Posts by Richard Parrish
Encountering God in the Ordinary
I used to believe I had to “get away” to encounter God. From an early age, I was taught—implicitly and explicitly—that anywhere but here was where I’d meet Him. My youth pastor would encourage us to attend “youth camp,” assuring us that this was a special time when we would connect with Jesus. And it…
Read MoreLiving With Jesus, Not Just for Jesus
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” – John 15:4 (ESV). One of the most commonly overlooked promises in Scripture is one of the simplest: God is with us. Not occasionally. Not only…
Read MoreFrom Information to Intimacy
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…” —Philippians 3:8-10 (ESV) Most of us have easy access to biblical knowledge. Even in countries where printed Bibles are restricted, technology enables the streaming of sermons,…
Read MoreAn Invitation to Grow In and With Christ
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” — Philippians 3:8 (ESV). From Knowing About to Truly Knowing Christ As a pastor, leader, and mentor, I’ve discovered that many who serve Christ faithfully know a lot about Him, but often feel distant from Him. There is…
Read MoreStand Firm, Grow, and Stay Alert
“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…” —2 Peter 3:14–15 (ESV) The Posture of Perseverance Waiting is hard. When the world grows restless, loud, and self-assured, quiet faithfulness can feel almost…
Read MoreWhen Hope Feels Foolish
“They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’” —2 Peter 3:4 (ESV) Hope feels like a limited commodity these days. When life goes as expected, hope comes easily. But lately, my longing for a…
Read MoreDiscerning Truth in a World of Spin
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you…” —2 Peter 2:1 (ESV) The Tension of Discernment We live in an age that trades clarity for clickbait and confuses influence with integrity. In our desire to stay informed, we scroll headlines, watch influencers, and even follow spiritual…
Read MoreGrowing in Godliness in a Godless Age
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” —2 Peter 1:3 (ESV) Some days it feels like you’re swimming upstream. As followers of Christ, we often find ourselves pushing against strong cultural currents—streams that pull us away from truth, humility, and hope. And in those moments, it’s easy…
Read MoreWhen the Flame Grows Dim—Hope Remains
“A smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” —Isaiah 42:3 If you’ve journeyed with me through our reflections over the past few weeks, you’ve heard the stories of weariness that many of us — as pastors, leaders, and learners — often carry. Each of these blogs was written for you—the shepherd who sometimes feels alone,…
Read MoreWhen You Forget Why You Started—Fan the Flame
“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” —2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV) He sat across the desk from me, head bowed, shoulders slumped as he stared at the floor. Slowly, he lifted his head, looked me in the…
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