Church of Christ at Alexandria

06/02/2026

Two-thirds Gog, one-third dry bones. What are we cooking up with these?

The creators of our 52 Key Sections of the Bible reading plan have included chapters 37-38-39 of Ezekiel. The prophet’s vision of the valley of dry bones that come together as a living, breathing army in chapter 37 is probably familiar to some. The whole thing about Gog and Magog as unfolded in chapters 38-39, not so much. Why are we being asked to read these?

This week’s reading, for me, is a case of “Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” Don’t get so focused on the details that you can’t see the big picture. Even as I’m leading with this, it’s hard for me to not get sucked into specifics.

In Ezekiel 38 Gog sweeps down from the north to invade and destroy Israel. In chapter 39 Gog and his vast armies are wiped out by God. The text says the Israelites will spend more than seven months cleansing their land of human bones (39:12) There will be so much wooden military hardware left by the invaders that the people won’t have to cut trees for firewood for seven years (39:9), they’ll just burn the weapons.

When did this event take place? It didn’t. It hasn’t. One source says “King Gyges ruled Lydia (in modern-day Turkey) during the 7th century BCE. In contemporary ancient Neo-Assyrian cuneiform records, he is referred to as Gugu, King of Luddu.” That’s as close to a guy named Gog as we can get.

God is reminding us yet again that He is always able. Take this as a synopsis scene. Read these two chapters like the two verses in Revelation, “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.” (20:7-8). Not individual leaders and nations, but figures that stand for any and all opposition to God.

God could have recorded every single scenario for every nation and person that He’s ever going to step into and intervene. But that would take a whole lot more writing. (You think the Bible is big now!)

What we have in Ezekiel 37-38-39 are vivid pictures. Not actual historical accounts, but summary scenes to remind us God is always able.

Maybe you feel like your nation, your community, even your family is so much a valley of dry bones right now—beyond hope and any restoration. Along comes God and breathes life back into them. He could in the days of Ezekiel. He can today. He’ll be able at the end of time.

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05/29/2026

Live Stream 05-31-2026

“Turning the Tables on the Cross”
(Colossians 2:13-15)

"“Turning the Tables on the Cross”"

05/29/2026

Our local Kroger is well-illuminated. There’s a bright light in the pharmacy and one at the opposite end in produce. A third light covers the middle of the store around the registers. They even have a mobile light that makes its way up and down the aisles.

Oh, and by lights, I mean people. Faithful followers of Jesus who impact the world around them for God daily. I bet the Johnstown Kroger has more than four such lights, I’m just personally aware of those four as I go to church with them.

I walked around that store early Thursday morning wondering if the shoppers and staff know how blessed they are? I thought of unbelieving husbands who are won over by the behavior of their God-fearing wives as stated in 1 Peter 3:1. I thought of unbelieving spouses and children who are impacted by faithful family members in 1 Corinthians 7:14. The impact at work connection has parallels in Jeremiah’s words to the Israelites in 29:7, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Do you maybe, possibly, ever not want to be at work? Have you ever felt unappreciated or taken for granted? Have you considered quitting or going elsewhere. I think we’ve all felt that way from time to time.

May I encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing to the best of your ability at work. Keep trying to honor God with all you do and say. I’m sure there are people in your places of employment who have no more awareness of the blessing you are than did the pagans who ran around Babylon clueless to the blessings that came their way simply because they rubbed elbows with the exiled people of God.

I’ll extend this metaphor nationally as America approaches her 250th birthday. There are some people in this country who have no idea what they’ve enjoyed and/or escaped simply because God is blessing His followers in their midst.

No, the world is not perfect. Workplaces are never perfect. No Christian is perfect. Be that as it may, keep shining your light of Christ daily. You’re a blessing to people even when they aren’t aware. What does the actor playing Jesus so memorably say to Eden, Peter’s wife, in The Chosen? “I see you.”

God sees what you’re trying to be and do. He blesses our efforts. Even if some of the recipients are clueless.

05/26/2026

I recently watched a video on my phone where the creator was standing in a local big box store—Lowes, I think. He was asking random bible trivia questions. He was giving $50 for each correct answer. Questions included “What was Jesus’ first miracle?” “Name the four gospel writers” and “List five books from the New Testament” among others. He would ask as many as four or five questions. Most readers of these devotions are probably wondering where this guy waits in your town. That’s $200-$250 for many of you.

One couple made a fistful. Most respondents went away empty-handed. Some simply kept on walking at the first mention of the bible. The saddest one for me was an elderly gentleman, shopping alone. When asked if he could name five books in the New Testament he simply responded, “Not even one.” Eighty years on the planet and not one!

