Interview with Martin Monacell

My interview with an Assemblies of God Theological Seminary student who participated in a debate with atheists. Dr. Charlie Self co-hosts.

My Mother Climbs Mount Rainier

In the 1920s. Recently rediscovered these three photos documenting this. She was very active in her youth.


My mother, Rose A. Corey, fifth from right.


Second from left.


Second from top.

A First for Us

We wore jeans to church for the first time today. We are now postmodern. We were also overdressed. For next time we need to rip some holes in our jeans. And wear tennis shoes.

How times have changed.

On the Way to Arkansas 1930

Is this a great shot or what? Peggy's dad, Alfred Paul, is at far right. His mother and stepfather Ives are at left. The rest of the children are his Paul siblings. And note the goat in the vehicle. This is "at Devines'" according to the back of the picture, during the move from Oregon to Arkansas in 1930.

Cause to Worry

True story:

We have a CD that had matured today so my wife called some banks to get their rates. One of her calls included this interchange:

Peggy: "Do you have an 18-month CD?"

Person at Bank: "No, but we have one for a year and a half."

Should we be worried about our banks?

PE Staff Conversation With News Editor John W. Kennedy

My AGTV Meet the Staff interview with our longtime news editor.

Interview with Efraim Espinoza

My AGTV interview with Efraim Espinoza, director of the Office of Hispanic Relations for the Assemblies of God. Espinoza also serves as the coordinator for Evangelio Pentecostal, the Spanish-language Evangel.

Canada Goose Head-Dunking Marathon

Spring! Yesterday Peggy and I happened upon these 2 geese happily dunking their heads repeatedly. This was still going on when we left.

Easter: A Day of Deliverance

Tomorrow is Easter, the most special day of the year for Christians. I prefer the name Resurrection Sunday; it clearly describes what this day is all about.

In the Early Church era, Easter was celebrated as an overnight service, beginning on Saturday. Much of its content and imagery were drawn from the Jewish Passover celebration. Thus, the Scriptures that were read not only included the New Testament accounts of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, but also Exodus 12 and 14. These chapters consist of instructions for celebrating the first Passover and an account of the actual Exodus from Egypt, culminating in the victorious escape of the Children of Israel through the Red Sea and the decimation of Pharaoh’s legions.

Easter was partially a solemn vigil. But it also included a love feast, highlighted by the celebration of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper.

By the fourth century, churches were holding baptismal services to commemorate the day, reflecting the new spiritual life brought by Christ’s resurrection. A special opening light ceremony illustrated the transition from darkness to light brought by the saving work of Christ.

I believe it is especially appropriate for us to remember the Passover roots of this great day. The deliverance of God’s people in the Old Testament foreshadowed the wider spiritual deliverance that the death and resurrection of Jesus would bring. As the early Christians did, we also should celebrate this day as a passage from bondage to deliverance, from death to life, from sorrow and pain to joy and spiritual prosperity.

When we receive the two elements of Communion, representing Christ’s body and blood, it should be a solemn, then joyous time. Solemn, as we recall the terrible price that was paid to win our salvation. Joyful, after the elements have been received and we recall that Jesus came that we might have life — a life that should be abundant (John 10:10)!

Abundant life in Christ is the heritage of Resurrection Sunday.