Growing up I was a pretty happy kid! I didn't have a lot of things to worry about and always felt optimistic about the future. It's amazing how time, age, and life experience changes those things. Don't get me wrong. I am still happy and optimistic because I know God is good and He holds all things in His hands (Colossians 1:17).

My dad grew up on a farm in Hawaii. So when we were young, our family would go back to Hawaii almost every summer to visit relatives and pick macadamia nuts and coffee. It was hard work but it taught me and my brother a lot.

Playing basketball growing up, I had more than a few coaches quote the late great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (who was also a faithful Christian) by telling us during practice "failure to prepare is preparing to fail."

On Wednesday all cell phones in the US sounded off about 11:20am with a message from the US government. FEMA conducted a test of the emergency alert system that warns the public about emergencies.

Some of my favorite stories in the bible are about everyday people who aren't necessarily heroes but love the Lord and are just faithful where they're at. In 1 Chronicles 21, we read of such a man named Araunah.

Are you listening?  Are you paying attention? Are you tuning in to hear what God is saying to you through His indwelling Holy Spirit? He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Koinonia is the Greek word commonly used in the New Testament for fellowship. It describes the unity of the Spirit that comes from Christians' shared beliefs, convictions, and behaviors. When those shared values are in place, genuine koinonia (biblical fellowship) occurs.