Giants And Grasshoppers

Dr. Mike Murphy

May 17, 2026

I cannot even begin to imagine what those forty days must have been like for Caleb. To have seen with his own eyes everything the Lord had promised.  To have tasted the milk and honey the Lord had told them flowed from the land.  To have seen grape bunches so large it took two men to carry them.  Every word the Lord had promised, his eyes had just seen.

But as he returned to their camp in Kadesh with the other eleven scouts, his ears must have deceived him.  The words he heard spoken did not match what his eyes had seen.  As he heard ten of the other scouts speak, he heard a reaction he would have never fathomed.  The report they gave was not one of promise and fulfillment, but one of fear.  He heard the ten scouts say, “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country--a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified.”(Numbers 13:27-28). Caleb saw the reaction of the people as they heard the scouts speak, and he tried to encourage the crowd, calling on them to take the land at once. But before he could even finish, the fear of the scouts could be heard again. “We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that's what they thought, too!"(Numbers 13:33).

Caleb’s words were never heard, all the people could hear were the words of fear. Caleb could hear the mumbling and cries of the crowd.  Cries that questioned God, and only feed into the growing fears.  As Caleb heard these words, he rebuked the crowds with another faithful scout, one we know as Joshua. They tore their clothes and called out to the people, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!  And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.  Do not rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us!  They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don't be afraid of them!”  (Numbers 14:7-9). But the people had been filled with doubt and fear, and could only envision what their eyes would show them, not the vision the Lord had in mind for them.

The doubts of the people brought on themselves more than just fear.  Their doubts would cost a whole generation from ever seeing the promise the Lord had made them, the beauty and amazement He had waiting for them.  For forty years they would now wander, wandering aimlessly in the desert while the doubts of this generation passed.  Forty years wasted because of their doubts and fears. Forty years for this sinful generation to pass, so another faithful generation could rise up.  A future generation, that would not share in their parents doubts and fears, who would trust the Lord’s vision more than their own.  Of all the men and women who heard the scouts speak that day, only two would ever see the beauty of the land the Lord had waiting for them.  Would ever taste the promised milk and honey. Only Caleb and Joshua, would set their feet in the land, and see the promises the Lord had made them come to life.

We all know this story well.  A story of great promise, and a story of endless hope. His chosen people had seen the hand of God move so many times.  They watched as the power of that hand moved with each plague and miracle that had brought them out of Egypt. They watched as that hand separated the waters, so they could miraculously escape the world’s most powerful army.  And they watched as that hand had provided for them in the desert, where nothing of substance could have otherwise been found.

As they approached the Promised Land, God had assured them of victory. The land that stood in front of them was already theirs, all they had to do was trust God and take it. All the miracles they had seen, should have assured them that God would never lead them to a place where His power could not provide for them, and His hand could not protect them. But like so many of us, His people walked by sight, not by faith.  Hearing only words of fear, not the words of promise.  Words of doubt, that lead them to forget each word of praise.

As I look to what we refer to as the Church in this nation, I see the eyes of those in the Wilderness staring back at me.  I hear their words of doubt and fear in the mumbling of their voices.  I hear the cries of panic, as they are told of the giants that stand in front of them.  And I hear the denial in their sounds of anguish, as the Lord seeks to lead them.  A people with a greater fear of the giants of this world, than a love for the Lord above.

Look at where this fear has led us.  And look closely at where this fear will lead us. This fear has led us to silence and compromise, with a Church that finds it easier to appease this world than to tell this world the truth the Lord has taught us..  A fear, that has left us sitting quietly, as we watch the moral structure of this great nation collapsing around us.  And a fear, that in our quiet, has left us afraid to even speak the truth of God amongst ourselves.

A few years ago, a noted research group did a survey of the Church.  In this survey, regular churchgoing people were asked if goods works can get us into Heaven.  When the results of this poll were published, it astonished many of us in the ministry.  Over fifty percent, of regular churchgoers, believed they can earn their way to salvation.  Over fifty percent!  Over half of those sitting beside you in the pews think they can do enough good in their life to be able to stand in the presence of our Lord.  Over fifty percent do not understand why Christ gave His life, and why He even came to this earth in the first place. As this Church sits in our quietness, think about that for a minute.  

As I said, this poll was taken several years ago.  What would the results be if it was taken again today?  What percentage of churchgoers would now believe they could do enough good works to get into Heaven?  How many that sit in our churches each Sunday, would say today that they do not need to accept Christ to receive eternal life?  And I would even ask the question, why has this poll not been taken again in the years since?  Sadly, I think I can answer that question. Because we do not want to know the results.

We, the Church, are a people wandering in the Wilderness.  A people that sees themselves as grasshoppers, and the absent-minded morals of this world as giants.  And as we look around through the quietness of our fears, there is one thing we do not see. The one thing we need to see the most.  The one vision that can overcome our fears, and give us a voice at a time when our silence is destroying us.  That one thing we do not see?  The only “One” thing that matters. God!

