Ryan's Ramblings

His Address Is Grace God’s address is at the end of your rope. —Dallas Willard Some time ago, I was diagnosed with a rare, deadly disease—one that only five in a million people get. It was a tumor called an insulinoma, hidden deep in my pancreas. And it was killing me. For six long months,…

[The following is my fledgling attempt at historical fiction, sparked by my recent study and sermon on Joshua 2. Scripture tells us that two unnamed spies were sent into Jericho—and while their identities remain a mystery, my imagination couldn’t help but wonder: Could one of them have been Caleb, the faithful warrior who knew the…

Refreshment “Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19, NLT) It’s one of my greatest joys to lead a weekly Bible study with a group of sharp, faith-filled young professionals. These guys are in their mid-twenties—walking with God and hungry to grow in their faith. We’re working our way…

A Goad of Grace “When the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.” (Acts 22:20, NIV) There’s that one thing. You know what it is—and I do too. The moment you wish you could rewrite. That thing you did—or…

God’s Enough "If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit." (Proverbs 25:16, NIV) I have a problem. Actually, I have several: all-you-can-eat buffets, my wife’s gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, and chips and dip—especially chips and dip. I love them… and then I hate myself about an hour later. I…

Take Action A father is a man that has two or more souls to save or lose. —Austin O’Malley That line stops me in my tracks. It speaks to the weight of influence that a father carries—not just over his own soul, but over the souls entrusted to him. His children. His household. His legacy.…

Are You Water or Wine? “The wine supply ran out during the festivities…” (John 2:3, NLT) Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. That wasn’t random—it meant something. I used to teach fifth graders the difference between living and non-living things. It sounds simple—until it isn’t. Without getting too deep into the weeds, we’d…

See Others Rightly One of the greatest mistakes in the world is to tell yourself what a man is like; you do not know what he is like. The only One who can teach you how to deal with the various specimens around you is the Holy Spirit. — Oswald Chambers I’ve spent a lot…

Commas Matter "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me … [to] proclaim the year of the Lord's favor …" (Isaiah 61:1–2, ESV) Have you heard the joke about the panda with punctuation problems? He walks into a café, eats a sandwich, pulls out a gun, fires two shots, and heads for the door.…

Singing at Midnight “About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25, NIV) Is there any darker moment than the "midnight hour"? The silence is suffocating, the path unclear, and hope is all but gone. It's the hour of waiting—when nothing changes,…