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  • Issue 1750 – How Big? – June 13, 2025

    Issue 1750 – How Big? – June 13, 2025

    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. 

    __________________________________________ 

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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.”

  • Issue 1749 – Morning Blues – June 12, 2025

    Issue 1749 – Morning Blues – June 12, 2025

    Westeren Meadowlark - superimposed iwth text "Morning Blues"

    A lack of sleep can impact how well a person functions in daily  life. I suffer from various sleep issues, making a good night’s sleep a precious and rare commodity.

    The trains seemed especially loud that night and extra frequent. I know there were not any closer than ever, a few miles away, but it sounded to me like they were going to come through the bedroom wall. Finally, early in the morning, I drifted off into fitful sleep.

    The serenade began about 3:30 a.m. The drumming of a woodpecker on a nearby tree was following the kwaak, kwaak of the nuthatch. The robins were singing a happy ditty. 

    The magpies, ravens, and blue jays were all squawking. The chickadees were busy dee-dee-deeing. The red-winged blackbirds were trilling along in tune to their own rhythm. They were all greeting the coming day with enthusiasm and joy.

    Typically, I enjoy the sound of birds singing, but I confess that night, after listening to them off and on for several hours, I was less than impressed. I wanted them to be quiet so I could sleep, and my thoughts about birds weren’t kind.

     I certainly did not feel like singing when my alarm clock went off. It was more of an “Oh brother, is it morning already?”

    It took some time of quiet meditation before I began to move from “Oh Lord, not another day” to “Praise God, it’s a new day.” I started with an attitude of doing it only out of obedience to the command to give thanks in all things. 

    Emotions often follow our attitudes, so it was not long before I began to think that way a little.

    I was drawn to the Old Testament book of Lamentations.

    But this I call to mind,and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  Lamentations 3:21-26

    Even when we are tired, grouchy, and feeling sorry for ourselves, the Lord is faithful and consistent. He doesn’t change.

    It is a new day. I do not know what it holds, good or bad, but it is another day to draw close to the Lord and be made a little bit more like Him.

    That is reason to rejoice.

    Until next time, may you too rejoice in each new day.

    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.”

  • Fear Factor and the forbidden fruit

    Fear Factor and the forbidden fruit

    skydiver

    Four of us sat around the campfire talking about skydiving and  bungee jumping. Two of the four of us have jumped out of a perfectly good aircraft, but none of us had been brave (foolish?) enough to jump off of a perfectly good structure while tied to a rubber band. 

    Neither of the two skydivers was particularly experienced. My friend had jumped once, and I have two jumps to my credit (one with a problem chute and the other a crash landing). We are far from experts.

    Of the two non-jumpers, one has taken advanced helicopter survival training, which involves jumping from a substantial height into the water while wearing a specially designed flotation suit. My friend is a non-swimmer, so this literally involved a great leap of faith. It was an experience that he will never forget, but prays he will never have to repeat.

    All of us agreed that there is a critical moment of no return. You realize, if only for a second, that you have crossed a fine line and there is no going back. You have up to that exact moment to say no. Afterwards, it is too late.

    The four of us “got to pontificating” about the myriad of ways that people seek to find that adrenaline rush that pushes you to the enjoyable edge of fear. Insert too much fear, and the experience becomes simply frightening. Not enough adrenaline, and it is a waste of time.

    Some people have pushed themselves so far and so often that they have become adrenaline junkies. They seek the rush no matter what the cost. Many have died in the pursuit of it. They keep pushing the fear factor, seeking more thrills. Like any other addiction, it soon takes more and more to satisfy the “need” for adrenaline.

    I will probably never again jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft. Yet, the adrenaline rush was enough that just seeing someone do it actually makes my heart race a little faster, and the adrenaline kicks in. It would not have taken much more to “hook me” into the “need for the rush”. I think that sin often functions the same way.

    Many things seem all the more exciting and inviting just because they are “forbidden” or there is a risk of some form involved in getting caught. Once a person falls into the trap, they keep going back again and again. It is no wonder that the writer of Proverbs tells us to exercise godly wisdom over sin.

    The verses I have chosen to illustrate this point deal specifically with the sin of adultery, but the precepts can be applied to any sinful temptation.

    My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.For the lips of a forbiddenwoman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol;she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” Proverbs 5:1-14

    Run away! Take off! Remove yourself from temptation.

    If you have fallen, Christ will forgive you, but you will always carry the scarring. All sin creates scars. It wounds relationships, destroys trust, and brings consequences that will follow you. 

    Perhaps in the end, you will be able to keep it secret from everyone except God, but even that secrecy will have cost you something.

    You are far better off to have run away in the first place.

    Until next time, resist the temptation to look over the precipice into sin. You never know when the ground will collapse and suddenly find yourself someplace that you will forever regret going.

