From the Home Place

August 24, 2026

Good morning. At 4:30 a.m. the temperature is 63, after an evening low of 57. The thirty-day forecast shows evening lows in the low 50’s and upper 40’s for September, now that will be some good sleeping weather! Today, the weather man is predicting 90 for a high, with a small chance of rain. Wednesday is looking like a much better shot at receiving some rain!

Yesterday I preached from Ephesians 4:14-17 about God’s desire for His children to “Grow up.” The Holy Spirit was kind as He helped each of us realize that growth in Christ is a constant process. One that is very strongly required by our Heavenly Father. You see friends, following Jesus is a constant growth process that is measured byour likeness of Jesus. Each season that I walk with Jesus, I should be becoming more and more like Jesus, or I’m just out for a stroll.

Look at His first disciples, let’s focus upon Peter. Within a three-year period, Peter had gone from catching fish as a living, to now catching men because he was living with Jesus. Just look at Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:11-26; notice the boldness, clarity and purpose with which Peter preaches. This is the guy who couldn’t decide where he stood with Jesus a short time earlier, and now Peter’s declaration, application and invitation are truly the working of a Spirit-filler preacher!

How was it that Peter was able to make such a life transformation? As the Bible states, “they recognized that these men had been with Jesus,” speaking of Peter and John. It seems to me that there two elements to this picture: 1) Peter has lived with Jesus long enough that he was absolutely convinced that what Jesus said was truly words from the Father; 2) John held Peter accountable as they worked together to advance the Kingdom of God!

Today, we study this and we study that, but how often do we walk with Jesus during our day-to-day lives? You know, how often do we make decisions based upon biblical truth? How often do we treat others as Jesus would treat them? How often do we talk with Jesus about our life circumstances? How often do we declare Jesus Christ as our King in the ways that we live our lives, spend our money and especially in the ways that we talk and act?

How is it that we can say, “I’ve walked with Jesus for thirty years,” and live and act more like the non-Christians around us than like Jesus? The disciples walked with Jesus for three years and their lives were absolutely transformed to the point that they would literally die for the cause of Christ, and I find it difficult to tell someone about how Jesus worked in my life yesterday.

Through daily study of Scripture and prayer, we are learning to walk with Jesus, not just fulfill a spiritual obligation. In 2 Peter 3:18, Pete challenges us: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Here’s the simple truth that we talked about yesterday during the sermon, “If I am not growing in Christ, then I am not glowing in life.” Remember the words of Jesus, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matth. 5:16)

Remember, Jesus Himself declared, “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) Later in 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul writes this note to us as Christ followers: “God who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness.’” You see my friends, if our light isn’t illuminating the darkness around us, perhaps we are not as spiritually bright as we think we are?

Allowing the light of Jesus to shine within and through our daily lives with you, Neal

August 23, 2026

Good morning! Starting with 61 degrees at 5 a.m., headed for 93 for a high, with a 55% chance of rain. Yesterday afternoon, we had a 100% chance of rain and the radar showed a severe storm hitting Lusk, we got a sprinkle, so I’m probably not going to hold my breath expecting measurable rain today. Today looks to be a hot and windy with a WNW wind, the kind we get in the winter???

Miss Deb and I drove a couple-hundred miles yesterday to get groceries and supplies. Along the way we spent a gift card and ate a meal at a sit-down restaurant. We most often do fast food and keep running, but yesterday we stopped for a bit and enjoyed a meal together. It was kind of like a date!

When we were a young couple, we would go on a date at least once each month. As parents, we explained to our children that dating was an important process that helped us stay well connected. Dating gave us time to visit about things within our lives that were attempting push us apart. And that my friends, is why I consistently have a “date time” with God as well.

I am of the opinion that any time two people develop a strong bond with each other, Satan will do his best to bring about circumstances, comments and busyness to push that bond apart. That statement holds true for a marriage relationship, friendships and for a spiritual relationship as well.

As the preacher said at our wedding, “That which God has joined together, may no one separate.” Little did he know that Satan is the primary “one” who attempts to separate husband and wife, family members, close friends, and believer and God. That is why each relationship requires effort and time to continue to grow.

It appears that too many folks who have asked Jesus to be their Savior are like the old ranch couple who found themselves in the pastor’s office for counseling. The wife commented, “He just doesn’t love me anymore!” To which the ‘ol rancher replied, “That’s nonsense, I told her I loved her 40 years ago when we got married and that still stands until I tell her different.”

