​WORD From The Woods


Acts 3:11-26
“While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”


In this passage, we see Peter addressing a crowd astonished by the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple gate. The people are amazed, but Peter immediately redirects their focus from the miracle to the true source of power, Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. This passage is a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty in salvation, rooted in Christ, and the urgent call to repentance. Peter begins by making it clear that this healing was not by his own power, but by the power of God. This underscores the reality that all glory belongs to God alone. This miracle points to Christ’s authority, not human effort. Peter then confronts the crowd with their role in Jesus’ crucifixion, declaring, “You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.” This bold statement reveals the depth of human depravity and our rebellion against God, and it magnifies God’s sovereign grace, as He raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling His redemptive plan. Peter’s sermon is rooted in the covenantal promises of God. He connects Jesus to the prophecies of the Old Testament, calling Him the “servant” and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that “in your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This continuity of God’s covenant underscores the unity of Scripture and God’s unchanging faithfulness. Salvation in Christ is not a new idea but the culmination of God’s eternal plan to redeem His people.
The call to action in this passage is clear, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Peter urges the crowd to turn from their sin and trust in Christ, promising forgiveness and “times of refreshing” from the Lord. This points us to the necessity of God’s grace to bring us to repentance and faith. The promise of forgiveness is not based on human merit but on Christ’s finished work, which alone covers our sin. Finally, Peter points to the future hope of Christ’s return, when He will “restore all things.” This future hope encourages us to live in light of eternity, trusting God’s sovereign plan, as we seek to live for Him in our daily lives. As Christians, we are reminded that our salvation is secure in Christ, and we are called to respond with repentance and obedience.


God Bless and have a great week! -Terry-

​WORD From The Woods


Acts 3:1-10
“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”


As we read the story of a man who had been lame from birth, there are a few simple truths we can pull out. Every day, this man was placed at the temple gate and was begging for alms from those who entered. This was his life, 100% dependence on the charity of others, all the way down to those who put him in by the gate. His survival and hope were tied to silver and gold. But when he encountered Peter and John, something extraordinary happened. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke words that changed the man's life forever: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
Verse 6 shows us a powerful truth about where our true wealth lies. Peter acknowledged that he didn’t have silver or gold, but what he had, the name of Jesus, was what he actually needed. This is a timely reminder for all of us, especially those of us who work in industries like logging, where the monetary rewards of hard work often feel like the primary focus. We take pride in what we do, and rightly so, our labor produces results we can see, feel, and use, and work is a way we glorify God. But just as Peter showed the beggar, the ultimate power doesn’t lie in what we can earn or gather for ourselves; it lies in the name of Jesus Christ.
In the Forestry industry, we understand the value of hard work, sweat, and long hours. Every log cut, every tree felled, and every hill climbed is the result of precision, strength, and determination. But there’s also a deeper truth: no matter how skilled or strong we are, it’s ultimately God who provides the growth of the forest, the resources we use, and the strength we need to do our work. The healing Peter offered to the beggar is a symbol of the deep transformation Jesus offers to us all, not just physically, but spiritually.
Peter’s declaration, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you,” speaks directly to us. We work with our hands, and often, we are paid in wages or contracts that reflect the labor we put in. But Jesus reminds us that there’s something more valuable than the paycheck, there’s the eternal, life-changing power of Christ. Just as the beggar was transformed through the power of Jesus, our work, rooted in Christ, has the potential to transform lives, not just in the physical sense, but spiritually, as we offer the hope and healing of Jesus to those around us.
When we go out each day this week to our work, whether in the woods or in the office, let us remember that our true strength and wealth come from Jesus, and He can use us to bring about healing and restoration, just as He did through Peter. We may not always have silver and gold to give, but we have the message of salvation, a message that can heal the brokenhearted and restore the lost.


Have a Blessed Week! -Ethan-

​WORD From The Woods


Acts 2:42-47 
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 


  This passage shows us the early church, ordinary folks, like you and me, transformed by the gospel and living in a way that turned the world upside down. This text reminds us that God’s sovereign grace not only saves us but shapes us into people who reflect His glory, even in the toil of daily life. The early believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the prayers.” These weren’t scholars or kings, they were fishermen, tradesmen, and laborers who hungered for God’s Word. They knew their strength didn’t come from their own hands but from the truth preached by the apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit. For us today, this means starting our week rooted in Scripture. The Bible isn’t just a book; it’s God’s voice to us, guiding our decisions in work and life day by day. Whether you’re a cutter, trucker, running a machine, or any number of things, let God’s Word be your blueprint. And pray for strength, for wisdom, for the people you work with. God hears the prayers of men who seek Him. These folks “had all things in common” and shared with “glad and generous hearts.” This wasn’t socialism, it was the fruit of hearts changed by God’s grace. Scripture teaches that as Christians, we’re united in Christ and to one another. You’re not meant to do it alone. Just as you rely on your crew to get the job done, you need your brothers in Christ to keep you steady.  We go to church primarily to hear the word preached and to worship, but also to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Christians who’ll pray for us, challenge us, and help bear our burdens. We need the community of the church. Notice the last verse: “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” The early church didn’t grow because they were clever salesmen. God did it. He saved souls. He built the church. As believers, we know salvation is God’s work from start to finish. Your job isn’t to save yourself or anyone else, it’s to be faithful where God has you. Work hard, love your neighbor, share the gospel with the folks around you. And trust God to do what only He can do. 


