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Making a Difference

April 1, 2025 by bjcorbin

Bill was visibly frustrated as he briskly strode into Dave’s office.

“Hey Bill, what can I do for you?” Dave asked pleasantly.

“You can accept my resignation,” Bill snarled.

“What?” Dave replied, in confusion.

“That’s right, I’m done,” he continued.

“OK Bill, I see that you’re very upset; why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“Five Smooth Stones is what’s going on!” he said,

“You mean the Christian Rock Band?” Dave asked.

“Come on Dave, what else would I be talking about?” he shot back.

“OK, I just want to make sure I understand what the problem is?”

Bill’s expression twisted as he explained, “It’s really pretty simple, I’ve been teaching Sunday School in this church for almost twenty years now, and it’s been like pulling teeth to get anyone interested in this ministry; especially the kids.  We never have any budget, we fight to get teachers, and even when you get some kids in the classroom, you fight to get them interested in anything to do with God.  But let some guys with guitars show up, and all of a sudden, we’ve got money to upgrade the sound system, we’ve got an army of volunteers to set up the stage, and the kids are acting like its Christmas Eve.”

“So you’re upset that everyone is excited about this band coming in?” Dave asked in confusion.

“It’s not that I care about the band,” he responded, “I just wonder why no one is excited about working with this ministry until some group of hot shots they’ve heard on the radio comes around.  Is this really even about ministry, or is it just a meeting of the ‘Five Smooth Stones’ fan club?”

“OK Bill, I think I understand where you’re coming from.  First off, as the Superintendent of the Sunday School, no one understands better than me about the struggle to keep this ministry going, and to get people excited about it; but having a nationally known Christian band just volunteer out of the blue to come, and give a concert here is a blessing, not a curse.  This will give us an opportunity to reach the kids in a way that we’ve never been able to before.”

“Will it Dave?”

“Will it what?” he again asked in confusion.

“Reach the kids,” Bill replied.

“I don’t know, but don’t you think that it’s worth a try?” Dave pled.

“I don’t know what I think anymore,” he said.  “I’m beginning to doubt that I’ve ever reached any of the kids that I’ve taught over the years.”

Dave’s face fell, “Come on Bill, you don’t really believe that, do you?”

“No really; I’ve watched them come in, and sit through my class like it was detention.  They do there time, and then they leave,” he responded.  A few years later, when you see them on the street, they either don’t know you, or you find out that they’re living with their girlfriend or something.”

“You know that isn’t every kid’s story,” Dave defended.

“I know, but the good kids seem to come from good parents.  They’re fine when I get them, and they’re fine when they leave,” Bill asserted.  “I just can’t see where I’ve made any difference in their lives.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“You’re right Dave, I would be.”

Just as Bill finished, an assistant knocked on the open door, and exclaimed, “They’re here!”

“You mean the band?” Dave queried.

“Yup!” the assistant chirped.

“Send them in,” he directed.

Bill rolled his eyes, and said, “I should go.”

“No Bill, you should stay and meet these guys,” Dave replied.  “It may make a difference for you.”

With a heavy sigh, Bill grumbled, “I don’t see how, but whatever.”

As two members of the band stepped into the office, Dave quickly moved to the doorway and extended his hand.  “Hey guys, we’re excited about you being here.  I’m Dave Roberts, the Sunday School Superintendent’ and this is one of our teachers, Bill Walker.”

Bill smiled weakly, and shook the guy’s hands as well.

“It’s a pleasure to be here, and to see you guys again.  I’m Chris Smith, and this is Tom Howard.  The rest of the guys are unloading our equipment.”

Dave looked confused, as he asked, “So you’ve been here before?”

“Oh yes Sir,” Chris replied.  “As a matter of fact, Mr. Walker was my Sunday School teacher.”

The men exchanged a look of shock before Bill turned to Chris, and confessed, “I’m sorry, you do look familiar to me, but your name doesn’t ring a bell.”

Chris smiled knowingly, “Back then they called me Willie.”

“O Lord,” Bill exclaimed. “Little Willie Smith!  Of course, I remember you now!”

“It’s been a long time since anyone’s called me Willie,” Chris chuckled.

Dave exuberantly asserted, “So you guys have some history together?”

“Oh yeah,” Bill nodded.  We’ve definitely got some memories.”

Sheepishly, Chris nodded in agreement, “Yeah, some pretty bad memories really.”

Again, confused, Dave asked, “Bad memories?”

“Willie, I mean Chris, was going through a tough time back then,” Bill defended.

“It’s true,” Chris affirmed.  “It was probably the lowest time in my life.  I was here living with my Aunt, while my parents tried to work out their problems with the law, and each other.  I was pretty angry, and I definitely didn’t want to be in church.”

With a look of satisfaction, Dave said, “I guess things changed after you got to know the people here.”

Chris grimaced slightly, “I wish I could say that was true.  Honestly, I was hateful to everyone here, especially Mr. Walker.  This is part of the reason that I wanted to come back; to apologize, and to let you know that you didn’t waste your time on me.”

Bill’s voice was noticeably softer as he continued, “As I remember, you went back to your parents.  I guess they got their issues worked out.”