You see dear friends, too many folks treat God in a very similar way – the only time they express their love for Him is when difficulty arises, and that is exactly one of the major reasons that God allows difficulties to show up at our doorsteps.

So, back to where we started – When was the last time you went on a date with God to visit about your relationship with Him? I’m talking a real “sit-down” meal, no more fast-food dates. A relationship requires commitment and time, neither realized during “fast-food” visits.

Today, instead of going to “fast-food” church, give effort and time to improve your spiritual relationship. Go to church and renew your love and commitment to your relationship with the One who just wants you to sit down, spend some quality time with Him and to hear you say, “I love You!”

And by the way, there will be some people there who need you to make a similar investment in your relationship with them. Slow down, dedicate time and effort to the relationships that have the greatest value within your life; because we all know how our enemy will do everything he can do to push us apart. “That which God has joined together,” deserves our time and energy to help it grow!

Writing these lessons is an expression of my appreciation of you, and you express the same as you commit time and effort in reading them. As such, we improve our relationship. Perhaps we need to do the same with a spouse, a friend and God? It is never a waste of time of have a real “date” with those whom we love.

Dating God and others with you, Neal

August 20, 2026

Good morning. At 4:30 a.m. the temp is 51 degrees, moving on up to 92 for a high today. So much for no more 90’s this year. We have at least 3 more days of 90+ temps. Maybe a little moisture near the end of next week, hopefully the weather man is incorrect on that prediction, and we will continue the moisture pattern we were blessed with earlier this week.

The photo with this article was taken after Miss Deb and I spent an evening in a motel as we traveled across the great state of Wyoming. This article is about the influence of all three of the objects within said picture; I call it “Kingdoms in Conflict.” For you see, all three of these kingdoms quite likely have influence within our lives on a regular basis.

Let’s start with the object on the far left of the picture: This book represents an organization claiming to be a spiritually minded group, yet their immense wealth would suggest otherwise. Reported to be the “richest” religion in the world, this group knows that money is power. Power for influence and control. This group denies the deity of Jesus Christ and instead promotes a single person as the voice of God. It greatly concerns me that this group is the fastest growing religion in Wyoming.

Please take a moment to chew on these words found in Ephesians 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;” This group present themselves as being completely “family oriented,” while participants are held to a very strict financial obligation.

The second object in the photo is one that we are all very familiar with. This organization also is quite deceptive, offering “entertainment,” while adhering to a very well-planned process of influence. Television is also an empire built upon wealth. For without the sizable, financial contributions of individuals and businesses this organization would not be able to operate.

Each week this group operates by using millions of dollars to purchase influence. Just sit and watch your television for a couple of hours and record all of the influences you are subjected to; such as spending your money on products, to live a certain lifestyle, to agree with social and political agendas promoted on a consistent basis and to see life through their very ungodly perspective.

Friends, it would appear that this second group has used time and money to build an empire of great influence. An empire with a very well-planned agenda that literally lulls a person asleep, leaving lasting images and words of influences imprinted upon brains. For you see, this empire also uses the last part of Ephesians 4:14 as their primary tool: “by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.”

The third object, the one to the far right, is also an object of influence. Why people’s entire lives have been known to be completely altered by the words written within this book. Written by many different authors, this book claims to be the authoritative “word of God.” This book brings comfort and joy to its readers, while also exposing them to truth, humility, courage and love.

This book is based upon the first part of Ephesians 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” As one reads this book you will soon realize that this book stands in opposition to the other two objects within the photo. As crafty and scheming as the first two objects appear to be, the third object, “the Holy Bible,” simply presents truth and then allows each person to decide to accept or to reject the contents, and the persons, within.

May I encourage you to grab a copy of the book on the right and read the verses before and after Ephesians 1:14. Read down to 4:24 where we find these words, “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” May I suggest that each of us spend more time being under the influence of the book on the right, less time under the control of the object in the middle, and that we be aware of the “deceitful scheming” of the book on the left.

As for me and my household, we would rather be right than left. You see, if a person spends adequate time reading the book on the right, you will not be left when Jesus returns for His bride.

Placing complete faith in the “right” book with you, Neal

August 18, 2026

Good morning. Starting this one at 56, headed for 78. Maybe a bit of rain in places this afternoon???

Well, here it is, election day. I pray that each of us will go vote; and may I also encourage every voter who claims to know Jesus as Savior to vote based upon biblical guidelines. Regardless of the candidate’s gender or race, vote for the person who will stand for what is right and wrong according to biblical standards. Thanks for voting!

