to work in faith. 

Fruit takes time to form and mature.

Until next time, may you be sustained by the faith that God is responsible for the results. Your part is to do your part.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

The scentless chamomile has pretty daisy-like flowers and  attractive foliage. It grows prolifically and brightens up any spot that it decides to take root. 

However, there is a massive problem with it. The scentless chamomile is such an aggressive plant that it soon chokes out everything in its path. The effect of leaving it in your garden is not so pretty in the end. It is considered a noxious weed in many provinces and ruthlessly removed whenever it appears.

Not everything that looks pretty is a good thing. In the same way, not every thought pattern that seems to be right is correct.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 

Such a simple little Proverb, yet it was important enough to show up twice in the Bible.

The path of believing there is no such thing as absolute truth seems right. It allows each of us to do our own thing without consequences. Yet, it leads to destruction because truth is truth even when we do not believe it, and all sin leads to death.

The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah followed that path for a long time, and it led to their eventual destruction. We read repeatedly in the book of Judges, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” It seemed fine to them, but brought the wrath of God.

Pursuing the things of this world instead of God seems to make sense to so many. Yet, the things of this world never bring satisfaction. All they do is bring us further from God.

The LORD has given us His truth in the Bible. It is designed as an owner’s manual that we can use to measure truth. We can avoid many of the ways that seem right but lead to death by applying its truth.

A little knowledge enables a gardener to distinguish between a daisy and a scentless chamomile. The Bible allows us to know the right path from the wrong.

Until next time, check your path with he ways of God.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

I spent last night in a dark room, in a hospital basement with  wires attached to my head, neck, torso, and legs. It was a sleep study. I want to commend the staff on their professionalism and friendliness.

Since my brain injury in 1992, I have suffered from a variety of sleep disorders and other issues, and this is the latest attempt to diagnose and hopefully treat some of them. I’ll get the results and know the next steps in September.

I have been told at times that my use of the medical system displays a lack of faith. If I had enough faith, I’m told, God would heal me.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I unequivocally agree that God can heal and still does heal. I have witnessed complete healings in my own family. I have seen God spontaneously and miraculously heal people during services I preached at. I know friends and acquaintances who God has healed in supernatural ways.

God heals, physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. The Bible is full of examples.

He heals the brokenheartedand binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:52

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. Matthew 4:23

God still heals today. He heals supernaturally and miraculously, but He has also given us a medical profession, diagnostic tools, and treatments to aid in our healing.

God is not anti-doctor. In fact, He created them and their professions. Luke, the author of a gospel and the first history of the early church (Acts), was a physician.

Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, as does Demas. Colossians 4:14

Paul does not rebuke Him for being a doctor.

There is a time and place for God to heal at His discretion. There is a time and place for the medical profession to heal. There is a time and place when the medical profession fails, and God chooses not to intervene with healing.

Can He intervene and heal me? Absolutely. Will He? Only time will come. Will the Lord allow the medical profession to heal me? Again, only time will tell.

Either way, God is still sovereign. He knows what is best for us. He may choose to say as he did to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Would I prefer to be healed? Of course. Will I praise regardless of my healing or lack thereof? Without question.

He is worthy of praise and honor, regardless of our circumstances.

Let everyone praise His holy name.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

There will be no Gleanings tomorrow as I have some overnight  medical tests tonight. We will return on Wednesday,

On Friday evening, Kathy and I went for an ice cream cone at Birchwood Dairies, a favorite spot. That was followed by a country drive out to Chilliwack and back.

On the return visit, just outside of Abbotsford, I caught a rare sight: a mink in the wild. He crept out of some tall grasses and reeds to the edge of a seemingly permanent puddle next to the roadside.

I haven’t seen a mink in a couple of decades. They’re not uncommon, just primarily nocturnal, so seldom seen. I wasn’t able to take a picture as we passed by it in a moving car.

For over 150 years, minks have been farmed for their fur in Canada. The industry has largely disappeared with the decreased demand for fur, and has been banned in some provinces. Although fur coats have fallen in popularity in North America, having a mink coat remains a status symbol in China, Korea, and Russia.

Every culture has its status clothing. In the past, it might have been fine fur garments. Today, it might be designer labels. In biblical times, it was robes or other garments dyed purple.

We think nothing of wearing the color purple; in fact, the volunteer t-shirts for last week’s summer camp at our local assembly were purple. It hasn’t always been that way. For millennia, it was the color worn only by the ultra-rich and powerful. The cost of producing purple dye made it prohibitive for the ordinary person to wear it.

The Bible warns us against being fooled by the trappings of power and status.

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4

Every person is created in the image of God and is entitled to dignity. God judges us by our hearts, not the external trappings. We’re called to do the same.

Don’t be fooled by outward appearances. Rich and poor, enabled and disabled, color of skin or cultural background, we’re called to love all people. 

As a famous preacher once said, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

Let’s set aside our prejudices and pre-judgements and live as Jesus called us to.

Hallelu Yah

Be blessed,

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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Please like and share this post with your friends and those in your circle of influence. Feel free to comment.

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___________________________________________ 

All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”