“Not really,” Chris replied. “My Aunt sent me back because she said that I was unmanageable.  Things got a lot worse after that.  My father eventually went to jail, and the courts took me away from my Mom.  I was raised in a Foster home after that.”

Dave almost seemed to be pleading, “So,I guess they got you back in church?”

“No, they were good people, but they weren’t church people,” he said.

“So how do you go from where you were to a Christian Rock band?” Bill asked.

“By the time I was taken from my mother, I was so angry, and depressed that I was thinking about killing myself.  I had actually planned it out, but then I remembered something you showed us in class,” he said turning toward Bill.  “Do you remember the string that you had that stretched all the way across the room, with the little piece of string hanging from the middle of it?”

“Oh sure,” Bill nodded. “I still have that in my classroom to teach kids about how short this life is compared to eternity.”

“Well it works,” Chris declared.  “I remembered that picture in my mind, and I realized that killing myself might end the pain of this life, but that it would simply be trading it for an eternity of pain.  That depressed me even more, but then I remembered when you taught about the prodigal son, and you said that no matter what happens you can always come home to Jesus.  I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so that night, alone in my bedroom, I asked Him to come into my life, and to help me.  And He did.”

Dave could see Bill’s eyes filling with tears, as he exclaimed, “Wow, what a great testimony.”

“You know Chris gives his testimony at every concert, and we’ve seen hundreds of kids give their hearts to the Lord,” Tom added.  “Many of them talk about how someone once told them about Jesus, but that it wasn’t until they reached the bottom that they were willing to call out for help.  As a matter of fact we wrote a song about it for our second CD.”

“Wow!” Dave gasped.

“Yeah, it’s called “Believing for the Harvest,” Chris added.  “I thought of how Mr. Walker’s ministry had touched my life, and I knew that he’d probably never know about it.  It struck me that there are a lot of faithful servants out there who pour themselves into kids, without ever knowing whether they’re making a difference.  I guess I wanted to honor their service and their faith.”

Pulling out a CD from his case, Tom said, “I just remembered that Chris wrote a little dedication for the song that we put on the CD cover.  It says, ‘This song is dedicated to Mr. Bill Walker, and to diligent servants like him, who are faithful to sow and water, knowing that they may never get to witness the harvest.  They will never fully understand the impact their lives have made until they get to their Father in Heaven’.”

Bill could no longer contain the tears, as Chris warmly embraced him, “Thank you Mr. Walker.”

“Thank you Willie,” he whispered.

As the two men separated, Tom stepped up and hugged Bill as well, “I want to thank you too Mr. Walker.”

“For what?” he queried.

“Well, Chris is the one who led me to the Lord, so I figure that I also owe you some thanks.”

“God bless you son,” Bill cried.

As the men separated, Chris declared, “We really need to go help the guys set up the stage; maybe we can get together afterward, and talk some more.”

“That would be great,” Bill said as he wiped his eyes.

As Chris and Tom headed out the door, Dave turned to Bill, and smiled, “Where were we?”

Bill smiled sheepishly, and replied, “I believe that I was saying how excited I was about tonight’s outreach, and how I can’t wait to get back into class on Sunday morning.”

Dave’s expression grew more serious, and with his voice was filled with emotion, as he said, “God bless you Bill.”

Tears once again began to flow, as Bill choked, “God bless you Dave.”

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Run to the Light

March 30, 2025 by bjcorbin

Slowly, but deliberately, we’ve made our way to the water. At times it has seemed like a celebration, as we revisited the joys of our collective history. But at other times, it has grown ominously quiet, as the reality of our impending farewell settles in.

Reaching the pier, the sound of the ship’s bell reminds us of the scarcity of time, and something that feels like panic briefly washes over me. There is a very human tendency to want to avoid such moments, and perhaps an even stronger urge to fixate on them. I know that I am not ready to say goodbye, but as I look into your eyes, it’s clear that it’s time for you to go.

I can see that you are shivering, and that these blankets have lost their ability to make you warm. And as much as I dred letting you go, I would not wish for you to spend another night in the cold. I can tell that you are worried for us, because that is how you’ve always been, but like our own apprehensions, it’s something we must set aside. We’ve arrived at the moment, and regardless of whether we feel ready, it is here.

So even though I cannot fathom a future without you, my heart cries,

Run to the light dear brother

Journey to that distant shore

Don’t look back in anguish

Be at peace

Know that the Father who awaits your arrival will care for us

Know that you will always occupy this place in our hearts

One day we will all be together again

Run to the light dear brother

Run to the light

And be free!

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Praise and Worship

March 13, 2025 by bjcorbin

Another file from the achieves

Recently someone asked me, what is the difference between a “praise” song and a “worship” song?  I had to smile at that question, because I remember asking the same question several years ago.  At that time, I’d not really been exposed to much “praise and worship” music and so the distinction wasn’t obvious to me.  What I was told at the time was that the “fast songs” were the praise songs and the “slow songs” were the worship songs.  That wasn’t a very satisfying answer, but I decided not to worry about it and to move on. 