Stand up Church, and listen closely to the words of Joshua and Caleb! Ignore the fears and panic of the other scouts!  It is time we rose to our feet, found a strength in our voice, and stood for God when others may not.  And in doing so we can take assurance in knowing, that God will bless us in ways that we could never begin to imagine.  And He will extend that blessing to future generations, and bless them in ways we would find nothing short of amazing.

We must gain our voice again and remember that in the face of the reality that surrounds us, there is an even greater hope found in us.  There is a crisis in our world. There is a crisis in our families. There is a crisis in our morality. There is a crisis in our government. Integrity has been shoved aside, and left on the ground for dead.  We look all around us, and all we can see are the giants this world is sending at us.  But as you look into the eyes of the giants approaching you, do not see fear, see opportunity!  The opportunity to rid this world of an evil that haunts it, but an evil that can never control it. Stand up, and get yourself ready to enter in this fight.  Put on the full armor that God has given you. Sharpen the sword of truth that He has placed in your hand.  And as you get ready to place the armor on your body, remember to first put on the lining.  A lining of prayer that makes you impenetrable.  Stand up with confidence, and prepare yourself for the battle that awaits you.  And as you walk forward into this battle, know it will be a short and victorious one.  As the Lord has made you into a mighty giant slayer!

People, if there has ever been a time this world needs the Church it is now. Christians who care about hurting people, Christians who will reach out to a confused and lost world, Those of faith, who will preach the awesome and simple message of the Bible without compromise. Now is not the time for us to retreat, but to follow God into the Promised Land.. A time when the giants we see do not bring fear and intimidation to us.  In our eyes they must be seen as nothing but obstacles we can easily overcome because of the blessings the Lord has awaiting us.  And as the Lord leads us into the fulfillment of these promises, we must never forget, our God specializes in bring giants to their knees!

Remember, and never forget what we are fighting for.  Our fight is for far more than just a conquest today, but for an eternal victory we will all celebrate tomorrow.  Our battle may take place in the midst of this world, but in our victory this world has nothing to offer us. How foolish would we be to place all our hopes in a world that is quickly passing, a world that will one day to be gone.   Jesus told us, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?"(Mark 8:36).  This is not a battle for the riches this world has to offer, or for a fading glory that men might see in us.  This is a fight for our very soul, an eternal fight for the spirit in us that will last forever.  

Let the words of Solomon serve as our battle cry!  “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more.  But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”(Proverbs 10:25). It is time we rose up, and fought like the whirlwind.  Time we walked onto the battlefield and looked the giants of this world square in the eyes.  Knowing that the One who stands behind us brings far more fear to their eyes, than they can ever bring to ours. Time we let no giant stand in the way of promises He has ahead for us, the milk and honey that He has waiting for us.  It is time for us to feast! And I do not know about you, but I am hungry!

Praying your visions are not filled with giants, only filled with the loving face of our Lord!

Courageous

Dr. Mike Murphy

May 10, 2026

She loved the peacefulness of the country as she sat under the tree.  As she sat in the shade of the tree, she could look for hours at the beauty that God had placed all around her. She could stare for hours at the miraculous gift He had given her and all of His people.  Often He had brought her to that tree, and each time He would lead others to her.  They came with the problems that each day brought to them, and she helped them settle the disputes with the advice that God lead her to speak.  She took comfort in the fact that her office was not find in the midst of Jerusalem, her office would be about ten miles to the north, in the quiet of the mountains of Ephraim.  Her office would be a date palm tree, where God’s wisdom could be heard under the branches of her tree.

Each day she was there, the people would come.  She would see their faces, and she would hear their problems.  With each word of advice, she could see their fears, and she could feel their pain. As she watched their faces each day, her prayers became stronger.  And with each prayer, she found that her words to the Lord were just a little longer.  For twenty years she had watched as the people had suffered, under the cruel hands of their Canaanite oppressors. She watched as they terrorized His people, as they raided their homes, and killed their sons and daughters.  Each day she prayed that the Lord had not forgotten them, that He would again reach down His hand and save them..  Each day she prayed, and waited patiently for the day she would hear His answer.  

As she sat under her palm tree that day, He answered to her the prayer she had so long prayed.  He had led her to summon a man who would be called on to lead His people against the king of her oppressors.  Today, her prayer had been answered.  And under the quiet of her tree, she knew that the Lord would not be silenced.

Of all the stories I love in the Bible, Deborah is among my favorites.  Her story is told in two short chapters(Judges 4-5), but in two short chapters comes such a powerful story.  A story of devotion and strength.  A story of obedience and patience. A story of humbleness, and a story of mercy.  A story that defines the very definition of courage.

