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I confess that I have a weakness for bread, especially freshly  baked, just out of the oven, slathered with butter. Leavened, unleavened, white, brown, pumpernickel, sourdough, whole grains, mixed grains, I enjoy them all.

Some of my earliest memories involve watching my mom mix bread dough and the aroma of fresh-baked bread. 

Bread is a staple of life, and most (if not all) cultures have some form of it. The style and grains may vary, but almost anywhere on the globe, you will find some bread.

The earliest known breads are thought to be almost as old as humanity, and archeological evidence suggests that they were likely made of cattail root. Most breads were unleavened, or some form of wild “sourdough,” until the 1800s. 

According to one source, “In 1859, Louis Pasteur discovered how yeast worked, and with that, the mass production of yeast began. Charles Fleischman began selling yeast cells in test tubes to bakers in 1863. By 1868, Fleischman was wrapping yeast in tin foil. At the turn of the century, advertisements began popping up in newspapers and journals for yeast “of the purest quality.” From that point, leavened breads took off and became the norm in much of the world.

Bread holds significant importance in the Bible. It can represent fellowship, God’s provision, purity, a sacred offering, communion with God, and even the Word of God.

The Lord himself even used it as a metaphor for himself.

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:36-40

He is the ultimate source and sustainer of life.

The next time you enjoy a slice of bread, take a moment and remember the Christ. Give Him praise and thanks.

Kevin

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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.”

Babies are wonderful things (well, personally, they are so small they terrify me, but they are wonderful nonetheless). They are fresh and new, pure and untarnished. 

Eventually, a baby will do what a baby must do, and before long, their diapers get to smelling somewhat unpleasant. When that happens, we change the diaper, clean their bottom, maybe put on some powder, and they are fresh again.

What would happen if we just tossed some powder on the baby instead of changing the diaper and put a new one over the old one? Well, they might smell better for a while, but it wouldn’t be long before they got to stinking again, because we didn’t deal with the real problem. We just gave it the appearance (or smell) of being changed.

When we become Christians, we are new creatures and infants in our walk. We are forgiven and fresh, but vestiges of the old us hang around. We are influenced by a world with different beliefs and attitudes, and it is often hostile towards us.

Here we lie, fresh new infants, babes in Christ, secure in our salvation. Sooner or later, we fall into old patterns, mess up, and drift from God. We throw a little baby powder on the smell of our filthy rags by going to church, maybe even reading our Bible, and praying. Yet we don’t go to the Lord seeking forgiveness, and we don’t seek to give up that which makes us smell.

I’m not judging anyone here. We all are guilty of being baby powder Christians at times, sometimes frequently, myself included.

The Scriptures warn about this lack of maturity.

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.Romans 12:2 

We need to grow in Christ to do more than lie content in our salvation. We need to be intentional about putting aside our transgressions, seeking forgiveness, and making amends. We need to search Scripture diligently and put its teachings into practice in our lives.

I don’t mean that we need to construct elaborate systems of do’s and don’ts or rigid sets of religious laws. I mean, we need to nurture that personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

He’s not angry with us or disappointed in our falling, any more than we are furious that a baby fills its diapers. We must admit we need to be changed and let that happen.

My friends, it’s time for us all to be truly changed and to stop being baby powder Christians.

Until next time, may God richly bless you.

Kevin

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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 common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) grows prolifically along the roadside here. This  herbaceous biennial was introduced from Europe and Asia and has adapted well to conditions here.

The purple or white flowers are arranged in a showy, terminal, elongated cluster; each flower is tubular and pendent. That’s the fancy way of saying they hang on a stalk like bells. The inside of each bell is heavily spotted. They have an exotic beauty that reminds me of orchids.

This lovely garden flower is pretty to look at, but highly poisonous to ingest. It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin).

Sin is like foxglove, beautiful but deadly. If it weren’t appealing to us somehow, we wouldn’t be tempted by it. If we truly saw our sin as God sees it, with all its ugliness and destruction, we would be repelled and run away from it rather than towards it.

Satan was the most beautiful of all the angels, but destructive beyond measure.

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me:“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: ‘You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created, they were prepared.You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. Ezekiel 28:11-17

Our Lord created many beautiful things to be enjoyed, but we must be careful not to be blinded by beauty and fall into the pit of sin.

Let’s enjoy the beauty, but beware the dark underside it might contain.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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’m no woodsman, but I have spent enough time in the  countryside and bush to learn to love the sound of coyotes and wolves howling.