All these years later I can testify to the fact that the act of praising and worshiping the Lord has revolutionized my relationship with Him.  It has birthed a love of prayer in me and helped me to understand that God still speaks to His children.  Because of the important role this has played in my journey, I wanted to give a thoughtful answer. 

While I had to admit that I wasn’t positive, I shared that I tend to view a praise song as one that I sing about God (e.g. “Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns in heaven above…”) while I view a worship song as one that I sing to God (e.g. “I surrender all, I surrender all, all to You my Blessed Savior, I surrender all…”).  While that may not completely cover it, I thought it was a better answer than the one I got. 

That led to some more discussion, which eventually led to the question, “is there any difference between praising and worshipping”?  Unlike the first question, I had a much higher degree of confidence in that answer and I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of those thoughts.

To praise somebody (or something) is to find them commendable, to react favorably, to show approval…  This is undoubtedly a positive thing.  The Psalms tell us that the Lord inhabits the praise of His people and that is certainly of infinite value; but the act of worship goes far deeper.  Worship entails elements such as respect, reverence, honor and even devotion, which are several degrees above simply being commendable. 

I believe that to truly worship something, we must view it as being greater than ourselves; but even that may not be enough.  I recognize that Michael Jordan is a far greater basketball player than I could ever dream of being, yet this still doesn’t compel me to worship him.  I believe that another essential element of true worship is submissiveness; that before we can really worship something, we must be willing to humble ourselves and to put ourselves in submission to it. 

There are many people and things that I have found praiseworthy, many that I have recognized as being greater than myself, but none besides the Lord that I would be willing to put myself in submission to and to truly worship. 

Jesus told the woman at the well that His Father seeks “true worshippers” and He went on to explain that since “God is Spirit”, “His worshippers must worship in Spirit and in truth”.  As I was reminded of these passages, I felt like the Lord said, “Many is the man who praises Me with his lips, but refuses to bow his heart before Me”. 

There are many people who recognize the goodness of God and who are even willing to acknowledge that before men, but few who are willing to submit their will to His.  In my own walk of faith I have grown wary of any person who calls themselves a child of God, but has no passion for worship.  I believe that our will and our nature make worship an essential part of our walk with the Lord. 

I find that I daily have to resubmit myself to His Lordship.  The word says that the fear (i.e. awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  I believe that awe is bore out of a recognition that God is so much greater than we are, that His ways are high above our ways and that we are totally dependent upon His mercy and grace.  I believe this awe causes us to submit, but that it is in coming under His Lordship that we discover His great love and mercy; which causes us to love Him, trust Him, and inevitably to worship Him. 

He is not only worthy of our praise, He is worthy of our worship as well.  Indeed, “All to you my blessed Savior, I surrender all”.

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The Government of God

March 12, 2025 by bjcorbin

Jesus explained the government of God when He told His disciples that, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does (John 5:19)”.  Paul further explained that the head of every man is Christ, and that the head of Christ is God (1Cor.11:3). 

By walking in perfect submission to the leadership of the Father, Jesus gave us a clear demonstration of, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” which allowed Him to rightfully claim, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:9).

As amazing as that claim was, He also told His disciples that it was better for them that He go, so that the Holy Spirit could come (John 16: 7-11), which speaks of God’s provision for us to experience the government of God as well. 

Once again, Paul expounds that Jesus has been given all authority, and that He is the head of the body (Eph.1:22-23), which ultimately is our source of life (Col.2:19).

I submit that the Lord has no interest in some earthly replica of His government or kingdom.  We are not building some new hierarchy or structure we are submitting to the Kingdom rule that already exists in heaven between the Father and the Son.

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Legacy

March 8, 2025 by bjcorbin

If you live long enough, your life is bound to stand for something.  Even without any conscious thought, the consistent patterns that repeat themselves throughout a lifetime point to the things we truly value and expose the content of our character.  They ultimately create the subtext of our story, which could rightfully be considered our legacy.  Those of us given the privilege of reaching old age frequently get the opportunity to consider the legacies of those who came before us, which quite naturally encourages the consideration of our own.

There are some who seem to be driven by their desire to cultivate a specific legacy, seeking out opportunities to prove themselves and to frame the narrative of how they might be remembered.  Unwittingly, that drive can actually work against them, and undermine the story they hope to tell.  

An example of this would be those who wish to be remembered as “successful” or as a “winner”.  While they may spend their lives accumulating accomplishments and leave behind trophy cases of awards and accolades, that only tells a part of their story.  If the cost of achieving such things was meaningful relationships, and/or if their need to win caused them to treat people like pawns in a lifelong chess tournament, that will likely become the bigger story.  The record books may acknowledge them as a “winner”, but they will be remembered for being ruthless and uncaring.

In the end, we don’t get to write our own legacy.  It is ultimately defined by those we leave behind.  In many ways it is the foundation we’ve established for them to build upon (or teardown), and the mark we’ve made on their hearts.  If our life was nothing more than an endless pursuit of our own happiness, it seems doubtful that anyone would take the time to consider what it meant.  Indeed, a life consumed with self is the emptiest existence one could choose.  If we could grasp this concept early in life, it might drastically alter our value system, thereby rewriting the subtext of our story.