What is courage?  Ask twenty people on the street and you will probably not be able to tell the difference between courage and bravery by their definitions. They will tell you that courage is standing strong when faced with pain or grief, that courage is strength when we are frightened.  But when we look at how the Lord defines courage, what we see is a whole lot more.

In the Old Testament we see God define courage in many places as “determined, proven,  resolute, to prevail”.  In the New Testament we see the Lord continue in this definition and expand on it.  Here we often see courage called “good cheer”, and the word for both translates “boldness and confidence”.  God does not just describe courage as the opposite of fear, but He describes it as the very thing that causes us to not have fear.  In the word “courage”, the Lord does not just describe the action, but deepens the meaning of the word by showing us the purpose behind it.  Each time the Lord tells us in His Word “fear not”, He is not just telling us to not have fear, but is telling us why we should never have a reason to experience that fear.  God is telling us that in His very nature, in the perfection of His plan, fear can never be found.

In trust you will never find the word fear, and in His trust only courage can be found.  The Lord knows that we are far from perfect, that flaws come into our lives each day.  It is for this reason, that from the first word of Genesis to the last sentence of Revelation, God tells us so many times to “fear not”.  He knows that the more trust we have in Him, the more courage that will be found in each of us.  One of my favorite Bible passages begins, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”(Proverbs 3:5-6).  The more we trust God, the more that courage is felt in our heart, the more that courage is seen in our actions, and the more that courage is defined in our lives. The more we put our trust in God, the more determined and embolden we are to stand on His Word.  The more confident and resolute we are that His plan is the only plan that will work in our lives.  And the more we lean on that trust, the more we realize that with the Lord on our side, we will always prevail!

No story in the Bible paints for us a better picture of the definition of courage than the one of Deborah.  In two chapters, in a few short words, the Lord uses the life of Deborah to show us just what courage is.  In Deborah, we see the trust, the determination, the resolution, the proven confidence, and the prevailing faith that God uses to define the word courage.

Deborah relied only on God.  The Israelites had come under the hand of the Canaanites for one reason, and one reason only.  They had turned their back on God, and placed their trust in other gods.  It took twenty years for the Israelis to see that God’s discipline was not a punished to them, but a confirmation of His love for them.  It showed the Israelites that their future and their trust could only be found in the Lord God, not in all the other gods that they had tried to replace Him with.  But through this time in Israel’s history, Deborah remained strong, loyal in her faith.  She continued to teach His Word, to follow that Word, and to remind others of that Word.  In the most troublesome of times, Deborah had the courage to remain faithful to His Word, knowing that He alone was her people’s only hope.

Deborah had the faith to know His Voice.  When the Lord spoke to Deborah, revealing to her his plan to restore the nation, she immediately called for Barak, the one who the Lord told her would lead his people against the Canaanites.  She had the determination to stay loyal to that call, not adding one word of her own.  Not looking to carry out her own vengeance or her own desires, but determined to carry out exactly what the Lord had commanded of her. Deborah had the courage to follow God’s plan, and the determination to make sure that planned was fully carried through. 

Deborah trusted the will of God, allowing the Lord to work through her.  As a judge in that day, Deborah had the respect of the Israeli people.  They knew that she had an ear for the Lord, and they trusted the words, advice, and direction that the Lord gave them through her.  Deborah could have easily decided she would lead the army against the Canaanites, and the people would have followed.  But she was resolute to the will of God, knowing that for her to lead was not His will.  Deborah humbly submitted to the Lord’s will, His wisdom, and His plan, knowing that only He could deliver them from the hands of their oppressors.  Deborah had the courage to follow God’s will, and to ensure that His will alone was done.

Deborah gave God all the glory.  In the fifth chapter of Judges, we read the beauty of the song that Deborah sang to the Lord.  As we read the words, we see Deborah and Barak praise the Lord for all He,alone, did to liberate His people.  In not one verse do we see either giving themselves praise or any credit for the victory, they lay every ounce of glory the victory brought right at the feet of God.  Right where they knew that glory belonged.  They knew that nothing they could have done would have helped them to overcome the power of the Canaanite army. They knew it would not have mattered how many men they would have sent, whether it had been ten thousand or one hundred thousand, God alone was victorious.  Deborah had the proven confidence to know that with God all things are possible.  And she had the prevailing faith to trust that His hand would move.  Deborah had the courage to give God all the glory, and the trust to know from where that glory had come.

Deborah was nothing short of an amazing woman.  A woman who had a heart for God. Although the words used to describe her life are brief, the impact she had was nothing short of incredible.  Unlike all the other Judges, the Bible does not record one word of condemnation about Deborah.  God’s Word only tells us about her faith, and her will to serve our Lord. Deborah used all of her abilities to serve God, to do nothing more than to bring honor and glory to His name.  

