ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -  Once again, my former home in Alaska is on the alert for another potential natural disaster. This time from a volcano, Mount Spurr - located 78 miles as the crow flies from Anchorage. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, "Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano. Seismicity remains elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano over the past day." Mount Spurr is a major part of the Cook Inlet volcanoes, and, weather permitting, it is clearly visible from Anchorage. Five small villages are within 60 miles of the volcano, including Beluga (37 mile SE), Tyonek (40 miles SE), Nikiski (51 miles SE), Susitna (55 miles NE), and Salamatof (56 mi SE). The Alaska Volcano Observatory has currently issued a condition level YELLOW, which indicates an advisory level of precaution. People in the areas of potential impact should use this time to make a plan and exercise additional safety measures. Recommendations include staying...

VENICE, FLORIDA - On Sunday, February 15, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the Missions Festival at Christ Venice Church in Venice, Florida. My primary reason for going was to visit my friend Jason Sheets, a missionary in Arequipa, Peru, and the lead pastor at Iglesia Bíblica Cristiana Ciudad de Dios who was in attendance at the conference. I drove over from Jupiter, Florida, that morning, eager to participate in this Christ-glorifying event. The conference was a beautiful celebration of global missions, with representatives and honorees from various countries and continents, including Africa, Albania, Brazil, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Liberia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States....