Obviously videos like this are always edited. Be that as it may, I was disappointed that so many knew absolutely nothing of the Word of God.

If you’re like me, you consume some amount of news and media. You are well aware of the sources out there and the stories that inundate us. The world is not right. So much frustration. So much anger. So much hopelessness.

Right in the middle of all that darkness shines the Word of God and passages like this week’s from Isaiah 53. I hope you’ll take some time to read this chapter this week. The pictures of Jesus suffering in our stead for our sins are so moving. Verse 5 reads as follows: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Christians can’t help but read these words and think of Jesus on the cross. I want us to take solace in the reminder that Isaiah wrote these words some 700 years before Jesus’ death!

This is what so many in today’s world are missing. Not only is God aware of your struggle, He is also able to strengthen you. He has a plan, even for your sin. He’s always had a plan.

The timeline equivalent for us would be not only that God is aware of what I’ll encounter today, but that He was already aware all the way back in 1326 and told people in the late middle ages about how He was going to help me today!

Such is the power of the great God we serve. Sadly, too many don’t know the first thing about where to find hope and help in God. Pray that His Word will somehow reach them today.

05/22/2026

Live Stream 05-24-2026

“Root Development”
(Colossians 2:6-12

“Root Development”

05/22/2026

If it had been any other person on the planet, I probably would not have done it. Denise might be able to get me to do it, but even that’s 50/50 depending on my mood.

I was getting ready for work this morning, Denise and Owen were having breakfast. Alexa had been asked to play a classic by KC and the Sunshine Band. As soon as I came into the dining room a little voice from the highchair made a very clear request, “Pa, shake your b***y!”

I did so immediately, repeatedly, and without apology. There was no critique nor mockery. Just a big grin and another mouthful of waffle. In that moment I realized how David must have felt.

I am not normally much of a dancer. I will not be shaking my b***y for anyone other than those two in that dining room. None of you want to see it. No doubt you are eager to stop talking about it here.

I’ve always wondered what all the mindsets really were in 2 Samuel 6:14, “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might.” The Ark of the Covenant is finally coming back to Jerusalem. Everybody is there. Verse 15 mentions the entire house of Israel gathering. Priests, residents, slave girls, everyone sees David dancing. His wife, Michal, calls him out. In verse 22 David responds, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”

In my position as a church leader, I’m aware of how my actions are perceived. I am especially mindful on stage in front of numerous eyes and an unblinking camera. I have never been eager to dance in front of any people—until today.

Owen instructed. I “danced”. We laughed. Denise joined in. It was great fun. Today I danced without fear. Today I danced without thinking. In that moment everything and everyone else melted away. It was just me and Owen. I love him. I wanted to make him happy. I gave it my best shot. He was genuinely pleased. There was no judgment of my timing or my steps. As I drove to work I thought: ‘That must be how it was that day in Jerusalem. Just David and God. No one else.’

If you’re like me, it’s hard to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. But I believe I learned something this morning. When it truly does shrink down to just you and God, it is incredibly freeing and joyful. You might even start dancing.

05/19/2026

Did you wake up this morning anxious to see if we had been invaded or overrun in the middle of the night? I did not. For the people of Israel who lived during the days of Isaiah, that fear was very real. They lived an everyday existence where they could honestly expect invasion at just about any time.

Our reading takes us to Isaiah 14 this week. In this chapter Isaiah speaks prophetic words directed at Babylon (verse 3) Assyria (25) and the Philistines (29). All three of these empires were brutal thorns in Israel’s side. Aggression, war, captivities, etc. Time and again the people of God were overrun and carted off.

The list of oppressors and tyrants is long: Sennacherib, Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Mushezib-Marduk, Adrammelech and his brother, Sharezer, are just a few of the names that struck fear and terror into the hearts of millions. And yet I’m pretty confident you’ve never even heard of most of those men. You probably skipped over the names not even attempting to pronounce them. They don’t matter to us. They are mere blips on the radar of history, lost to the sands of time.

Some look at verses 12-14 of this chapter and see a reference to Satan. It’s not too much of a stretch. Isaiah speaks of the fall from heaven of a morning star. He writes of the pride of heart of one who said, “I will raise my throne above the stars of God.” (Verse 13) It’s easy to see both a contemporary and an “all time” fulfillment of the prophet’s words.

That’s one of the key lessons I take from Isaiah 14. Pride and arrogance have always led to downfall. None will ever stand in the way of the purposes of God.