I’ve frequently taught my children that at the end of this life there will only be two things that really matter.  One is “who you loved,” and the other is “who loved you!”  When you’re lying on your deathbed, your money, your diplomas, your gold medals, your Oscars, your Nobel Prizes… won’t be of any consolation.  In that moment, all the stuff that once seemed so valuable becomes meaningless, as we realize that only those things rooted in faith, hope and love can pass over the threshold with us.

It is in such moments that many a rich man discovers his poverty, and that many a poor man discovers the riches of a life well lived. 

Today, as my dear brother Thomas lives out the final moments of his story, he is surrounded by people who he deeply loves, and who deeply love him.  People who he has invested his heart in, and who cherish the moments they’ve had together.  Though my brother has many other accomplishments, and things he could be admired for, these are the only things that matter today.  As he stands on the threshold of eternity, he can look back into the loving eyes of those whose lives have been touched by his, and he can look ahead, into the loving eyes of the Father who awaits his embrace.  

I can’t imagine a better way to end one’s story.  

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The Spirit of Religion

February 25, 2025 by bjcorbin

(Another one from the achieve)

There is a demonic force that thrives in religious atmospheres, and for the purposes of this writing, I will refer to it as the “spirit of religion.” Because it so often comes dressed in robes and vestments, it is easily mistaken for orthodoxy.

The spirit of religion seeks:

  • to put boundaries around what is infinite
  • to place conditions on that which is unconditional
  • to discredit anything that cannot be rationalized and reproduced
  • to have us view other people as our source of connection to God, as opposed to viewing God as our source of connection to other people
  • to redefine the “work of God” as something other than believing in the One whom He sent
  • to inspire the church in the construction of an earthy replica of “the kingdom”, so that the genuine Kingdom does not come
  • to keep us grasping, when we should be releasing

The spirit of religion opposes:

  • spontaneity, because it understands the power that is released when God moves “suddenly”
  • anything that puts our focus on the person of God, because when the body becomes connected to the head, all things become possible

The spirit of religion wants the church to accept:

  • comfort as a substitute for healing
  • ideas as a substitute for revelation
  • activity as a substitute for fulfilling one’s true purpose
  • stimulation as a substitute for manifestation
  • recreation as a substitute for rest
  • instant gratification as a substitute for renewed strength
  • things done in the name of Jesus as a substitute for things done in His character
  • intermediaries as a substitute for direct & personal connection
  • symbols as a substitute for a living God
  • earthly prosperity as a substitute for spiritual authority
  • good form as a substitute for real substance
  • morality as a substitute for being led by the Holy Spirit
  • petition & declaration as a substitute for genuine communication with God
  • the exaltation of men of God as a substitute for the exaltation of God Himself
  • spiritual gifts as a substitute for Gods’ tangible presence
  • government as a substitute for community
  • accomplishment as a substitute for transformation
  • what is seen as a substitute for what is unseen
  • rituals as a substitute for relationship

The spirit of religion is always present at the funeral of revival

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True Value

February 25, 2025 by bjcorbin

(Another writing from the archives)

This article reminded me of something the Lord showed me several years ago, which I added below.

“Picked up for 3 bucks, Chinese bowl goes for $2.2 million at auction”

   By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

A Chinese bowl that a New York family picked up for $3 at a garage sale turned out to be a 1,000-year-old treasure and has sold at auction for $2.2 million.

The bowl — ceramic, 5 inches in diameter and with a saw-tooth pattern etched around the outside — went to a London dealer, Giuseppe Eskenazi, at Sotheby’s auction house in New York on Tuesday.

Sotheby’s said the bowl was from the Northern Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 to 1127 and is known for its cultural and artistic advances.

The auction house said the only other known bowl of similar size and design has been in the collection of the British Museum for more than 60 years. The house had estimated that this one would sell for $200,000 to $300,000.

Sotheby’s did not identify the sellers, but said they put the bowl up for auction after consulting with experts. The family bought the bowl in 2007 and had kept it on a mantel in the years since. There weren’t any additional details made public about the garage sale where they had purchased the item.

Years ago, the Lord showed me a picture of an oil painting, sitting on an old, chrome framed, yellow vinyl, kitchen chair.  The chair was sitting out on the lawn, with masking tape across one corner of the paintings frame. 

As I pondered what the scene meant, I remembered hearing stories about people who’ve cleaned out attics and inadvertently sold valuable masterpieces, by artists like Rembrandt or Picasso; sometimes getting as little as five or ten dollars at a yard sale.  Obviously, the people, who found those old pictures, had no idea of their value; and as I continued to meditate on this, a deeper understanding began to emerge.

The most obvious meaning of this picture was that God considers each of His children to be a masterpiece, regardless of whether they’ve ever been treated like one.  Sadly, when you’ve been handled like old junk, it becomes easier to believe that’s what you are.  But in truth, the real value of a masterpiece is not diminished by the failure of its beholder to understand its worth.  It is the one who undervalues the artifact who ultimately suffers the loss.