    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.”

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.

  • Human Nature – Our Fallen State

    During our community group meeting last night, someone  commented that “sinning is part of our human nature.” I’ve said it myself, but in truth, it’s inaccurate.

    Indeed, it’s true that we all sin. Every person other than Jesus has sinned. We have a sinful nature inherited from our parents, going all the way back to Adam and Eve. The church has held to the doctrine of original sin going back to its earliest days.

    Yet, it isn’t our humanity that makes us sin. It’s our human nature. Allow me to elaborate.

    When God created Adam and Eve, they were made in the image of God and without sin. 

    So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.  Genesis 1:27-28

    He was pleased with His creation.

    And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

    He would not have been pleased with a flawed humanity that sinned by its very nature. Sin is not the image of God.

    Sin entered later in the Garden. You know the story well. The result was humanity being expelled from the Garden and sin gaining a foothold in us. We see the effects of the sin nature as early as Cain’s murder of his brother Abel.

    Flash forward several thousand years. Jesus sets aside His prerogatives and humbles Himself to come in the womb of a Middle Eastern peasant girl. Yet, He did not give in to temptation and sin.

    He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 1 Peter 2:22

    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

    For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

    If to be human is to sin, and Jesus did not sin, it means he was not human. The path to our salvation has not happened yet. Only someone fully human could atone for our sin. Our haman nature is fallen and in need of a redeemer.

    His virgin birth enabled him to bypass the sin nature passed down by Adam’s curse. The second Adam (Jesus) did what the first Adam was created to do and failed.

    To be Human is to be created in God’s image. We all bear that image to some flawed degree, but our human nature doesn’t make us sinners. The sinful nature that dwells within us causes us to sin.

    We could call it the human condition because it’s undeniable, but it isn’t the nature we were created with. Humanity was designed to be sin-free—that’s our unmarred nature.

    It may be a trivial, picayune point, but it is one with enormous consequences.

    When we are in glory and without sin, we will be fully human as God created us to be. The sin nature will have been purged.

    When we stumble and fall, turning to Jesus for forgiveness, let’s celebrate that He did not sin in His humanity.

    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.”

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.


  • Issue 1746 – A Single Blade of Grass – June 9, 2025

    Issue 1746 – A Single Blade of Grass – June 9, 2025

    a blade of grass setting seed

    It’s just a single blade of grass that’s going to seed. It’s such a  common sight that we walk right by and never pay attention to it.

    Yet, in it’s own way this grass is a miracle. The original designer of this plant programmed it to grow, and when it reached a particular state of maturity, to produce the seeds needed to replicate itself. There are more seeds because it is likely that they will not all get the chance to germinate or mature to fruition.

    We don’t think of it as miraculous because it is commonplace. We have all seen it happen millions or even billions of times without giving it any thought.

    The fact that it happens so often numbs us to the miracle. The design is the work of the master designer. While this particular blade of grass can trace its ancestry to another plant, likely on the ground nearby, the first grass had to come from somewhere.

    The fact that it, or anything else in the material world, even exists is something beyond proper comprehension. 

    We see God’s handiwork, the evidence for His existence, everywhere we look. The problem is that we grow so used to seeing it that we become numb.

    All of nature cries out in witness to God.

    The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky aboveproclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6

    Those who persist in not believing stand condemned.

     For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:18-21

    Stop now and then and look at the world around you, then give praise to the one who created it all. This same creator loves you enough to die for you.

    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.”

  • Issue 1745 – Beyong Counting – June 6, 2025

    Issue 1745 – Beyong Counting – June 6, 2025

    muskrat swimming

    Some years back, when I was pastoring “the cowboy church” in  Sherwood Park, Alberta, I was blessed to receive a wonderful birthday gift from my wife. It is a custom-crafted, saddle-bag-style briefcase marked with my brand.

    We had to drive to a community a couple of hours away to pick it up, and that involved driving through an area with numerous pothole lakes and plenty of rough farmland.

    Since my birthday was in November, the little lakes were mostly frozen. The ice wasn’t thick yet, but it was definitely there. If I recall correctly, we saw several mule deer and whitetails. We likely saw some late migrating flocks of ducks and geese, as that would have been typical for the season.

    What I do recall clearly are muskrats. Now, muskrats are not rats at all. They are semi-aquatic mammals more closely related to voles than rats. An adult muskrat weighs about four pounds (a little under 2 kg), about half the size of your average house cat.

    Typically, on that particular roadway, we would see a few muskrats on or in the lakes on the drive down and back. Sometimes we would even see four or five on the same tiny lake, which seemed like a lot.

    On the return trip, I was astounded to see the population on several lakes. There were muskrats, for sure, but in incredible numbers. We were driving, and I couldn’t stop to count them, but I am a pretty fair estimator over small areas. There were several hundred muskrats basking in the sun on each of the lakes.