There is something both beautiful and chilling about the sound of a group of coyotes, or a pack of wolves, singing back and forth in the moonlight. 

Years ago, when we went on a ministry trip to South Africa, we stayed in a cottage owned by some friends outside Henley-on-Klip. On some evenings, we could listen to the wild African dogs singing their own song in the nearby koppies (low ranges of hills). Their songs were quite different from those of coyotes or wolves, but they were beautiful in their own way.

Wild dogs, wolves, and coyotes sing to communicate with each other. I think they also use their voices to praise God. I am not alone in that thinking. God alludes to it and tells us through the prophet Isaiah that even the jackals  (wild dogs) and owls honor Him.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21

God is doing a new thing, and even the animals know enough to praise Him. Yet, often, His own people do not see what He is doing and fail to praise Him.

The Lord used Isaiah to confront His people.

“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense.You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. Isaiah 43:22-14

Perhaps it is because animals’ minds are less cluttered with worldly distractions. Their lives are hard and a constant struggle for survival, but without all the other “stuff,” they are still able to praise.

What distractions keep you from singing a simple song of praise to the LORD of all creation?

Until next time, may you see past the distractions to the work that God is doing all around you and give Him praise.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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 are two words in Christianity that get frequently abused.  First is the term “church,” and second is “worship.”

I will deal primarily with “church” today, but allow me a comment on worship. Worship isn’t just singing. Everything that happens on a Sunday morning, the teaching, prayer, giving, serving, and whatever else happens, should be God focused and worship.

The word “church” refers to more than the building. To be technical, a building can never be a church.

I like the way one source talks about this subject, “The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people about what church they attend, they usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says, “Greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers.”

The church is the body of Christ, comprised of believers.

“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

All believers are part of the universal, small “c” catholic, worldwide church. The church transcends denominational, theological, geographic, and temporal barriers.

We can meet in designated buildings or outside, even in secret caves and caverns. None of those places is the church, but the believers who gather there are.

In a broader sense, all people who gather for worship, believers or not, are part of a local assembly. We might refer to them as the church on an informal basis, but the true church is believers only.

Are you part of the church? Have you put your trust in Christ by faith? If not, consider rectifying that today.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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 snapped this photo of a washed-up log, with an attached chain  alongside the Fraser River. I don’t know why the chain was connected, but unless someone intervenes, the log and chain are destined to decompose together slowly.

Like that log and chain, we are bound together with the weight of our sin forever unless Jesus intervenes. The log cannot detach itself from the chain, and we cannot free ourselves from our sin debt.

As Christians, we understand that Jesus came to free us. It’s a merciful gift that none of us deserves.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:18-19

Yet we can default into positions that say something else.

Some live life trying to earn their salvation, even though it is a gift freely given. They become works motivated, trying hard to impress Jesus enough that He might somehow reach down and save them, despite it having already having happened.

In others, belief in their salvation can foster a sense of superiority over non-believers. They forget their own sinful roots and laud a sense of self-righteousness over others. They look down on the struggles of others, deluding themselves into thinking they are better and could never stumble.

A third group grows content in their salvation and does nothing. They don’t serve, worship, study, or pray. If they attend worship at all, it’s in the door at the last possible moment after service begins and out the door the moment it ends.

As followers of Christ, we are called to works as a fruit of that salvation. They are done out of joy and gratitude, not obligation.

We are called to love and serve others, not lord it over them. The old saying “there but for the grace of God go I” is true of all of us. Without Him, we would still be just as lost.

We are saved to a relationship with Christ and HIs people, not to isolate ourselves from them. When we forget that, the body is weakened.

We are freed of our chains and saved into a life of loving, grateful service of the Lord. Saved to be His ambassadors.

With His help, let us live lives worthy of the name Christian.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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.”

Some personal reflection this morning. Today’s image has  nothing to do with the content. I simply like this image of a sandhill crane.

Just over five years ago, I had surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my left kidney. It was discovered quite by accident (read God’s providence) when I rolled my truck, and the hospital ER was checking out the extent of my injuries.

Each year, near the anniversary of the surgery, I undergo a series of routine blood tests and have a CT scan to confirm all is clear.

Last year was my five-year check-up.

I was feeling great as I awaited my by-phone doctor’s appointment. I would be officially five years cancer-free, and the risk of recurrence was considered extremely low after that point.

The doctor informed me that all the results from the blood tests were normal. My kidney function was so high that there was no evidence of it ever having had an issue.

I was feeling great, five years cancer-free. Then, you guessed it, there was a “but”. I have a lesion on the left kidney and spots on the right, which will need further testing.