God bless and have a great week! -Terry-

WORD From The Woods 
Acts 1:12-26
    “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”


    After Jesus ascends to the right hand of the Father, the disciples return to Jerusalem, obedient to His command to wait for the Spirit. They’re in a holding pattern, eleven men, plus others, praying and waiting in the upper room. Judas’ betrayal left a gap, and they needed to fill it. Guided by Scripture (Psalm 69:25, 109:8), they trust God to choose Matthias as the new apostle through casting lots. This passage shows us how to wait on God with purpose, trusting His sovereign hand even when the path isn’t clear.
    As loggers, we know waiting. Sometimes, we wait because of bad weather to fall timber or get out on the ground to start logging, for equipment to be ready, for the crew to show up, for contracts to get signed, or any number of things. Waiting isn’t idle, it’s preparation. In Acts 1, the disciples aren’t just sitting around; they’re praying, studying Scripture, and acting in faith. They don’t know exactly what’s coming. Pentecost is still days away, but they trust God’s got it under control.
As Christians, we hold tight to God’s sovereignty. Every tree you cut, every load you haul, every early morning we rise, it’s all under His rule and dominion. The disciples didn’t pick Matthias on a whim; they leaned on God’s Word and His providence. Casting lots wasn’t a coin flip; it was their way of saying, “Lord, You decide.” Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.” God is in the details.
    You might be waiting too, waiting for a job to stabilize, for a family situation to resolve, or for strength to carry on. Like the disciples, don’t waste the waiting. Pray hard. Dig into Scripture. Trust that God’s plan is unfolding, even when the forest feels too thick to see through. Matthias was God’s sovereign choice, not man’s, and God is still choosing the right path for you and me.
    We are not out here just aimlessly doing life, the real work is trusting God’s plan. This week, when you’re waiting…. at the mill, on the job, or in life, remember the disciples in that upper room. They waited, prayed, and trusted. God filled the gap with Matthias, and He’ll fill yours too. Go work hard, love well, lead your families and rest in His sovereign grace.


    This is my prayer for you this morning: “Father, thank You for Your perfect plan. Give these hard working folks strength to do what they do, patience to wait, grace to love those around them, and faith to trust in You. Let them see Your sovereign hand in every tree they fell, skid, load, and haul, and every step they take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


God bless and have a great week -Terry Mann-

WORD From The Woods
Act 1:1-11
    In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
    
  The scene is powerful. Jesus, risen from the grave, gathers His disciples one last time. He tells them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Then, after speaking about the Kingdom of God for forty days, He is lifted up before their very eyes.
But before we move on, we need to stop and really think about where Jesus went and why it matters.
Christ did not simply ascend to some faraway place. He ascended to His throne. Hebrews tells us, "After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). He didn't drift off into the clouds to some unknown fairy land awaiting his destiny; He was enthroned as King. When He said in Matthew 28, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," He meant it. Right now, this very minute, Jesus Christ reigns over all.
I think sometimes we miss this in our daily lives. It's easy to feel like the world is spinning out of control. We see sin celebrated, truth mocked, and evil paraded as good. But the reality is that Christ is on the throne, ruling and reigning. Psalm 110:1, a very important prophecy, says, "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'”. And we see it again in Hebrews 10:12–13 "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet." What we see here is that Christ, who was has made the single sacrifice for all time, ascended to heaven, sat on his throne at the right hand of the father, and will stay there until the enemies of God are made His foot stool. And this changes everything for us.
Because Christ reigns, the Great Commission He gave us carries weight and authority. It's not a polite suggestion; it’s the command of the King. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," He says. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." We must understand what Christ has done, in order for us to understand what he is calling us to do. The calling Christ has given to all humanity is massive, and if we're honest, it’s intimidating. How are we supposed to fulfill this mission when I can barely muster the courage to share my faith with my neighbor? Let alone with my buddies at work, at the landing, or over the CB radio, places where we are far more likely to be mocked and met with a flood of foul language than welcomed with open arms. But Jesus said, "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." There’s no pretending otherwise: obedience to Christ will often feel like losing our life, our reputation, our comfort, and we might look foolish, sound crazy, and yes, in some circumstances (though I pray it never comes to this), we might even be threatened. But we must cling to this unshakable truth: Christ has not abandoned us. He is with us — even to the very end of the age and Christ will come again, just as He went, bodily, visibly, and triumphantly. So, just as the angels asked the disciples, the same question is posed to us: “Why do you stand here looking into heaven?” Let us stand firm in our faith, with courage, because our King reigns, and victory is certain. Let us move forward, reading our Bibles, praying, worshiping, speaking truth in love, raising families in the fear of the Lord, and discipling nations. Do not trust in our strength, but in His promise.
Christ is on the throne.
Christ is with us.
And Christ is coming again.


