Dear Leader Kim Jong “Russell” Un

When I saw the fresh, new dictator of North Korea, I knew he reminded me of somebody!

Atheism, Race & Buzz Lightyear

Brand new episode of Clergy Cousins Podcast available now, featuring special guest book reviewer, Brad Ost, the Michael Jordan of librarians, exciting new book and movie reviews, and a new segment, “When Worlds Collide”. You can either go directly to the mp3 and show notes, or download the podcast from the itunes store.

Ronnie’s Amazing Summer

.This summer was very special for Veronica Morales.

It started with a phone call, inviting her girls to vacation Bible school at Iglesia Bíblica. Veronica (“Ronnie”) asked her husband, Joe, if they should send their girls. “Sure”, he responded, so on June 13, Ronnie put her girls, Monika & Melanie, in the car and drove them to the first evening of VBS.

“I was so nervous,” Ronnie said, “I dropped the girls off with their teacher and got ready to leave, when Norma Morales stopped me.” “The moms have their own class, Ronnie; why don’t you stay?”

Me Too!

I was walking across a bridge recently. I spied this guy who looked like he was ready to jump off. So, I thought I’d try to stall him until authorities showed up (or at least until I had time to ready my camera). “Don’t jump!” I said.

“Why not? Nobody loves me.”

“God loves you,” I said. “You believe in God, don’t you?”

“Yes, I believe in God.”

Clergy Cousins Podcast!

Announcing a brand new podcast which is a free-flowing conversation between Jim Ost and Carl Johnson about books, movies, church leadership, politics, the Bible and culture at large.

God Was There – by Clara Ost

The scene was our National Conference in Southern Mexico. Breakfast was over, and I joined the crowds of people headed for the auditorium. That morning a veteran Mexican missionary spoke straight from his heart: “My family met the Lord through American missionaries.  We are all fruit of the efforts of American missionaries who left their country and people to come to us.  Now it is our turn to leave Mexico and go to the nations.  We have a debt to pay.”  His passion was contagious.  I whispered, “Yes, Lord, you are here; the Lord of the Harvest is calling for workers”…and I remembered.

50 Years of Faithfulness

A LIFE-CHANGING TRIP

1959 was a year to remember. Revolutionist Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, a young Senator named John F. Kennedy was busy running for President, and a new musical called, “The Sound of Music” made its debut on Broadway.  The same year, Mattel introduced a new toy, which they called, “The Barbie Doll”, folks were filling up movie theatres to see “Ben-Hur”, and Alaska and Hawaii became America’s 49th and 50th states.

As 1959 drew to a close, a small wedding was taking place on a snowy Sunday night in the small town of Karlstad, Minnesota, just a few miles from the Canadian border.

A Texas Preacher Goes to Washington

We walked down the surprisingly narrow hallway, the deep carpet cushioning our steps, as our secret service agent friend led us toward an open door.  “No way.  That can’t be what I think it is…can it?”  Yes, it was.

Who would have ever imagined that a South Texas preacher who grew up in the tiny town of Alamo, Texas, and his bride from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, would be inside the West Wing of the White House, looking through the door of the Oval Office of the President of the United States?  What a country!

Dear Mr. President; I’m Disappointed…

I watched the news, today, and noticed that you decided not to have a public time of prayer at the White House during today’s National Day of Prayer.

I’m disappointed, Mr. President, and, frankly, a little surprised.

I was there last February in Brownsville, Texas, where you told a group of clergy how much Jesus Christ and prayer means to you.

Thank You, President Bush

Dear President Bush,

I know you are all packed up and are ready to spend one last night in the White House before returning to Texas. It has been fashionable, of late, to attack and demean you, and diminish some of the great things you did over the last eight years. For my part, I am deeply grateful to God for your service as our President during these difficult years.