So now, may I jump on one of my favorite ponies for a moment this morning. As a born-again Christian, I encourage each of us to be involved in our community. Remember, no contact no impact. If we are going to impact the folks around us with the ability to make good moral decisions, we have to be around those folks to have such influence.

There is no argument on my part, the United States of America is in a serious downward spiral! If this ‘ol country doesn’t quickly begin to step back to some of the old standards, I don’t see much hope for her. Somehow, we need to return to valuing life and people. By valuing life, I mean that every person has the God-given right to be born and to live. That means that every person is important because according to the Bible, people are still made in the image of God. As a result, people are important to God, so they should also be important to us.

Perhaps one simple rule would be of great benefit within the American culture today: “Treat others as you would have them treat you.” That’s right, in my opinion, the Golden Rule should still be the primary rule of life. We must get back to understanding that from God’s point of view, life is about we, not about me.

If I don’t want people to cheat me, then I can’t cheat them. If I want people to be honest and kind, then I must deal will all people in an honest and kind manner. If I want folks to respect me, I must first respect them, even those who are different in opinion and action than I am. You see, another biblical principal falls into place here, “That which a person sows, so they will reap.” Or maybe we should remember, “As a person thinks within their heart, so are they.”

Here’s a Hughes-ism that you have been exposed to before, but I’m going to slide it past you once again, “The issues of America are not just the results of who is in the White House, they are the results of who is in God’s house.” If we Christians would live the kind of life the Bible encourages us to live, if we would stand on biblical standards at all times in all ways, dealing with people as our Heavenly Father deals with us, our churches would change. When our churches change to be more biblically balanced, then so will our communities. As a result of communities returning to a common respect for others, then our nation would change.

I agree fully, this process is going to take generations to make significant changes. But hasn’t it taken us generations to get into the mess we are in today? You see friends, if we Christians of today don’t speak up and stand up, then we can’t expect the next generation to do so. Remember this last principal, “It is always easier to fall down than it is to stand up.” Yet, to stand on biblical principles is exactly what God is calling His people to do, today!

“If my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Perhaps I should revise my previous “ism” to read “the condition of American depends more upon who is in God’s house than who is in the White House”; and who is in my house has significant impact on those who are in God’s house! Remember, revival always starts with 1.

Living for positive impact with you, Neal

August 17, 2026

At 4 a.m. the temperature is 58 degrees, headed for a high of 84. Yes, that will be warm, but it sure beats the triple digits we have seen way too many times this year. The weather person is saying a 55% possibility of a little small shot of rain later in the day. A light breeze will help cool things down a tad bit.

In yesterday’s sermon, I mentioned that God uses “trials to train.” Now, we need to stop here for a moment, I know that some of God’s greatest lessons for my life have come at the hand of a trial. It is during the trying times that we pray more, that we draw ever closer to God and during those times that we are the quickest to make needed adjustments within our lives. Yet, I, and probably we, have to admit that I never ask God to give me another trial.

Come on, I ask Him for every kind of a blessing that I can think of, but I do not have the courage to ask the Holy Spirit to present me with a trial so that I can once again be reminded of the beauty of leaning upon Jesus during the difficult times of life. After all, can’t He teach me the same things during easy times???

But you see friends, perhaps we look at trials as obstacles to be avoided instead as seeing them as moments of looking into a mirror. The trials of life reveal what we “truly” believe about Jesus. When we read about Abraham, Joseph, Job, Daniel, Ester and others in the Bible, we soon realize that God used various trials to reveal what these folks truly believed about their Heavenly Father.

As I was reading Acts 5 this morning, it struck me how those first Apostles dealt with adversity. The religious establishment hated them, to the point of having them arrested, put into jail, “flogged” and warned to never teach in the name of Jesus again. And yet, the Apostles continued to bring healing, their personal testimony of the resurrection of Jesus, and hope into the lives of people.

When they were told, “you cannot do this,” they responded with “but God can do this.” Well, they said it this way, “We must obey God rather than men.” Wow! When faced with similar circumstances, I dare to say that most of us Christians of today would say “O.K.” if you say we can’t, then we can’t.” Remember Covid? The government, just like in the time of the first Apostles, said “you can’t do this” and for the most part we said, “Oh, yeah, you are right, we can’t, for we must obey man rather than God.” A trial presented, a revelation made.