Few would argue God’s credentials as a “Master” Creator; but just as it is with the Master Painters here on earth, some might want to quibble over His “greater” and “lesser” works.   Yet to the artist, each work is an expression of their inner being, each is valuable and irreplaceable.  One painting might get more attention than another, one may bring more profit, but each one is of equal value in reflecting the heart and vision of its creator.  Undoubtedly, if those who looked upon such a painting, with untrained eyes, had known the name of the artist, they may have had some greater sense of its worth.

Genuine art lovers can often pick up subtle details in a picture that an unskilled or maybe even an uncaring eye might miss.  They can often derive much more significance from a work than someone who only scans for the obvious; and so it is with us. 

We may not always see the beauty in people, but how often have we really looked for it.  We may not always understand what the Creator was trying to convey to us, but simply knowing who created them should make these works valuable to us.  While this may be difficult with some people, it may be most difficult as we look in the mirror.  I sense that God’s heart is just as grieved when we don’t understand our own value to Him, as when we don’t see the value in others.

I believe that God wants us to be like the lovers of great art; to look deeply into His creation and to find Him in it.  The scripture says that the invisible qualities of God are found in the things He created and that we were created in His own image. 

I sense that He is calling us to look past the obvious (love covers a multitude of sins) and to find the beauty He’s placed inside of each one of His children.  Once we find it, I believe that He would have us cultivate (i.e. to shine the light on and water) it.  Isn’t that what Jesus did? 

He didn’t focus on the flaws or mistakes; He treated each one as precious and valuable.  We can see that people were transformed by that (e.g. the woman at the well, the woman taken from the bed of adultery, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus…). 

Jesus told the apostles that people would know His followers by the way that they loved each other.  Is that how people know us church folk?  How much of a difference would it make if we sought the beauty that God placed in each person and if we truly valued them as a unique creation, from the hands of a Master Artist.  If our hearts are going to align with His, we are going to have to become more passionate about those He created.

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Clarifying Love

February 19, 2025 by bjcorbin

(Another older writing)

Given the scriptures exhortations about the importance of love, it is critical for Christ’s followers to understand what that word means to Him.   To that end, the Lord gave me a series of visions that helped to clarify the relationship that He desires to have.  Hopefully, they will bring some clarity for others as well.

(Gratitude)

As I pondered what it means to truly love the Lord, He gave me a vision of standing at the front door of my old house, looking out the screen door.  Across the street was an apartment complex, which had a bus stop directly in front of it.  The road between was not zoned for a residential area, and so the cars normally came through at a very high rate of speed. 

In the vision I looked across the street to the bus stop and saw what appeared to be a young mother, with a child (approximately 3 yrs old) busily exploring the ground around her feet.  As I watched, the mother received a cell phone call, which took her attention off of the child, who immediately began to wander onto the roadway.  Knowing how the traffic moved through this area, I was alarmed and ran out the door.  At the edge of the road I could see that my fears were warranted, as a car was rapidly closing in on the child.  

Instinctively I ran toward him, violently grabbing him under his arms and diving toward the edge of the road; just as the screeching tires of the car passed by us.  We hit the ground hard, before rolling to a stop on the grass.  There was what seemed to be a frozen moment of silence, as the shock of what just happened washed over us; but that silence was quickly shattered by the fearful screams of the child and the loud cries of his mother. 

As I scrambled to ensure that the boy was OK, his hysterical mother ran to us; as did the driver of the now stopped car.  Upon seeing that the boy wasn’t seriously hurt, I lifted him into his mother’s arms, as she managed to repeat thank you, thank you, thank you, through her sobs.  As I looked into the faces of the mother, her child and the panic stricken driver, the vision ended and the Lord began to speak.

“Do you think that they are grateful?” He said

“Absolutely”, I replied

“If I asked them if they loved you, what do you think that they’d say?” He continued

“In this moment I would suppose that they may say that they did”, I replied

“Do you believe that they love you?” He asked

“I think that they love what I did, but they really don’t know me, so I don’t see how they could honesty love me”, I said.

“This is how many of the people who say that they love Me are; they are grateful for what I’ve done for them, but they don’t really know me at all”

From this exchange with the Lord, I derived that while we should be grateful for His sacrifice on the cross, we cannot mistake that gratitude for the loving relationship that He’s called us to.

(Explicit Love)

As I pondered how I might bless the Lord’s heart, He gave me a vision of a man (in his mid to late forties) walking through his house and buttoning his shirt.  The house was dark and after a couple seconds I realized it was before dawn and that he was getting ready for work.  As he passed by his children’s bedrooms, he paused to check on them as they slept and then he quietly slipped out the door. 

I then saw him at work on a construction site, where he appeared to be the Foreman or maybe a Construction Engineer.  He was working hard and providing direction to several different people; I could see from their response that they respected him and what he was telling them. 

The scene then shifted back to his home, as he came in the kitchen to drop off his lunch bucket and checked the “Honey Do List” on the refrigerator.  I then saw him outside his house, working on a ladder, apparently repairing something near the rain gutters.  The house and the yard looked immaculate, as if a lot of care had been expended on them. 