As I remember the words of the song that she sang(Judges 5), it is not hard to see the courage of her faith.  She knew that as the battle was about to start, it could have been only One on the field for Israel that day.  It was about what God had promised, not about what man could accomplish.  Deborah’s courage was nothing short of contagious, and her courage became nothing short of encouraging.  With each “fear not” we read in His Word, I can see the Lord’s hand pointing back to Deborah.  I can hear the courage in her voice, and I can see it defined with each step that she took.  And as I read the words of her life, I can hear the Lord looking to define courage the same in each of us today.

Courage.  A word that stirs us, and a word that moves us.  A word that can be seen in man, but cannot be defined by man.  Man may attempt to explain it, but to experience it through the Lord’s hand is the only way to fully understand it.  Courage can only be defined when we make the most of the opportunities the Lord gives us.  Courage is found in hearing His voice when He calls us.  Courage is found in going wherever He may lead. Courage is found in the obedience to do what He says to us.  Courage is found in what brings us to the Cross, and it is what leads us each day to strengthen the grip we have on that Cross.  We can only become courageous when we realize that His Will is the only will that will ever matter.  Courage is what brings a man to his knees, and can be defined by how long that man then stays on his knees. Courage can be found in you every time you hear His Voice, then can be seen by what you do immediately after hearing that Voice.  Be strong in Christ!  Be of good cheer!  Be courageous!

Praying each of you live your lives courageously!

A Third Of A Mile

 Dr. Mike Murphy

 April 1, 2026

“Seven hundred and sixty-two steps.  I can still remember taking each of those steps as if it was yesterday.  The confusion and the fear that filled me, the anger and hatred that surround me.  And with each of those seven hundred and sixty-two steps, I feared each might be my last.

We had traveled so far to get to the city that day.  Days at sea, then two more days we walked to get there.  Travelling that distance so my sons might also experience Passover that year, and see my beloved city for the first time. But as we neared the city, I could all but sense the change. The bitterness and the anger greeted us before we could even get to the gates. Something had changed my city.  Something that I would later learn, would change my beloved city forever.

As we approached the gates the crowds were overwhelming.  Lining the streets in anticipation of something that was soon to occur.  I grabbed hold of each of my sons, so not to let them be separated from me by the mobs that seemed to be pouring out from every corner.  Crowds that just kept screaming words of hatred, unmercifully mocking a man whose name I did not even know. And as the crowds gathered even more, I soon realized that we were going to have to stand in the midst of that crowd until the event that had caused the mob to gather had passed.  We could simply never make our way to the Temple by trying to fight through all these people.

Suddenly, at a distance, I could see a man stumbling as he walked the street.  A man, that as he drew closer, was so beaten, so battered, that even his own family must not have been able to recognize him.  A man, who was so weak, he could barely carry himself, much less the cross they made him carry. As he approached the place my sons and I were standing, I watched as he suddenly collapsed.  Falling hard onto the stones that lined the streets. So hard, I immediately doubted he could still be alive. But slowly, I watched as his fingers began to move, and with shallow breaths, I could see the little life left in him.  As the soldiers forced him again to his feet, I thought to myself, this man cannot even carry himself, much less the weight that must come from that cross.

Before I even realized what had happened, a soldier reached to grab me, separating me from my sons, ordering me to pick up this man’s cross.  I tried to plead with them to choose another, as I had my sons there with me. But it was as if my words were silent, as the soldier continued to drag me into that street.

As I was handed that cross, all I could think of was the blood that covered it.  Blood that would stain me, leaving me unclean to attend Passover, unable to fulfill the purpose I had come for, the reason I had brought my sons to my once beloved city.  As I reached for that cross, and the soldier placed it on my shoulder, I could feel the blood completely covering me. So much blood that it was all I could do to even get a grip.  I remember thinking to myself, how could any man even have this much blood? How could this much blood pour out from a man and him still be alive, much less carry this cross?

So many steps we had taken before I looked over to see this man who was carrying this cross with me.  So many steps we had taken where I had felt nothing but anger at this man, for putting me in this position.  So many steps of having the crowd spit on me, as they spit at him. Throwing anything they could find at me, as they lashed out at this man.  With each step, I not only feared for my life, but feared my two sons might see my life taken before their very eyes. But as I glanced in this man’s eyes, the strangest of feelings came over me,  It was not hatred, denial, disappointment, or even agony I saw as I looked into those eyes. All my eyes would allow me to see was a love that pierced all the way to my soul. And as we arrived at the top of that hill, where they were preparing to crucify him, I suddenly found my eyes could not look away.  As my sons ran to me, I stood in front of them with eyes full of tears. Tears, that no matter how hard I tried, I could not make stop. I watched as they raised him on that cross I had helped him carry. I watched as he struggled in pain to take each breath. I listened as he called to the Lord, not to curse all who had placed him on that cross, but asking for their forgiveness.  I watched as he offered that same forgiveness to a guilty man who hung on the cross beside him, telling that man how hope would be his eternal. And I watched as the sky turned to darkness as his final breath left his body.

