akcason2@gmail.com

The encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, in Mark 10:51-52 is one of faith, grace, and transformation. When Jesus asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” his response is simple yet profound: “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” Jesus acknowledges his faith, grants his request, and tells him, “Go […]

Vincent van Gogh sold only one of his 864 paintings during his lifetime. Meanwhile, Sipho, a craftsman in South Africa, sells hand-carved birds for two dollars each near the entrance of Kruger National Park. By what standard could either of these men be considered a success? Johnston said that “attaining cultural goals that are sure

Christianity was never meant to exist in some abstract or esoteric form. It is real, practical, and actionable. When Jesus used words like “go,” “give,” “do,” “tell,” “heal,” and “feed,” these were not cryptic messages intended to mystify His disciples. Instead, they were direct commands, meant to be obeyed. In Matthew 14:15-16, when the disciples

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov is a masterful exploration of the deepest struggles of the human soul—questions of God, free will, and morality interwoven into the fraught relationships between Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, his three sons, and the ever-changing world around them. One particularly revealing moment occurs in a conversation between Fyodor Pavlovich and Father Zosima,

Holding Fast to God’s Promises: Trusting in His Timing From the new birth to the new heaven and new earth, the Word of God is filled with promises for His beloved. Some are absolute, while others are conditional, but all are accessible. We may grab hold of a particular promise from Scripture, perhaps one that

Considering that God is the most powerful being in the universe, it may seem unusual that He commands His people to remind Him or that believers feel the need to do so. Surely, the God who declared, “I am watching over my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12) does not require our help to remember.

From Darkness to Light: Christina’s Transformation Christina stood before a packed tent, her voice steady, her presence commanding. Five hundred of her neighbors had gathered, listening intently as she shared her story—one they never expected to hear. They had always known her as the village sangoma, a traditional healer, a spiritual guide who claimed to

Experiencing God’s Healing: A Journey of Faith It was in the spring of 1980 that I first experienced God’s healing response to prayer. I had been teaching on healing at our weekly Bible study in the dayroom of the barracks at Charleston AFB. Exploring the miracles of Jesus and the ongoing work of the apostles

In 1 Samuel, we read of David’s desperate flight from Saul, who relentlessly pursued him to take his life. In his escape, David fled into the wilderness of Maon—a barren, rocky, and desolate landscape. The Judean wilderness is a harsh place, where the sun beats down mercilessly, draining every ounce of strength. The dust and

A Light in the Darkness: The Power of Jesus in Zambia A single light illuminated the stage and field in a small village outside of Lusaka, Zambia. By day, from the platform, you could see the banyan tree where the local shaman and his followers gathered. At night, they emerged again. Though unseen, their chants