The scene once again shifted and he was now sitting down with his family for dinner.  I watched as they bowed their heads and blessed the food.  After dinner, I saw the man hard at work on his computer, as his children came to say goodnight to him.  While he acknowledged the children briefly; he seemed immersed in his work.  It appeared to be very late when his wife came by to say goodnight as well.  Sometime later, he walked back through the darkened house, put on his night clothes and slipped into bed.  As he lay in bed, the Lord began to speak.

“What do you think of this man?” He asked

“He seems to be a very good man to me Lord”, I replied

“Do you think that he loves his family?” He continued

“Oh yes”, I said

“What makes you think so?” He asked

“Because he seems to work hard, they have a beautiful home and he seems to take good care of them”, I said

“Do they feel loved?” He asked

“I would think so”, I replied

“Look closer”, He said

As I moved around his bed, I could see his wife’s face; and to my surprise she wasn’t asleep.  As I came closer, I could see that there were tears in her eyes.  As I moved down the hall and looked at the faces of the children, they too were awake and also had tears in their eyes.

“I don’t understand Lord, why are they so sad?” I asked

“Because they love this man”, He replied

“But he clearly loves them, don’t they understand?” I asked

“He wants them to understand that he loves them because of all that he is doing for them, but they would all be willing to sacrifice some of these comforts if it meant that they could have more time with him”, the Lord said,  “You see this is how many of My children are with Me; they want Me to derive the fact that they love Me by all of the things that they do for Me; but I’d be much more pleased just to spend time with them”.

From this I concluded that while our actions should reflect our love of the Lord, we must be careful that our love for Him doesn’t become implied (i.e. implicit), as opposed to being expressed (i.e. explicit).  I felt like the Lord said that if a faith that never acts is dead; what is the value of a love that is never truly expressed?

(The Desires of Our Heart)

As I pondered what it means to be passionate for the Lord, he gave me the following vision. 

As she stepped out of the hotel lobby and onto the busy Manhattan sidewalk, she could sense the electricity in the air.  The boulevards were jammed with people and cars, not unlike the streets that she’d grown up with in Calcutta (or Kolkata as it is known in India).  But to her the atmosphere was totally different.  Despite the affluent appearance of her hometown, she viewed it as a monument to a bygone era; an oasis of civility in a largely third world culture. 

New York City seemed different to her; modern and progressive.  America was not some third world country; it was the nation of the great middle class, where average people expected the next generation to progress beyond the current one. 

As she walked along the crowded avenue the possibilities seemed endless, as exotic smells filled her nostrils, unfamiliar sounds rang in her ears, and inviting scenes seemed to unfold at every turn.  She found it intoxicating, as she spent hours strolling through shops, galleries and plazas; simply taking in the ambience of the city. 

Every once in a while, a wave of sadness would wash over her as she remembered that the Travel Visa, which allowed her to be in this country, would soon expire; and that she would have to return home.  This trip had been a graduation gift from her parents, and she was due to start Medical School in a few weeks.  But this is where she wanted to be, and the thought of going back was excruciating to her.  She quickly pushed these thoughts and feelings aside, as to not waste the precious time that remained.

As she passed through the doorway of the exclusive restaurant, she saw Michael waiting for her.  When he saw her, his face broke into a broad smile.  Failing to conceal his excitement, he quickly made his way to her.  He helped her with her coat and they were soon seated at a little table by the window, which overlooked Times Square.  She had met Michael a few days after arriving in New York, and he had persistently pursued spending time with her ever since.  He was a successful business man, in his mid-thirties, and he seemed very eager for them to cultivate a relationship. 

While she had every reason to be attracted to Michael, his earnest manner made her somewhat uncomfortable.  She loved the places that he’d taken her, and enjoyed the attention that he lavished upon her, but she couldn’t seem to get herself excited about the relationship that he seemed to long for.  As they waited to order their food, Michael stared at her intently; totally enthralled by her dark eyes and almond colored skin.  Yet, she seemed oblivious, as she stared out the window, apparently mesmerized by the bustle of the cityscape. 

After their food was ordered, Michael’s face grew serious.  He told her that he understood that her time in America would soon be over, and of how sad he was at the thought that they might never see each other again.  Though his grief seemed to rest more on the latter thought, hers rested firmly on the former.  His face brightened some as he explained that it didn’t need to be that way.  Reaching into his pocket, Michael produced a small felt covered box, pushing it across the table to her.  A wave of trepidation swept over her as she realized what was happening. 

His face was glowing with love as he said, “You could stay here and be my Bride”?

Her head spun at the sound of his words.  She knew that her feelings for him were not nearly as strong as his were for her.  Truthfully, she didn’t really know him very well; though she had to admit to herself that her desire to know him better wasn’t that strong.  On the other hand, agreeing to this proposal would mean that she could remain in this place, which she’d come to view as a sort of paradise.  The thought of returning to the oppressive atmosphere of her homeland was overwhelming to her.  The thought of becoming a naturalized citizen in this country was like a dream come true.  This was her chance for the life that she yearned for; how could she even consider saying no. 

As she opened the felt box, she saw the spectacular diamond ring that he’d picked out for her.  He pulled the ring from the holder and taking her hand, he gently slipped it onto her finger.  It fit perfectly and flashes of light erupted from it with every movement; she found herself captivated by it. 