    That’s more than I would see in a typical year, all in one place. I had read about places up north where the fur trappers could harvest them by the hundreds in a day, way back when the north was being opened, but to see them was breathtaking.

    So, what does all that have to do with the Christian faith walk? Maybe nothing directly, but it does bring to mind a few thoughts.

    Sometimes, we get to thinking that, like the few muskrats I normally see, we are among the few faithful Christians left in the world.

    Elijah, the prophet, felt sorry for himself and complained to the Lord about being the last faithful one in Israel (See 1 Kings 18-19). God let him know in no uncertain terms that he was wrong.

    We can get into Elijah’s mindset at times.

    We get tired and defensive when the world seems to be spiraling out of control. We can start to doubt and whine. We forget the incredible power and presence of God. We begin to repine (to feel discontent and complain … sorry, I heard that word in a hymn recently, so I had to look it up and find a place to use it)

    Now, it is true that only a remnant of humanity will be saved. More will choose the darkness over the light than those who will be faithful. Even the so-called “church” has people who are not believers. It is easy to become discouraged and isolated, particularly if your little corner of the kingdom struggles.

    When we feel that way, we need to stop and remember that we are in God’s presence, and we need to consider His long-range plans.

    These words from the closing book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, through the Apostle John, encourage me.

    After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12

    There are multitudes of believers from all over the world. I also remember some encouraging words from the book of Hebrews.

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

    When you start to doubt and feel discouraged, hold fast. God is still in control. We are united with all the saints (past and present), and victory is ours through Jesus.

    When you are tempted to repine, remember that, like the Lord showed Elijah, He has a much bigger picture than we can see in the moment, and stay the course.

    Until next time,  remember that while battles are still to be fought, the victory is ours.

    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.

  • Abandoned  Church

    Abandoned Church

    Abandoned church - Dorothy alberta

    The old country church in the ghost town of Dorothy, Alberta,  was run down and no longer used. Someone had told me that it had once been a vibrant little congregation, but the town had dried up. It seemed such a waste. 

    I wondered what happened to the people who had invested so much time and money in this no longer usable building. 

    The once bright exterior was faded white in the few places where the peeling paint remained. The grass around the grounds was unkempt, and even the cemetery seemed tired. 

    The door was unlocked, and the hinges screamed from disuse as it opened. As I walked in, my nostrils were assailed by the smell of an old abandoned country church. It had that combination of dust, must, and old wood. It seemed both stale and sacred at the same time. 

    The old pews and pulpit were made of hardwood, probably oak, but time had discolored them, so it was impossible to tell. They looked almost black; whatever colour they had been to begin with was buried under layers of dirt and age. 

    The discolored wood got me thinking of the cross. We often seem to have this idea that there was a fresh, new cross crafted just for the crucifixion of Christ. 

    The reality was probably quite different. The Romans were efficient, and I find it hard to believe they would have made new crosses for each crucifixion. After all, they were only used to kill criminals. Why waste them after being used just once? 

    The cross he died on probably wasn’t like the nice, neat, clean one that hangs in most sanctuaries. It would have been roughly shaped enough to do the job, no fine woodworking wasted on common thieves and enemies of the empire. 

    The cross Jesus carried had probably been used many times before and was likely used many times afterwards. It was perhaps stained with its victims’ blood, sweat, and waste. It had been dragged around and lay in the dirt as each new person was nailed to it. 

    Even in His final death and suffering, He suffered on a second-hand cross. He was scourged with a whip that had chewed apart many backs before his. 

    In the same way, our walk as Christians won’t always be pleasant, neat, tidy, and new. There will be pain as we grow and unpleasantness to deal with. Some will laugh at us and ridicule us for our beliefs. We may be typecast as narrow-minded and judgmental. 

    Christianity costs. The cost is often overlooked in this day of easy believism and comfortable Christianity. We often downplay the truth to make it more palatable and then wonder why people fall away. They fall away because they bought into a lie about what the faith is genuinely like.

    We see this happen in the churches that preach the lie of the prosperity gospel. We can find it in evangelical churches where the gospel’s truth is buried beneath the pragmatism of growing a crowd through entertainment. It hides in small churches, where the pastor needs the job and doesn’t want to ruffle the feathers of his little flock.

    Yet, Jesus was clear about the cost.

    Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-33

    That old church building may have been abandoned, but Jesus will never forsake His own. He will never leave or abandon us. His church is the people, not the buildings.

    Until next time, when you are struggling with one of those painful moments, remember what He went through for you and hold fast.

    Count the cost, consider the goal, and keep on. 

    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.

  • Issue 1743 – Character – June 3, 2025

    Issue 1743 – Character – June 3, 2025

    gnarled old tree

    I’ve always enjoyed trees with character. You know  them—old, gnarled, and still going strong, like the one in this photo. They have defied the odds and the ravages of the years. 