I watched that day as I saw it all, knowing in the depths of my heart, I had just seen all.  And in that moment, I could so vividly hear the words of the Lord speaking to me. Words from Him, that reminded me of the promise Isaiah had brought to my people.  Words I had not read for years, but words I would never again forget. Words that said, ‘Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.’

In that moment, as I watched them take down His limp and lifeless body, I realized that I did not have to go to the Temple that day, nor ever would again. The Lord had not brought me to Jerusalem to see the lamb sacrificed, but so I might experience and witness the sacrifice of the Lamb. In that moment, I realized the blood that now covered me had not left my clothes stained, but had washed me as white as snow.  Because the Lord showed me on that day, it was not me who was carrying His cross. It was He, for each step of that third of a mile, who had been carrying mine.”

With each step, I pray you remember who is carrying your cross today.

I Am Pilate!

Dr. Mike Murphy

March 31, 2026

“There was something in his eyes that was different.  Something separated him from all the others that had appeared before me.  So many had been brought in front of me to judge in this rebellious country, they became nothing more than faces without a face. Names spoken without a sound.  But something in his face brought his name to my lips, something in the sound of his voice caused me to speak it.”

“He was unlike any man I had ever met.  Most came in front of me filled with fear, speaking whatever words they thought I wished to hear so their life might be spared.  But in his voice, I could hear no fear.  In his eyes I could see only a certainty, as if he knew my words before I spoke them.  It was as if death had no hold over him, and my words and my judgement brought no fright or panic to him.”

“Twice that day, I tried to place his future into the hands of others, hoping both times they would do what I could not bring myself to do.  But twice that day, his future, his life, fell back into my hands.  Although I found no fault in him, my own ambitions required me to be the judge over him.  So as I sent him to his death, I washed my hands of him.  But as the hours and the days passed, I found that although I had washed my hands, I could not wash away my thoughts.”

“Since that day, I have passed judgement on more men that I could begin to count.  I have sent more men to their death than I could ever begin to number. But among all the men, among all those faces, one still haunts me.  One face, one voice, never escapes me. One set of eyes that were unlike any other.”

Many names from history stand out before us, implanted in our minds and unable to escape our thoughts.  Men and women of valor, like George Washington, Winston Churchill, and Joan of Arc.  Brilliant minds like Isaac Newton, Copernicus, Madam Curie, and Albert Einstein.  Villains of evil, like Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Ivan the Terrible, and Attila the Hun.  Men and women of God, like Moses, Abraham, David, and Deborah.  But as we approach the Easter season, a name from history always comes to our minds. One not known for his heroism or for his intellect.  One we remember for the decision he made on a day that changed history.  The name of that man, Pontius Pilate. 

Although Pilate is a name that we all know, little is truly known about the man.  From AD 26-36, Pontius Pilate served as governor of Judea for Emperor Tiberius of Rome. Besides his name appearing in the Gospels, it is also recorded by such historians as Tacitus, Philo, and Josephus.  In 1961, a famous engraving know as the Pilate Stone was found. Writings on the stone dated its’ origins to AD 30, and on the stone Pilate was described as “Prefect”(overseer) of Judea. 

In the Gospels, Pilate is mentioned solely in connection with the the trial and last events of Christ.  The Gospels portray Pilate as a man who was reluctant to send Christ to the Cross.  He stated that the charges brought against Christ were baseless, and more than once proclaimed Christ as an innocent man.  The Book of Matthew(Matthew 27:19), indicates that Pilate received a message from his wife, warning him to not be involved in the trial of this righteous man.  But despite all he saw, all the warnings given him, it was a trial that Pilate went forward with.  A trial, he is still to this day remembered for.

In the Gospel of John, we are given a very detailed account of the trial of Christ, and are told much of the conversation between Jesus and Pilate.  John tells us that Jesus acknowledged that He was a king, and that He, alone, represented the truth.  To this, Pilate replied, “What is truth?”  This question, these three words, would set the stage for all that was about to happen.  As Prefect of Judea, Pilate was set as a judge over the people.  As a judge, he was called on to seek the truth.  But here we see a judge, who by his own question, did not know or recognize the truth.  A human judge, perplexed and bewildered by the truth, would sit in judgement over the Righteous Judge of all mankind.