Dear friends, as we get closer to the second-coming of Jesus, there will be more and more such trials. Will we, will I, obey man or God? The answer will reveal what I/we truly believe. Here’s a thought, perhaps we should use the easy days to prepare for the trials of life? How do we get ready for the unknown: Read Scripture, pray, apply, repeat.

May I suggest that as we face various trials today, may we not see them as an obstacle, but as a look into the mirror of truth that helps us better understand ourselves in relation to Jesus. This day may God find each of us faithful!

Finding purpose in the trials with you, Neal

August 16, 2026

Good morning all! A solid 54 degrees at 5 a.m. The sleeping was sweet with a window open last night. Yesterday afternoon, we were blessed with the most rain that we have received yet in the year of 2026! The Lord opened up a cloud and it did dump for a solid thirty minutes! Miss Deb showed me pictures of the arena at State Fair, I have competed in arenas with that much water in them before, but it sure wasn’t much fun. My weather app shows a 50-60% chance of rain on 5 of the next 7 days. If that takes place, it sure will be awesome to see green grass before it freezes!

Once again I am reminded of the necessity of operating on Bible Time instead of our time. As one reads the Bible, it is so easy to think that the information on one page of the Bible was about one situation, and then we tend to read the changed circumstances on the next page as taking place the next day. However, in reality, several years often pass in Bible Time within a paragraph, or a page of the Bible.

Application, God operates on Bible Time. We microwave Americans want things to happen right now, and sometimes God allows that. Yet, more often than not, significant change takes time, often a lot of time. As a Christ follower, we all need to realize that God is quite often more interested in the process than He is in the product; while we humans tend to be just the opposite.

It sems to me that Bible Time is why Jesus invites us to walk with Him, instead of Him asking us to run with Him. If you have seen a good number of sunsets, then you realize how quickly life passes at a walk, imagine how short it would be at a run. After all, most of us can walk way further than we can run anyway!

Yes, we all want to be changed more and more into the full image of Jesus Christ, but once again, God is more interested in the process than the product. If all God was interested in was to get you into heaven, that would take place the moment you first bowed your knee to Jesus. But because our loving Heavenly Father has “good works” for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), He then launches us on the journey of becoming more and more like our Savior, and for each of us, that takes time. For the Christian, that process is called life. How did Jesus say it, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Abundant life is seldom found in a flash. So, enjoy the journey. Travel at a walk, smell the roses, enjoy the people, and allow God to bring about significant changes in your life using Bible Time. I desire to milk the best moments out of life as I travel across this ‘ol ball of dirt! When our graduation day comes, I pray for all of us that the statement said about Abraham’s death can be said for us as well, “satisfied with life.”

In my experience, satisfaction comes with a job well completed – to live life “abundantly.” Don’t miss a moment of the journey, because the journey is the best part of the process called life! After all, you will never be the finished product until you walk into the presence of Jesus Christ in heaven!

When you go to church today, tell someone there that “we are all in process; let’s enjoy it together.” I have the feeling when God writes to story of your life, you will appreciate that He writes it in Bible Time, not microwave time.

Enjoying the process with you, Neal

August 15, 2026

We started this day at 4 a.m. with 51 degrees. Supposedly headed for 73 for a high with an 80% shot of some rain this afternoon. Sounds like the perfect day if it will just go according to that plan.

It was dark and quiet when I put Coffee out the door this morning. After she came back in, we both just sat in the dark and listened for the Holy Spirit to speak into my spirit, and He did. As I focused upon what the Spirit was guiding my mind toward, my smart watch alarm went off. You see, it is set so that when my heart rate drops below 40 BPM, an alarm sounds. (Just so you know, the only time the alarm sounds is during my prayer time, early in the morning.)

So now, you know why I love getting up early in the morning, way before the world around me wakes up. It is during the quiet and still time of the day that I best hear the Holy Spirit guiding my spirit toward that which He wishes to accomplish in and with my life. During those times I can completely relax and focus, thus my heart rate slows to an “alarming” rate. When that takes place, I just push a button on my watch and continue to dwell in my quiet place, listening to only one voice, the One’s voice.

Call it what you want, I believe that the Holy Spirit strongly desires to speak into our lives on a regular basis, it’s just that we are too busy, in a very loud world, to hear His “gentle, quite” voice. In my opinion, that is why we often read in the gospels that Jesus would rise early and go to a quiet place, usually in a deserted location.