I was crushed and depressed for the balance of the day. I had known that such a result was possible and that if something showed up, it would be in the very early stages, so easily treated. I also knew that God is entirely in control, no matter what happened, so that I could face whatever news without fear.

I promptly forgot all that for the next twenty hours and felt sorry for myself. Then I remembered what I knew about God and His plans and moved forward.

The next step is an MRI, which, depending on the backlog in our medical system, could take many months to get an appointment. From there, only the Lord knows the next step at this point.

Is it cancer? Maybe. Am I worried? Not really, for the same reasons I forgot.

My faith in the goodness of God and HIs love for His children is stronger than my fears. More than 350 times in the Bible, we are told to “Fear not”.

I know he has my back.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:26-34

With Jesus, we can face anything, even if the outcome isn’t to our liking.

Trust Jesus no matter what and praise His name.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

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 remember a moment from my childhood. I was a small child,  and we were visiting friends of my parents when a flash of movement by a glass of water caught my eye, and I paused to look. 

Right there inside the living room, a brightly colored bird took a drink and then looked up. I was fascinated. 

A moment later, he took another drink. It happened again a few moments later. Over and over again, the nodding bird tipped its beak into the glass, then popped up again, swaying back and forth slightly, and repeated the process. I quickly understood that it wasn’t a real bird, but it held my interest nonetheless.

I could have watched all day, and the process would have been repeated almost endlessly. Much later, I learned that the nodding bird was made of brightly colored glass and was mechanical. The laws of physics, with temperature and differentials in the liquid contained in the glass tube, were at play.

Nodding birds (or bobbing birds) were invented in China in the early 1900s and patented in the US in the mid-1940s. These “drinking” birds reached the height of their popularity in the 1960s, reappearing for a while in the 1970s.

I’ve not seen one in years, and I suspect many younger people have never seen one. Apparently, someone decided that there was danger if the thin glass tube broke and the liquids escaped.

I digress… back to the “bird” I was watching.

The glass would never be empty, the bird would never be filled or fly away, and before long, I would have tired of the spectacle and looked at something else. 

I wonder if that’s how we treat our faith. We go through the motions of drinking from the Living Water and look up as if to move into action. Then we repeat the process endlessly, never slaking our thirst or doing anything. 

Meanwhile, the hurting people of the world watch the spectacle of our “religion,” seeing no change in us and no hope. Seeing nothing, they move on in their search for comfort, hope, and answers. 

Do you have a nodding bird faith? Or is your faith an integral part of your everyday life? 

Is your faith in your relationship with Jesus, or are you just nodding your head towards the well of religion and looking pretty? 

Come and drink your fill from the fountain of true faith 

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:17

Until next time, may you drink deeply from the well of Living Water and may others be drawn to the peace, hope, and joy it gives you. May you be continuously transformed into the very image of Christ.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

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

__________________________________________ 

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.”

As I was pondering what to write, I rolled a piece of blue  kneadable eraser into a small ball. I often fidget with whatever is close at hand or doodle when I’m thinking. It used to get me in trouble in school, but now kids have fidget toys, and it’s pretty acceptable behavior.

I looked down and realized that in my hands was a little blue ball, which reminded me of the planet Earth. My hand dwarfed it. Then I thought about how small the earth is in God’s hand. We say that the Lord holds the entire universe in his hand. He didn’t even have to roll some material up; He just spoke it all into existence.

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. John 1:1-3

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

I thought about the immense size of the created world, all the galaxies known and yet to be discovered. The size of it all dwarfs my ability to comprehend. It’s safe to say the universe is greater than I can imagine.

Then I wondered, “How big is God?” In some ways, He must be even bigger than all of that, so God is bigger than I can imagine as well.

Yet, that also isn’t true. God is spirit, and as a non-material being, he has no size and takes up no space.

How big is God? The question is nonsensical because God isn’t big. No material metric can measure him. God isn’t tall or short, heavy or light, large or small.

God is undeniably great. He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (all-present). He is infinitely just, righteous, holy, loving, and merciful. He is perfect in his wrath.

He is the eternally preexistent creator and sustainer of all things. He is without beginning or end.

The Lord transcends space, time, and matter and can step into or out of them at will.

Many terms can be used to describe the majesty of God, but big is not one of them.

The question of “How big is God?” is unanswerable. The closest we can come is that He is big enough to have oversight over everything and small enough to know every detail.

Even though we cannot answer the question, pondering it should give us plenty of reason to praise His holy name.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

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

__________________________________________ 

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.”