Before he was done, Pilate would seek a compromise to avoid the truth he did not understand.  Knowing that Jesus had been handed over to him, not out of guilt, but out of the envy of the religious leaders, Pilate decide to form a plan to get him out of the middle of this problem.  It had become a custom for a prisoner of the people’s choosing to be released at the time of Passover each year.  Pilate then picked the worst person he could possibly find, a murderer and man convicted of insurrection.  A man by the name of Barabbas. There is an interesting find in the meaning of Barabbas’ name, as the name means “son of the father”. On that day, Pilate gave the people a choice of who they wanted released. Barabbas, “son of the father”.  Or Jesus, the true Son of the Father.  

Pilate found himself amazed by the name the people yelled out.  Because the religious leaders had persuaded the crowd, Pilate heard the overwhelming cry that day for him to release Barabbas.  Unable to believe the name he heard, Pilate asked the crowd, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”. Their reply, amazed him even more, “Crucify him!”.  Knowing he could not sentence a man who had not been convicted of a crime, Pilate replied to the cries of the crowd, “Why, what evil has he done?”  Again, he heard the words, “Crucify him!”. More afraid of the crowd rioting and damaging his public reputation and standing, than he was of sending an innocent man to his death, Pilate commanded for Jesus to be flogged, and delivered to be crucified.

As tragic as the events of that day were, no tragedy was greater than what happened that day to Pilate.  He ignored his responsibilities as judge.  He disregarded the warning his wife gave him.  He chose his own selfish pride over the life of an innocent man. And he failed to acknowledge and accept the truth, when the Truth was standing right in front of him. 

So what became of Pilate?  What happened to his life after that unforgettable day? The writings of Philo and Josephus both give us information about Pilate.  Both describe Pilate as an insensitive and often brutal man, who had little regard for the Jewish people or to their religious beliefs.  Both tell us he insulted the people by placing pagan gods on their currency. Josephus wrote that as Pilate brought troops in from Caesarea to Jerusalem, he had the troops bring in idolatrous statues of Roman emperors to be placed in the courtyard of the Temple. Josephus tells us that this was done by the cover of night, so that the Jewish people would not be aware of what was happening until the statues were already in place. Philo tells us of how Pilate reappropriated Temple funds to build aqueducts.  As the Jews protested this action, Pilate had Roman soldiers disguise themselves among the people.  At his command a signal was given, and the Roman soldiers openly attacked the people in the streets.

Historians tell us, that in the year that Emperor Tiberius died, Pilate was removed from office because of charges brought against him.  It was stated that Pilate was openly executing people without ever giving them a trial.  Eusebius tells us that Pilate was exiled to Gaul, and it was here that Pilate took his own life.

As we remember Pilate today, most look at the man and see the one who sent Jesus to be crucified.  But when I look at Pilate, the image that stares back at me is a familiar one. As I look at the man who had Christ flogged, and who sent Christ to the Cross, it is not Pilate’s image I see.  It is my own.  As I look closely, I realize, I am Pilate. It was me who sent Him to be scourged, and it was me who placed the thorns on His head.

For years of my life, I sat in the judgement seat of Pilate.  Day after day, Christ was brought in front of me.  I looked directly into His eyes, and I asked the same question that Pilate once asked.  As the Truth stood right in front of me, I turned to my selfish pride and my own foolish stubbornness.  I looked into the face of an innocent and righteous man, but I only heard the cries of the crowd.

As I look even closer, I realize that I was far more cruel, and far more lost than Pilate ever was.  As Christ spoke to Pilate, He told him that those who had handed Him over were guilty of the “greater sin”.  Meaning that those who had handed Him over to Pilate, knew all the signs and prophecies that identified Him as the Messiah, that unmistakably pointing to Jesus as the Son of God.  They were aware of who He was, not ignorant of why He had come to this earth.  They knew He was God, but denied the Truth that was evident in front of them.  This was me.  I knew who Christ was, I knew He was God.  I knew the Truth that stood in front of me, but I denied that Truth because of the changes it would require of me.  I simply found it easier to hear the voices of the crowd, than to accept Christ as my Savior. More willing to follow the crowd, than to allow God’s Word to rule my life.  So not just once, like Pilate, but each day I sent Christ away, and washed my hands of what I knew and saw.

But praise the Lord, Christ is patient.  And praise the Lord, the Holy Spirit is persistent.  Praise the Lord that Christ returned to that judgement seat I sat on each day, and that each day He continued to speak the Truth to me.  And praise the Lord, that the day came when I heard the voice of an Innocent Man speaking the Truth, louder than the shouts of the crowd.

Today, Christ stands in front of you, speaking the Truth to you.  You sit in the exact seat that Pilate once sat in.  The exact seat that I sat in for so many days. Will you look into His eyes, and see the Truth that stands so obviously in front of you?  Or will you hear the voices of those who selfishly deny Him, and the crowds who call for you to send Him away? Will you fall on your knees before Him, or will you wash your hands of Him? That choice is yours, and yours to make alone. But as this day ends, I pray you will not repeat the words that haunted so many of my past days. Three words I pray you will never be heard to say, “I am Pilate”.