Isaiah records God’s words this way in verses 26-27, “This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. 27 For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”

Yes, the world still struggles under dictators and tyrants. They do bring misery and grief for a season. But none of them will ever withstand the Hand of God. People of tomorrow will look at today’s oppressors as we do that list in the third paragraph. They won’t even worry if they can pronounce their names correctly. And God will still rule.

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05/16/2026

Live Stream 05-17-2026

“Avoiding Mental Capture”
(Colossians 2:1-5)

“Avoiding Mental Capture”

05/15/2026

I walked out on a church member earlier today. Intentionally. Visibly. I just thought I’d let the rest of you know in case you’re my next victim.

To be fair, said church member did not complain. She never asked for my help. Be that as it may, I still felt like I was abandoning her. There was a mental moment of real back and forth in the driveway, but I had to choose.

It started with a phone call. A facetime call to be exact. Denise called and within seconds I was facetiming with Owen. For those outside our loop, this means my wife was calling to help our grandson communicate a very important message. “Someone is sitting out here on the steps waiting for you to come home for lunch!” He was talking excitedly and pointing. The phone was almost dropped. I did immediately drop everything and made a beeline to get home.

Three steps towards my car I realized the moment was swirling around me. I noticed a familiar car backed up to the upper steps. A church lady was busily carrying in stacks of box fans for our service project. At any other point up to this very one, I would have veered left, strode up the hill and helped her finish her task. Today I did not. I waved, said, “Have a good one!” and turned my back as she made another trip. No explanation. No offer.

As I’ve stated above, this woman is extremely capable. She might not have thought one thing about my quick exit. But it was a real Mary and Martha moment for me. Do you remember the sisters and their opposing opinions in Luke 10:40? “Tell her to help me!”

Jesus is in town. He’s at the home of Mary and Martha teaching. Martha chooses service—an excellent choice. She busies herself in hospitality. Mary, on the other hand, chooses listening. She sits at the feet of Jesus while her sister bustles about. Jesus politely tells Martha that Mary’s choice is better.

I know, my example is the most minor illustration in the world to many. But to me, being home quickly for a little guy with a shorter attention span matters. Helping carry things in is always a very good choice. Only today, I knew if I stayed to help, I’d want to talk. Time would keep ticking. Owen would lose interest, and perhaps for the first time begin to think I don’t keep my word. I went back and forth on the way home, but as I pulled in a certain little boy stood up, smiling ear-to-ear. His two little fists wiggled back and forth with excitement. We ate, we played, we laughed. I’d do it all over again exactly the same way.

If next time I’m the one unloading boxes, and you’re the one running by and waving, I’ll try to remember today. Sometimes we are pressed. We must choose. Windows of opportunity close. One option is really good. The other is even better.

05/12/2026

Ladies, if you had to pick a label that best describes you from the ones that follow, which would it be? Gentlemen, what if you could win $100 by choosing any woman close to you and then matching her choice as to which label she thinks best describes her, could you do it?

The labels are as follows: Girlboss, SAHG, Lazy Girl, Tradwife or Cottagecore. Those are some of the American options. I’m not taking the time to define them all, you’d have to look them up. I will tell you SAHG stands for “stay at home girlfriend”.

This sort of labeling is not a uniquely American pastime. German culture has the Rubble Women (those who rebuilt Germany by hand after WWII) as well as Raven Mothers (mothers seen as “neglectful” because they appear to “push the young out of the nest too early”.) African culture carries a rich Queen Mother type. Modern Chinese internet culture has developed some critical archetypes that include Green Tea “Ladies” (women who appear innocent, simple, and “pure” but are secretly ambitious and manipulative), The Iron Girl and Leftover Women, among others.

People like to categorize and classify. Cultures and communities are well-versed in seeing their own strengths and pointing out other’s perceived weaknesses. Generations decide what matters now.

All the above underscore the wisdom and beauty that is Proverbs 31. The final twenty-two verses describe a very godly, industrious, supportive, caring woman. She’s very difficult to pigeon-hole. Read through there and try to decide which contemporary American subgroup can claim her. She’s married. (verse 10) She has a home and a family. (27-28) But she also trades profitably (18) and makes and sells things. (24) She’s generous (20) and elegant. (22)

The godly woman of Proverbs 31 has inhabited America past and present. She can be found in neighborhoods in Germany, villages in Africa and in the high-rises in China. All of us, female and male alike, would do well to concern ourselves less with contemporary classifications and more with Christ-like characteristics. What are some of the virtuous attributes God values? See Proverbs.

Proverbs 31:30-31, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”