“Do you like it?” he asked. 

“Oh yes!” she replied, without looking at him. 

When she was finally able to pull her eyes from the ring, she looked into Michael’s face.  She could see that he was stricken in anticipation of her answer. 

She finally whispered, “How could I say no?”

Michael made no attempt to conceal his delight, and people from other tables began to look at them.  She was embarrassed, but he was unashamed to share his joyful report with anyone who would listen.  As Michael ordered Champagne for everyone in the restaurant, and continued in excited conversation with those around him, she stared out the window at her new home, and smiled.

At the end of the vision I felt like the Lord said, “This is a picture of my Bride.  She yearns to live in my Kingdom, she yearns for the things that this marriage will afford her, she yearns for the treasures of my store houses, but she doesn’t necessarily yearn for Me.” 

While the Lord intends for His Kingdom to be inviting and to be lavish with His children, I believe His heart yearns for a Bride who will love Him for who He is.  I pray that we would become such a Bride.

The eyes of the Lord range (i.e. run to and fro) throughout the earth, to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9)

From the book, “Along the King’s Highway” by Bryan J. Corbin

Published in 2008 (ISBN 978-1-4363-6965-7)

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Three Brothers

February 19, 2025 by bjcorbin

(Another older writing)

Today, it all became clear to me.  It wasn’t always that way; for many years I felt caught between two worlds or more accurately between two brothers.  I (Marcus) was the second of my fathers’ three sons; born seven years after my brother Phillip and just a year before my brother Andrew.  My father is the King of this great land and of course that makes each of us a Prince.  The affairs of the kingdom have kept my father away for as long as I can remember and thus much of what I know of him has come through my older brother Phillip. 

As the first born and the first heir to the throne, he has access to things within the kingdom that Andrew and I don’t.  I’ve never struggled with that knowledge, but it has always been a point of resentment for Andrew.  He’s never seemed content with his role in our family or in the kingdom.  All through our childhood his discontent grew stronger, along with his resentment of Phillip.  I tried to stay out of that conflict, but eventually I was drawn into the middle and forced to choose a side.  To understand that choice, I must go back to the beginning.

Andrew and I have always been close; I suppose this is largely due to the small difference in our age and the fact that Princes rarely have the opportunity to interact with other children.  Even so, our temperaments seemed to fit well together.  Andrew is fierce and impulsive; full of passion, emotion and expression; while I am naturally cautious and thoughtful; more of an observer and slower to speak.  Though I am older, I’ve always tended to yield to Andrew, even in the times when I’ve disagreed with him.  I guess that I’ve rarely felt passionate enough about my own beliefs to fight with him; and to disagree with Andrew will always mean a fight.  We spent almost every waking moment of our childhood together and this forged an unbreakable bond between us, or so I thought.

Phillip is very much a reflection of our father.  He is even tempered, wise beyond his years and deliberate in all that he does. He always seemed much older than us and has always been busy with the matters of the kingdom.  I can scarcely remember a time when he’s acted like a child, even when he was one.  Everything that he says or does seems to be motivated by either, “the kingdom calls” or “it is what father would want”. 

Those phrases tend to aggravate Andrew, but I’ve never sensed any pretense in Phillip, so I tend to view them as noble.  Phillip was always fair with us, though he could be very firm as well.  I know that he was aware of Andrews’ feelings toward him, yet he never acknowledged them or acted in a way that I thought was retaliatory.  He didn’t really have to force us to do anything, but often Andrew would complain bitterly whenever he asked anything of us.  Though Phillip and I are probably more alike, we’ve rarely spent much time together and thus we haven’t shared the closeness that Andrew and I have.

As we reached early manhood, I sensed Andrew becoming more distant.  He would leave the palace and be gone all day.  He was rarely willing to speak of where he had been or what he’d been doing.  In this time, his resentment for Phillip seemed to grow into hatred.  Just the sight of him would cause Andrew to seethe.  On occasion I tried to reason with Andrew about this condition, but his anger would normally just turn on me, so I quickly abandoned that effort.  As much as I could, I tried to remain neutral, but the day eventually came when that became impossible.

Late one evening, I was lying in my chamber, when I heard the foot steps of many men moving through the passageway.  I quickly moved to the door, just in time to see the door of Andrew’s chamber close.  I quietly moved down the passageway, intent on learning the source of this commotion, and as I paused at the door, I could hear Andrews’ impassioned voice.  He was describing how they were going to overtake and kill “him” and I suddenly realized that the “him” that they were speaking of was Phillip. 

I was immediately torn as whether to burst into the chamber, letting them know that their plan was exposed or whether I ought to run to Phillip.  After a momentary pause, I chose the latter and quickly went to awaken Phillip.  Even coming out of a deep sleep, he seemed immediately coherent and calm.  As I excitedly conveyed what I’d heard, he didn’t seem at all worried or even surprised.  When I was finished, he told me that he knew that this day would eventually come and then he asked me a disturbing question.  He said, “Which side are you going to take”? 