May you be led by the Truth, not by the crowd.

A New Year's Resolution List For The Church

Dr. Mike Murphy
January 1, 2026

Each day, we watch as the darkness grows.  As society looks to push the Lord as far away as possible, and this world looks for new ways to silence the voice of us who believe.  But as the darkness grows, hope does not begin to fade, as in the midst of the greatest darkness, the Light shines the brightest. This might be a world that wants us less than ever, but this is a world that needs us more than ever.  A world in tremendous need of seeing that Light, as it reflects and radiates with such brilliance in each of us.

In the darkest of hours, this could be one of the Church’s greatest moments, if only this Church would just remember the call the Lord has given us. And as I think back on that call, I find myself writing down three resolutions for this Church in the coming year. Three simple resolutions, that if this Church would take to heart, would remind this Church just what it means to be the Church.

Resolution Number 1.  Remember what the reflection of Christ looks like.

Philippians 3;10 tells us, “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” A follower of Christ, should always look to center their life around Christ. And as we place Him in the center, we start to look more like Him each and everyday. Our days are soon found with us talking about Him, filling our moments thinking of Him, and looking for ways we came spend more time with Him. The greatest desire of our life is soon found in ways we can please Him, and in finding ways we can serve Him.  Knowing that the more we glorify Him, the more each glimpse others get of us will reflect Him.

The more in this coming year this Church can look to place Christ at the center of our life, the more this world will see the Light when they take a close look at this Church.

Resolution Number 2.  Make our words sound a lot more like His words.

1 Corinthians 2:16 speaks to us, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  Every answer, to every question we might ask, can be found all in one place. In the pages of His Word, because there, alone, all truth can be found.  All man can ever offer to the questions this world might have is opinion. But in His Word, is found the wisdom of definite answers.

If in the coming year, this Church will not look to itself for solutions, but turn to the Lord for answers, we can show the world the difference that only Christ can make.  A difference that will not leave man worried about tomorrow, but will offer him the hope of what tomorrow will bring. A tomorrow, not just filled with more questions, but a tomorrow, that is brimming with answers.

Resolution Number 3.  Memorize the words of the Great Commission by heart.

     In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ spoke to us, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  These are not words that should just jump of the pages of Scripture at us when we read them, but should be words that are ingrained into our minds every single day. Words that should never stray far from the tip of our tongue. Never forgetting what a precious gift we have received with each of these words, because these words reveal to us the very heart of our Lord.

In the coming year, this Church should repeat those words to ourselves so often that we are left hoarse. Words that not only find us bringing the Good News to others, but find us teaching the truth of Christ to all who will listen. Words that not only lead us to teach others about the love of Christ, but shows all how to joyfully follow in His footsteps.

I pray that in the coming year, this Church will take each of these resolutions to heart.  Remembering the love, the joy, the truth, the grace, and the wisdom, that comes from all three of these resolutions.  Words, that if taken to heart, will find this Church reflecting His light so bright into this world, that darkness will soon seek itself for cover.

May each day of this year find your reflection of Him a little brighter!

A Rhythmless Man Gets Invited To The Dance

Dr. Mike Murphy
October 15, 2025

The Lord has blessed me in many ways.  He has given me gifts that I am very thankful for.  But of all the gifts He has given me, He never looked my direction when it came to dancing. Plain and simple, I cannot dance!  I dance like Steve Urkel on caffeine.  If I did a rain dance we would have a drought for the next three years.  My name and rhythm is an oxymoron.  It is just wrong for both to even appear in the same sentence.  But this last week, I have had dancing on my mind.

A brother in Christ, Bart Millard, wrote the famous words, “Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel.  Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still?”.  What powerful words! Words that brings us to the reality of that promised day we will each experience.  A day we rarely think about, but a day we all know we will see and face.  What will our reaction be on that day? Will we find ourselves on our knees in shame?  Or will we dance with joy?

Over the last few days, that reaction has become a reality for me.  The events of this past week have keep the words of Bart’s song on my mind.  I prayed several times this week with a man who was dying.  A man whose life was filled with regret.  A man who had come to know that God was real, but could not come to accept Christ as his Savior.  A man who had fallen so far, but could not fall to his knees in prayer.

I also prayed with another close friend of mine this week.  A longtime friend who has forever changed my life.  A friend who has always been there for me.  A woman after God’s own heart, who lives each day for Christ.  I prayed and watched as she went through a medical procedure. Her fate had already been decided by her faith, but the body they worked on is one that many in this world would deeply miss.  I praised the Lord, as the news of her procedure came back positive, knowing her love for Christ would be shared with many here for years to come.