Have a blessed week -Ethan-

​WORD From The Woods 

     As we begin our journey through the book of Acts in our devotions, it's worth noting that this is one of the longer books in the New Testament. It will likely take some time to work through. As we dive into specific passages, we’ll need to keep the larger narrative in view, remembering the forest as we examine the trees. While we’ll be zooming in on individual texts, we don’t want to lose sight of the big picture. So, let’s set the pace by identifying the overarching message of Acts, something we can keep returning to throughout this series.
So, what is Acts really about? What is its core message?
    At its most basic level, Acts is the story of how the Church was born. It picks up where the Gospels leave off, with the ascension of Christ to His throne, and tells the story of how the gospel spreads from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Acts is a record of how Christianity moved from a small group of Jewish believers in Jerusalem to a global faith. More than just a history, Acts shows that the Church’s mission is rooted in God’s sovereign plan and carried forward by ordinary men and women empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s a book that not only tells what happened, it calls every generation to take up the same mission: to be Christ’s witnesses in their time and place. In another sense, Acts is a continuation of the dominion mandate from Genesis. It shows how the early Church began to reclaim the world for Christ, offering us a model to follow.
 Genesis 1:28 – “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…’”
Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Kingdom of God expands—not by swords or empires—but through Spirit-empowered witness, worship, and obedience.
    Now, it’s important to address a common view about Acts. Many say it is purely “descriptive, not prescriptive”, meaning that it tells us what happened, but not necessarily what we should do. There’s some truth in that distinction. Acts describes the formation of the early Church and how the gospel advanced across the Roman world, but that doesn’t mean the book has no doctrinal value or practical application. On the contrary, there’s a wealth of theology in these pages. Some passages carry direct doctrinal weight; others offer examples we can learn from, even if they aren’t commands to follow. We must remember that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”.
If we stay anchored to the big idea, we’ll find tremendous value here. Acts shows us the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who now dwells in us. It shows how the Gentiles (that’s us!) are being grafted into God’s covenant people. It calls us to boldness, a boldness that doesn’t come from within, but from Christ Himself.
    We were once like those frightened fishermen who fled at Christ’s crucifixion. But in Acts, we see those same men transformed—made new and bold through the power of the risen Christ. And through that same power, we too are being made new. We are being sent out to reclaim a world ravaged by sin and to raise Christ’s standard in its place. We are setting up bulwarks against the enemy, not in our own strength, but in the strength of the King who reigns on high. This should stir confidence in our hearts. That’s one of the central messages of Acts. God takes weak, fearful men—fishermen, tentmakers, even loggers—and turns them into bold witnesses who reclaim lost ground for the Kingdom. By His Spirit, we are being built into strongholds of truth, standing firm in a hostile world.
So my encouragement to you this week and into perpetuity is to be strong in the Lord, remember who Christ is, remember who lives within us, and remember that our goal as men, even in the workplace and on the landing, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We are men transformed, by God's graciousness and goodness, from feeble, fearful men into men of power and confidence who share the gospel with all the earth through the power of the Spirit that resides in our hearts.
The book of Acts calls us to live a life confident in Christ, and I call you to the same.


God bless and have a great week! -Ethan-

WORD From The Woods
Ephesians 4:1-16
   "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."


   In verse 1, Paul talks about walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called.  We haven't just been called to get saved and avoid the torment of an eternity spent in hell, we have been called to also serve Christ and if we are to serve Christ then we must do it in a way that is worthy of this calling. We can't just strive to live in a worthy way for the sake of living a "good" life, that would just be empty moralism. If we are going to live in a manner worthy of God's calling, then our life must first be built upon the foundation of Christ through the gospel of salvation! In the first part of this passage, Paul lists some characteristics that we as believers should exemplify as we mature in our spiritual lives, such as humility, gentleness, patience and so on. Paul puts a huge emphasis on unity among the believers within the body. We weren't called to be Lone Ranger Christians, but we were called into a community of believers to grow and fellowship and serve together, with our eyes fixed in the one who unites us, Christ  Jesus! In verse 9, Paul tells us that we not only have a savior in Christ, but that we also have an example. Christ descended from His place of glory to this earth, He lived and walked among the people of this earth and experienced all the trials and temptations that we do. He lived a perfect example for us to follow and while doing this, He set up the church through the apostles and teachers and evangelists and many others. After Christ established his earthly ministry, He solved the problem of sin on the cross and broke the power of death by leaving the grave on the third day! We as believers today are still called to be a part of the ministry that Christ himself established during His time on earth. We are called to be unified in Christ with the rest of the church, the body of Christ. We are called to grow together and serve together until the time of Christ's return when all things will be made new and all things will be set right!


God bless, and have a great week! -Terry-