Bret Hammond

"That which is of first importance." It's buttoning the top button so the others line up correctly. It's the flight check before take-off. It's the surgeon marking the spot for surgery. When we put th...

17 Apr 202223min

"Hosanna!" It's an ancient word that meant "Save me!" If a fisherman fell overboard, he would shout, "Hosanna!" with his last few breaths, hoping to be saved. The fact that the crowds welcoming Jesu...

10 Apr 202225min

I was driving home the other day when I noticed it again. As the utility poles passed by, I couldn't help but catch the shape of the cross. Has that happened to you? Maybe you see the cross in the pan...

3 Apr 202223min

A friend of mine called to tell me of a possible cancer diagnosis he was facing. He said he felt far from God and wondered if he should read through the book of Job in the Bible. Of course, when we th...

27 Mar 202222min

As a child, I never understood what the fuss of Easter was about. I simply accepted that once a year, we colored eggs, there was chocolate, and a basket with a few gifts showed up. Oh, and there was t...

20 Mar 202222min

I never realized the phrase "thoughts and prayers" was viewed with disdain by some people. But, of course, it's easy for me to get defensive about that—prayer has become my first response to tragedy. ...

13 Mar 202227min

One of the first things I remember being taught as a child was my home address. I could rattle it off perfectly long before I started school. My parents thought it was vital to know my address if I ev...

6 Mar 202225min

It's been a tough week for me. First, some difficult decisions have led to significant changes at Lincoln Christian University, a place I dearly love. Lincoln has been a massive part of my life and fa...

27 Feb 202223min