The Bible Story Family

  Out west we used to claim that we got something “straight from the horse’s mouth.” I have often wished there was a way to do that when I watch the news today, especially concerning the Middle East. Jayson Casper and his family have lived in Lebanon for many years. He has begun to write posts from there which he calls “Middle East Harmony.” The interviews he conducts are with the Lebanese community because that is where he lives. But what he writes is not filtered through the western news media. One of the most recent articles is called “How Once-Displaced Christians Help Now-Displaced Shiites.” It recounts the story of Maronites who were driven from their homes by Muslims in years past and are now providing shelter for Muslims who have fled from the fighting in the Lebanese south. The link to the article is:  https://middleeastharmony.substack.com/p/lebanon-damour-maronite-christians-shiite-muslims-displaced-civil-war-israel-hezbollah You can subscribe to Middle East...

  250 Years of Freedom. I wish I could have been in Washington, D.C. for the Fourth of July Celebration. But it was almost as good to hear from someone who was there. Rachel Hubbard was one of my drama students during Pillsbury days. For more than twenty years she has had the privilege of working with active-duty service members, veterans, wounded warriors, military families, and veteran service organizations from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During America’s 250 th birthday celebration she helped coordinate military guests and escort officers for the national concert activities in the Capitol. During this year’s events several of her guests were service members injured during Operation Epic Fury. Their courage, resilience, and quiet humility reminded everyone there that freedom truly isn’t free. “To be part of America’s 250 birthday celebration surrounded by service members, veterans, military families, and leaders from across our nation was both humbling a...

  God is at work in Central Asia. Just ask Pastor Pat Thompson. “My burden to serve the persecuted church has grown with each trip,” he writes. Pat has made four trips to an undisclosed location (for security purposes) and plans to return in October. While there he teaches courses like Ecclesiology, Christology and Eschatology. His last class had thirty-three students with twelve of them graduating in June from a one-year program. A second-year course of study began at the same time with thirty-one students enrolled. While the first-year studies focus on ten major doctrines, the second-year focus will be on leadership. Many of the students already serve house churches throughout the region. Some of them plan to return to home countries which will be dangerous for them. But God has given them a Spirit of faith and not of fear. Please pray for the persecuted church. When we visited Turkey recently, we heard similar stories of God at work in Central Asia. Visiting with Pat Tho...

  I recently received a message from a young friend in Nebraska who had found one of my books at Goodwill. It seems that a former church member had passed away and her books had been donated. He was excited to find a copy of “Dare to Walk On Water: Treasuring God.” Our family at the recent reunion, and our church all summer, has been studying the names of God. “Dare to Walk On Water: Treasuring God” reviews those names along with the attributes of God. But the book does more than just provide knowledge about God. Each chapter ends with one or more DARES, practical actions you can perform because of what you have learned. You don’t need to wait until “Dare to Walk on Water: Treasuring God” shows up in your local thrift store. You can own it today. For the next five days the ebook will be available through Amazon free of charge. Go to Amazon. Type in the name of the book along with the author’s name, Robert A. Allen. Download the free ebook and start your adventure. Learn to kn...

  The Allen Family 2026 Reunion must qualify as one of the most creative reunions in history. ·        The most creative place – Tranquille Resort in Georgia, discovered by Wendy Daniels and Dorinda Allen. ·        The most creative family puzzle, featuring every face in the family, created by Chad Allen. ·        The most creative Allen Trivia Game, along with reunion stickers, created by Brea Hanson. ·        The most creative outdoor U.S.A. World Cup game viewing, prepared by Kent Allen. ·        The most creative worship time, organized by Lanie Allen, with devotions on the names of God from Chad, Chris, Kent, Lance and Bob. ·        The most creative fellowship, with Bob, Carm, Chad, Sarah, Jacob, Evie, Genevieve, Joe, Wendy, Brea, Josh, Lauren, Grey, Evan, Kent, D.J., Lyric, Danie...

  As a speech and drama professor, I was fascinated by the production of DAVID by Sight and Sound in Branson, Missouri. The speed with which sets were changed as well as simply the size of those sets. The twenty-two-foot-tall Goliath. Costumes, made from 24,000 yards of material. The sound and lights and action. We attended Sight and Sound this week, during the final run of this show in Branson. Every part of the production ran smoothly. The story of DAVID also proved impressive. With so many Biblical accounts of the events of his life, choices had to be made. The script emphasized the Psalms, from David’s first musical experiences while shepherding to the moving confession and repentance of Psalm 51. By making that choice, the attention of the audience focused on mercy and forgiveness. David did not become a man after God’s own heart by being perfect. Instead, he sought the Lord because of his need for redemption. Shamefully aware of his own transgressions, his heart appeale...