I was instantly irritated by the idea that he would expect me to choose between my brothers and after some hesitation, I blurted that out.  Phillip calmly agreed that no man should ever have to make such a choice, but went on to say that all of my tomorrows would hinge on that choice tonight.  He also reminded me that if Andrew was successful in killing him, that I would be the next in line for the throne, which is something that I’d not yet considered.  Phillip genuinely seemed more concerned with what decision I was going to make, than with the fact that Andrew and his accomplices could arrive at any moment. 

It felt as though either way I chose to go, one of my brothers surely would be destroyed.  I asked Phillip, “how does one make such a choice”, to which Phillip replied, “For me it is simple; what would father have me do”, “but the question you must resolve is whether that will be your standard”?   As I sat there in a daze, Phillip eventually broke the silence, thanking me for warning him and assuring me that he would handle Andrew’s uprising.  Before I departed from him, he reiterated that no matter what happened, whether I acted or failed to act, I will have made a choice.

As I made my way back, I noticed that all was silent in Andrew’s chamber and I tried to convince myself that it had all been talk; but as I stepped through my own door, a voice emerged from the shadows, “good evening Marcus”.  Surprised, I stammered, “Andrew, what are you doing here”?  He said, “I’ve come to speak with you brother, where have you been so late in the evening”?  I replied, “Well it seems as though we’re all having difficulty with sleep tonight, what is it that you’ve come to speak about”?  “We’ve come to discuss the future of the throne”.  “We”, I replied; “Yes, I’ve some friends with me”, said Andrew.  I could sense their menacing presence in the room as I said, “Since when does a brother need friends to speak to his brother”?  To which Andrew replied, “My friends haven’t come for you”. 

“Who have they come for” I inquired.  “I think you know” responded Andrew.  I let out a sigh and said, “Yes I suppose I do; but then what happens”?  “Why you’ll become the first heir to the throne of course”, he replied.  After a silent moment, I asked, “What if I refuse to be a part of this…brother”.  At that moment Andrew stepped out of the shadows, with his sword drawn and moved slowly toward me.  Upon reaching me, he raised the tip of his sword to my chest, just poking through the cloth of my shirt and said, “The choice is yours…brother”.

I could barely breathe at the revelation that my own brother was willing to destroy me, but before I could respond, Phillip and a squad of palace guards poured through the door.  Before Andrew could fully turn, Phillip had knocked the sword from his hand and had his sword drawn on Andrew, while his accomplices were immediately subdued by the guards.  To my surprise, Phillip did not address Andrew, but instead he queried me. 

He asked, “So have you decided Marcus”?  “Decided what”, I responded weakly.  “Which side you choose”, said Phillip?  After a moment I asked, “What if I choose Andrews’ side”?  “If that is your decision, I will lay down my sword, surrender my claim to the throne and put myself at Andrews’ mercy”.  His words were like a kick in my stomach, no matter what I chose it would mean the destruction of one of my brothers.  As my mind flooded with thoughts and memories; memories of Andrew and I laughing together as children, thoughts of his sword at my chest; it suddenly became very clear to me and I said the only thing I could think of, “what would father want”? 

At those words Andrew screamed in agony and it was finished.

In the time that has passed since that night, I’ve often wrestled with whether I’d made the right decision, but today it was resolved forever in my mind.  Today, our Father came home.

This story is a parable about the relationship between our body, soul and spirit.  In the story, Andrew represents the body, or more rightly our flesh (i.e. our carnal nature).  We naturally feel more connected to the flesh, because we grew up being guided by it and our relationship is much closer than to that of the spirit.  Like Andrew, the flesh always wants its way, even to the eternal destruction of the soul.  Phillip on the other hand represents our spirit, which is our connection to the spiritual realm and to our Father in heaven.  Like Phillip, the spirit is motivated by the things of the kingdom and is edified by doing the Fathers will.  As in the story, the spirit is not willing to destroy the soul to gets its own way, but if we are willing to submit (through our spirit) to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the kingdom rule of our King will be manifest, even in His apparent absence. Marcus represents our soul (i.e. our mind, will and emotions), which is what makes us who we are and lives on for eternity.  As in the story, we don’t like to have to choose, but the Bible clearly says that the flesh wars against the spirit and that what is pleasing to the flesh is not pleasing to the spirit; it goes on to say that the flesh needs to be put to death, so that we can partake of a life in the Spirit.  While the battle between the flesh and the Spirit may be difficult and confusing today, it won’t be on the day we come face to face with “Our Father”. 

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Thought for the Day – Heavenly Minded

February 15, 2025 by bjcorbin

It’s ironic how often I’ve heard warnings about “being so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good”, when I can’t seem to find a scripture that substantiates this concern, nor have I ever met someone who actually fits that description.

I have met a few folks who seemed hyper-spiritual (i.e. overly fascinated by the supernatural), but I considered them to be more mystical than heavenly minded. Their excitement appeared to be more rooted in the dynamics of power, than on eternity.

On the other side of the coin, I hear almost nothing said about believers who are so engrossed in current events and the facilitation of man-made systems that they no longer have much capacity for the good news of the gospel. Sadly, I frequently encounter folks who fit this description, and the scripture clearly speaks of that issue (Rom.8:5-8, 2Cor.4:18, Col.2:8).

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