By: Joel & Lydia Ramirez Recently in the Wednesday Adult class, we were given the homework of looking at Proverbs 12:26 and trying to understand why the King James Version, New King James Version, and New American Standard Bible translate this verse so differently. It is important to understand from…
By: Joel Ramirez When we walk through an art museum, we are naturally drawn to the finished works, the paintings framed perfectly, hanging under soft light, presented as complete and beautiful. We admire the brushstrokes, the colors, and the composition. What we do not see, however, is everything that led…
By: Joel Ramirez A concept that many companies are beginning to adopt, called Just Culture, helps identify why people deviate from the guidelines their organizations have established. It offers a healthy framework for understanding why things sometimes go wrong and for responding fairly when they do. Typically, the causes…
By: Joel Ramirez In June of this year, a man known as the prophet predicted that the rapture would occur on September 23rd and 24th. If you’re not familiar with the concept of the rapture, it is the belief that at any moment, Jesus will descend from heaven to gather…
By: Joel Ramirez Children add so much perspective to life. Our three-year-old tonight managed to button up her pajama shirt with minimal help for the very first time. Like all small children coming into their independence, she will quite often reply “I can do it”. It is hard for a…
By: Joel Ramirez It is common thinking in today’s society that you don’t get anything in life without earning it. If you want a big house and nice cars, you have to work hard and earn those things. There are many who are materially rich who will tell you they…
By: Joel Ramirez You do not have to look hard to find despair in the world. There are multiple examples of people doing desperate things because of despair. In fact, the words desperate and despair share the same origin in definition. Despair simply means without hope. Desperate is the feeling…
This month we have seen weather that will be talked about for many years. I know one of the things I will remember most about this time is going to the grocery store and seeing the shelves empty. This has been a more frequent occurrence since the onset of the…
By: Joel Ramirez You do not have to look hard to find despair in the world. There are multiple examples of people doing desperate things because of despair. In fact, the words desperate and despair share the same origin in definition. Despair simply means without hope. Desperate is the feeling…
By: Joel Ramirez Not a day goes by that my children don’t mention with excitement their ambition to grow up. Their enthusiasm always outweighs any trepidation they occasionally show in growing older. They are truly excited to grow! Do you remember that excitement you felt when you were baptized? Do…