I’m telling you, solitude is our friend! Yet, being alone is not the same as solitude. To find the voice of the Holy Spirit, we need to step away from the normal, to a quiet place. A place where we can sit quietly and listen.

Last evening, I spent a considerable amount of time visiting with a pastor friend whose insights I greatly value. It was a very enjoyable visit, as we bounced ideas off of each other, often challenging each other to be more intentional in our walk with God. During our conversation about our personal prayer lives, it dawned upon me that there is never a genuine, friendly conversation without “mutual” talking and listening.

You see my friend, most often we talk to God, but seldom do we visit with God. For when we visit with Him, we need to spend as much time listening as we spend talking. We have to be quiet, calmly listening to His soft voice speaking His truth into our lives. Yes, quite often God speaks into our lives through another person, and through His word, but is that because that is the only way He can get us to listen? How often do you present your Heavenly Father with your requests and then sit quietly and just listen for Him to respond???

We Americans live such “microwave” lives that we seldom “take time to be holy.” We rush from one thing to another, with our daily “quiet time” as one of the many things we need to “get done” each day. Then we spend a large portion of our time wondering why God feels so distant. I would feel distant too if all you ever did was talk at me and then run off to do something else.

For a moment, think of the very best friend you have on this ‘ol ball of dirt.

What makes that person your “best” friend? Perhaps your Heavenly Father would appreciate having that kind of “talk and listen with sincerity of heart” conversation with you as well??? Yep, sometimes the best part of the conversation is just sitting quietly and listening. For you see, a “best friend” is that person with whom no words have to be exchanged, just sitting quietly with each other speaks volumes!

Quietly listening with you, Neal

August 14, 2026

Good morning! It’s a sweet 61 degrees here at 4:30 a.m., looking toward 84 for a high. We were blessed to receive a shot of rain yesterday and we have a slim possibility of more this evening. Some is way better than none!

Yesterday, Miss Deb and I traveled to Douglas to take a package to some friends and while we were there, we slipped by the State Fair. It rained on us all morning, finally chasing us plumb off. We did get to watch part of the steer roping before it got just too wet and cold to sit in the bleachers any longer. It sure was fun to watch the guys trip a few steers, and it was especially a great blessing to have to run for the car because we were getting wet!

It sounds like Casper and other areas around us were blessed with way more rain than we received, but at least everyone was blessed with some. That statement reminds me of the church plants we have going at this time. Upton is now an established church, in fact, they recently purchased land, looking forward to building a facility that will serve their ministry and God’s kingdom for years to come.

The team at Baggs continues to work hard at gathering a crowd. They have been blessed with a couple of new families beginning to attend Sunday service. Being in the middle of ranch country, hopefully there will be other folks begin to attend now that school is starting again and the crazy life of summer is coming to a close.

Burns is growing and going. They continue to gain numbers in attendance, along with several folks stepping up to serve in the many areas of need. It is really exciting to watch God increase the influence of His kingdom within all three of these communities. I wonder who He will send our way next, and where they will plant the next church here in Wyoming?

You see, church plants are somewhat like the rain reports from around the area. Some folks were blessed with an all-day drizzle and times of heavy rain, while others of us were given a shower and the hopes of more. Some church plants grow quickly with a “downpour” of new attendees, while others get a little shower of new folks from time to time. Every town in this state is different, all groups of people are different, and every planter is different as well.

Yet, I continue to marvel how God brings the right folks as planters, and then He matches that particular planter couple with a community that matches them well. The Holy Spirit continues to cause me to marvel as we watch Him do that which only He can do when the Spirit blends planters and community together to establish a new home for folks to worship the Father!

If you have a biblically based church to attend within your community, stop and praise God for His kind gift to your community. If you have been blessed with a pastor and volunteers to minister to new folks as they begin attending with your church family, praise God for nudging all of those folks your way. For you see my friends, good preaching, surrounded by a sincere love for people, in a facility that allows ministry to take place in a variety of forms, isn’t something we human can just cause to happen. Just like in biblical times, unless the Holy Spirit guides the whole process, God is not glorified. But when Spirit-led people serve the King well, amazing things happen. Much like receiving an abundance of rain during a drought!

So, let the rain continue to fall from heaven, as the King continues to reign through His local churches. To God be the glory; great things He has done, and even greater things He will do as His people follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the Gospel of grace to those who have never been blessed by the outpouring of God’s love! Let Him reign!!!

Enjoying God’s blessings with you, Neal