Richard Martin 

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16, NIV “What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.” James 4:14, CEV If you are reading this, then you are still alive. Since I am writing this, I am still alive. Three o’clock in the afternoon came and went, and we are still alive.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 This week, I read the obituary and discovered I WAS IN IT! Well, almost. While casually scanning the “Life Stories” section of Focus magazine, Andrews University’s alumni quarterly, I saw the name Richard Martin. My eyes widened, and I gasped in disbelief. “Surely, this is misinformation,” I exhaled. “I’m still alive!” Then, looking closer, I read one more name. Ritland. Richard Martin Ritland (19

“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Genesis 7:11-12, NIV While our contemporary eyes have seen larger sea vessels, Noah's ark was a spectacular sight for his time. But why would anyone need so much space? To this question was added an onslaught of sarcasm, ridicule,

“Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17, ESV When I was a young boy, I had a habit of letting the water run while brushing my teeth. I cannot count how many times my parents howled, “Richard, turn that water off!” They said I didn’t pay the bills and was therefore wasting their water. If you’ve ever heard anything of the kind, then I have a s

"Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?” Job 38:28 Well, I ended up running through the rain from my front door to the car door. Sitting with wet hands and damp pants, I paused to pray for safe traveling mercies. Less than 5 minutes later, the rain stopped, and all was right in my world again! Wait a minute. My world? As I thought about it more, I had to repent. I had no power to start or stop the rain. In fact, instead of complaining, I should have consid

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 I was dressed and ready to go. The bright, sunny day and I had a date. Who could ask for better weather on errand day? Not me! First, I’d stop by the store to purchase a couple new pairs of running shorts. Then, I’d stop by another store and purchase two new writing journals. Then, I’d stop by another store and purchase a cold pint of vegan, vanilla ice cream. Delicious! I’d made m

God used the preaching ministry of Elder Walter L. Pearson, Jr. to further clarify and sensitize me to His call on my life. For several years, I admired him from a distance, hearing him speak on television and in person. Later, after I’d completed seminary, I would have the opportunity to get to know Elder Pearson better as we both pastored in the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Once, he and I sat alone in the pastor’s study at Emmanuel-Brinklow SDA Churc

What is your favorite “Momma’s Meal”? That meal only your mother can cook. The one you request whenever the opportunity presents itself. The one no one else can match. The one that makes you want to shout, dance, and clap your hands. Can you smell it? Can you taste it? There are many wonders in this world, but there’s just something about a home-cooked meal from Momma. Do I have a witness? Maybe you consider your mother to be the best cook in the world or maybe you don’t. But

It was an untimely and unlikely baby shower. Untimely, because neither of them should be pregnant. Unlikely, because neither of them could be pregnant. Yet, somehow, this providential rendezvous defies all assumptions. Although each occupies a separate end of the age continuum, their current sitz im leben binds them together with a miraculous cord that would not be broken. Mary was probably between 13 and 16 years old. She was engaged to an older man, which was culturally cus

Fall is in full swing and as the holidays rapidly approach, I am reminded of this fact of life: seasons change. For some, this is the most wonderful time of year. For others, it is anything but wonderful. Perhaps this is what the wise King Solomon had in mind when he wrote "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Which season BEST describes your life? No matter how enjoyable or annoying, seasons change, bringing w