One, who I fear found himself on his knees in shame this week.  Another who I know will one day dance in the presence of the Lord.  The reality of that day, and the reaction that would come, very real as I look at both of their lives.

As many of you know, I am in the last stages of cancer.  Although that day is not on me just yet, I can hear its’ footsteps, and can feel it approaching.  Each day, I can feel the events of that day take a greater toll on me than they did the month or week before.  The reality of the cancer does not surprise me.  It is a part of my life, an inevitable part of this life I am glad the Lord has given me the strength to work through and around.   But each day I am amazed.  As this life slowly escapes me each day, I feel His love taking its’ place.  I can feel His arms surrounding me, and each day He holds me in those arms and allows me to rest my body in His Holiness. He shows me a little more each day, that the grasp He has on me is stronger than my struggle with cancer.

But that grasp should not surprise me, as I have felt it pulling me close for many years now.  Several years ago, the Lord sought out a rebellious young man.  When He found him, He found a man consumed with himself, living his life for his own needs and his own greed.  I am so thankful each day, that His will was stronger than my desires.  The Lord reached into the pits of Hell to pull out the most undeserving man He could find in me.  He showed me the truth, and He gave my life purpose.  My life was no longer consumed by my wants, but would come to be defined by His needs.

In the years ahead, the Lord taught me His wisdom, and trained me in His ways.  He soon called me to walk a different path, a path that would lead me to serving Him. Somewhere in my mind, I could not understand this call.  How could the Lord possibly use such an undeserving man?  So I ran from that call, as far and fast as I could.  But praise the Lord, He ran faster and farther than me. Each step of the way, He brought my focus back to the foot of the Cross.  He showed me that the day I first found myself there on my knees, this undeserving man was made deserving.

As my faith grew, the Lord began to give me opportunities to share His mercy and grace with those around me.  To share with others what He had done in my life, and to show them what an awe-inspiring difference that only He could make in theirs.  One of these opportunities was to share Christ with one of my closest and oldest friends from college.  On several occasions I told him of what Christ had done in my life.  I watched and listened at first as he would quickly change the subject.  Over time, and through many prayers, I saw him begin to ask me questions about the Lord.  

One day he messaged me, asking if I would talk to him about Christ, and what it meant to be saved.  I messaged him back, and told him I would like nothing more.  It was a very hectic week, so I asked him if he had time to talk about it in a couple of days.  As I called him a few days later, my heart stopped.  I soon learned that the night before, the tire on his car had blown out while on a back road coming home.  His car flipped several times, and in the crash he died immediately.

That call haunts me to this day.  I will never know if my delay to talk to him about Christ was at the cost of his eternity.  What was the price of my excuse of a hectic schedule?  If I had picked up the phone that day, and spent just a hour of my time talking to him, where would my friend be today?  My failure to give a few minutes of my time that day, has resulted in endless hours of regret since.  I cannot tell you the days I have prayed the Lord will forgive me for this lost chance.  And the time that haunts me wondering if he is dancing for joy today, or on his knees in shame.  An opportunity gone, a time of joy that may have never been gained.

Please, please, hear my words.  The opportunity the Lord places in your hands today, can be a lifetime cherished tomorrow.  Or it can be a lost reality that may never come your way again.  Make this day count for the Lord.  These opportunities not only allow us to bring glory to God, they bless our lives in ways we can never begin to measure.  These opportunities show the world, there are no coincidences when it comes the God.  He has had a purpose in mind from the start, and He wants nothing more than to see in our actions His plan being fulfilled. That our willing reply to His call will bring glory to His name. Whether we accept, and then follow through with these opportunities or not, the Lord’s purpose and plan will be fulfilled, and His glory will be shown.  If not us, He will call on another who will be willing to help fulfill His plan.  The choice is ours.  Will we experience regret, for not being there when the Lord needs us most?  Or will we share in the joy, as we watch His purpose and plan being fulfilled?

With my life as an example, I pray each of you will take to heart this one request I make. Dance!  Dance with joy before the Lord!  Dance, because of the difference that only He could have made in your life!  As He holds you close, dance, for the love He has for you! And dance, for each of the opportunities He gives you to share that love with those around you each day! Never forget, the opportunity or call He gives you today, is a dance of joy you will get to share with someone else tomorrow.  Please do not let these opportunities slip away for you today. There will be no greater joy than when you look across that ballroom floor on a future day, and see the loving faces of all those whose life the Lord has led you to invite to the dance.  Just please remember, hold on tight to Christ, always let Him lead, and cherish the gracefulness of this dance!

For me, this life has been nothing short of amazing.  The Lord has used my life in ways I could have never imagined. His wisdom and grace has lead me in directions I never thought I would, or could, have gone. But one thing still amazes me the most. The Lord sent this rhythmless man an invitation to the dance!

On a future day, I cannot wait to share a dance with each of you!