    Getting older always carries some scars and disappointments. There is a pervasive lie circulating in our society. It tells us that once we have hit “retirement age,” our usefulness is done, and our role is to spend the balance of our lives in some form of recreation and play.

    It’s even visible in the church. Far too many people tell me they have served their time and will not be ministering to others. They have hit their magical retirement age and quit contributing.

    Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing wrong with a round of golf or a day of fishing, but we got to be older for a much larger purpose.

    As we’ve aged and experienced our share of health and other issues, indeed, we can’t do everything we used to, and we are certainly slower. We might have more in common with the gnarled old tree than one in its prime.

    Yet, we are still called to serve, give, and love. Ministry has no upper age limit. By God’s grace, we have been given some modicum of wisdom and experience that younger folks can benefit from. Let’s use that.

    That doesn’t mean we tell all the young folks how to do it, or insist that the church music never changes. We don’t become curmudgeons who rejoice in telling everyone how it was different in our day.

    We do it by seeking to glorify the Lord every day. We build relationships with younger generations and mentor. We do the tasks that we can do. We encourage. We pray.

    The psalmist proclaims, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?” Psalm 71:18

    Not everyone makes it this far. It is a gift and a privilege, and isn’t always easy. Yet God has allowed it for a reason.

    Be a person of true character. Live a righteous life, even in your later years, and serve the Lord always.

    Let us boldly proclaim God to the next generations.

    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.

  • Issue 1742 The Standoff June 3, 2025

    Issue 1742 The Standoff June 3, 2025

    We live in a suite in the home of one of our sons and his  family. Their cats, our “grandcats,” Leeloo and Vader, often come down to visit.

    The grandcats love sitting in our living room to watch the birds come and go at the feeder. Periodically, they get to see an exciting bonus, one of the pair of squirrels will visit the feeder. I recently snapped a shot of Leeloo and the gray Squirrel. Leeloo was almost beside herself in active hunt mode, hunkered down, tail twitching and making excited sounds.

    The squirrel, on the other hand, was curious. She moved to watch from different spots, some closer, others further away, and checked the cat out from all angles.

    The most closed windows ensured a standoff. The Cat couldn’t get out, and the squirrel didn’t have to run away. It was fun to watch.

    There is a view out there that is prevalent even in many Christian circles in which the battle between good and evil, God and the devil, is some sort of a cosmic standoff. It’s misguided thinking.

    Satan has power, but no more than God permits. Satan is a created being; God is the omnipotent creator. The battle belongs to the Lord and always has.

    It can be hard to remember that at times because the world seems increasingly dark, and evil seems to be on the rise.

    Do not be deceived, dear friends.

    Satan and his minions will face final judgment.  Sinners will be judged and separated into those destined for glory with the Lord and those set apart for eternal torment. It’s only by the Lord’s mercy and grace that any of us will make it through the great judgement.

    Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

    Satan is no more able to defeat the Lord than Leeloo was able to break through the widows and get at the squirrel.

    Hold fast against the rising tide of darkness, the last days are coming, and our ultimate victory is assured, guaranteed by God Himself.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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

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  • Issue 1741 – The Sentinel – June 1, 2025

    Issue 1741 – The Sentinel – June 1, 2025

    Set apart from the others, a tree stands atop the hill behind our  home. It’s been battered and broken but refuses to give in and keeps growing. It reminds me of a sentinel at watch.

    A sentinel (sentry, watchman) watches, warns, and keeps out unwanted visitors.

    It can be a lonely role. I remember holding sentinel posts over the runways at an airbase when I was in the Canadian Armed Forces. 

    I usually got that role during “exercises,” where readiness was tested through simulated war conditions.

    Some officer in a control center dictated the play, writing off various areas as losses to the enemy. During one exercise, my area was written off as lost early and promptly forgotten. Since I was guarding well away from the central part of the base and not in communication with others, no one told me my role was done, so I continued to stand guard.

    I was cold, wet, and hungry, but held my post. It wasn’t until the exercise was completed and I didn’t return to my normal duty station that anyone noticed I was missing. After some searching, they realized I was still out in the middle of nowhere beyond the airstrips and came to get me.

    In Ezekiel 33, we read of Ezekiel being appointed the watchman over Israel.

    The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:1-9

    Ezekiel was to warn people of God’s wrath and tell them to turn back. He was not responsible for the results, but he was called to give a warning.

    Similarly, we are to warn people of the dangers of sin and hell and tell them of the hope in Christ. They are accountable for their actions.

    It isn’t an easy task. Like sentries, our warnings can be ignored, and we can stand alone against the crowd, but we are still called to proclaim the truth.

    We are called to truth proclamation in words, deeds, and how you live your life. If you and I don’t tell them, who will?

    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.