Morris’ Musings

Jasmine’s anxiety level was consistently elevated when I drove beside an 18-wheeler on the freeway, and she wouldn’t hesitate to express her displeasure. I confess that I’d get annoyed by what I felt was an unnecessary complaint, as though I'd chosen to drive beside the behemoth of a truck. Nevertheless, I [...]

The appeal was for $200,000. I had $7 in my wallet. This was prime real estate for our growing church. The owners agreed to sell it to us for half the price a developer was willing to pay. The process was moving forward, but the church ran into an insurmountable obstacle [...]

We paddled three double-hulled canoes into Maunalua Bay on the South Shore of Oahu for a sacred ceremony. At the desired location, we joined our canoes, and someone called out, “Oars up,” signaling to the people on the shore that Suzanne’s ashes were being poured into the ocean. Her husband dropped [...]

Do you ever feel invisible, like no one really knows or understands you? Do you feel forced to wear a mask to hide your pain or circumstances, which further pushes you toward feeling alone? I serve as a chaplain with Operation Christmas Child (OCC) at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Processing Center (PC), [...]

As I write this, a jackhammer is breaking through the concrete slab in my garage, and workers are tunneling under my foundation. I've known there were fractures in the foundation caused by the instability of Texas' clay soil. When doors could no longer close, and cracks appeared in the walls, I [...]

Today, September 8, 2024, marks three years since Jesus sent His angels to escort Jasmine to her heavenly home. In a previous post, I recounted that at 60, God directed Jasmine and me to merge our ministry and life experiences, and we established Shepherds Wellspring Ministries (SWM). Little did I know [...]

This article is is in response to a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC). But in keeping with my usual practice of not blogging or publicly commenting on politics, this isn’t about politics; it’s about faith and forgiveness. Michael Morin delivered a compelling speech on the second night of [...]

Several years ago, I was privileged to meet Michael Belk, renowned photographer and founder of Journeys with the Messiah. His unique photographs depicting Jesus in first-century settings, accompanied by twenty-first-century props and characters, captivated my interest. He told me about his journey that began as a high-fashion photographer, traveling the world [...]

It's freezing outside It's quiet and warm by the fire Jesus speaks, I listen

This week, our church began a 21-day fast. For the past few days, I have been pondering writing a blog about the importance of praying for our children and grandchildren. Then, I received a popup on Facebook that Jasmine had written eight years ago when our first granddaughter, Leila, was only [...]

Put yourself in Joseph's sandals. Betrothed to a young virgin, only to find out that she is pregnant, he places her on a donkey and leads her on a week-long 80-mile trip through mountainous terrain from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The sky was a deep blue, illuminated by a massive canopy of [...]

Pictured is my granddaughter, Emily, at one year old, waiting for her appointment with her chiropractor. Chiropractor? Yes, she has been going to a chiropractor since she was an infant. Reading her expression, I’m unsure of what is happening inside her. It could be fear, anxiety, or concern for her mom, [...]

Jasmine had a refined artistic touch that flowed from her Japanese cultural heritage. Her fingerprints were visible throughout our home—her portrait, her framed 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of a geisha woman, and her painting of a Japanese garden adorned our walls. Dry flower arrangements stood prominently in tall vases accented by many [...]

Why am I feeling so emotional? I am watching a video of Iam Tongi's duet with James Blunt from American Idol, singing Blunt's song "Monsters." Watching it live brought me to tears along with everyone else . . . and it is bringing me to tears again. Three months ago, I [...]

Mass shootings have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It felt personal when it reached the Allen Premium Outlet Mall in Texas last Saturday afternoon. We have shopped there and have friends who live nearby. We mourn the eight innocent victims and pray for their family members, some of whom [...]

The most well-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. Every believer knows it, and everyone watching an NFL football game at least knows about it as "John 3:16" signs appear in the end zones. One could argue that the second most well-known verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all [...]

(Many years ago, I wrote a monthly devotional, "Consider." Perusing the files on my computer, I stumbled upon this post from May 12, 2004. Although dated, the message is timeless.) When the little boy’s dog died, he asked his mother, “Do dogs go to heaven?” His mother replied, “Yes, all dogs go to [...]

Three months ago, my mom said half-jokingly, “You better finish that book before I die!”  Monday was a holiday, and mail is not delivered on holidays. So I was surprised to find a padded envelope on the walkway leading to my front porch. I was puzzled; I didn’t recognize the sender. [...]

If you have been around young children over the past year or two, then you are very familiar with the tune “Baby Shark.” It does not matter if you love it or hate it. Whenever you hear it, your head immediately starts bobbing, your body moves with the rhythm, and you [...]

“Dreams and aspirations motivate us. They give us focus and fuel to move forward. But what happens when those dreams and aspirations are crushed by an excruciating loss beyond our control? An unwanted divorce? Losing a child? Losing a spouse? I don't know which is the hardest; I suppose it is the [...]

When I pastored a small church with limited resources, I struggled to prepare an Easter sermon. How do I present the most significant event in human history in a fresh, creative way that will captivate the listeners' interest who have heard the story since childhood? Large churches might enlist a Christian [...]