# family update (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 3 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover family update. Page: Feed: --- ## [The Uncaused Cause](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/the-uncaused-cause) _2026-08-24 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Recently I was watching a video of an agnostic who was explaining why religious belief is so implausible, that it doesn’t account for so many things. ## [Schrödinger’s Indecision Matrix](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/schrodingers-indecision-matrix) _2026-08-22 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ two years later... ## [Sometimes I Don’t Know How to be Weak](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/sometimes-i-dont-know-how-to-be-weak) _2026-08-21 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Some personal reflections ## [Abbie and Axel’s Wedding — Watch It Live](https://ofreport.com/blog/2026-08-18-abbie-and-axel-wedding-live/) _2026-08-18 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ Our eldest daughter, Abigail, marries Axel Alvarenga this Saturday, August 22, in Houston, Texas. The ceremony will be streamed live at 2:00 PM CDT, and we would love to have you join us. ## [The Lord’s Discipline](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/the-lords-discipline) _2026-08-17 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ One of the things I hate most in life is having to discipline my children. ## [The $500 Bike Ride](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/the-500-bike-ride) _2026-08-15 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ That numerical value is not in reference to a medical bill or any kind of accident, it’s just an estimate for how much it cost to get six bikes up and running at the end of May. ## [Paul Didn’t Pray the Sinner’s Prayer](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/paul-didnt-pray-the-sinners-prayer) _2026-08-14 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Saul of Tarsus was still “breathing threats and murdering against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) when he went to the high priest for any information about followers of “the Way” so he could imprison them. ## [A Conversation with a Mormon](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-a-mormon) _2026-08-10 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ The other day I was home and heard a knock on the door. ## [Back-to-School To-Do List](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/back-to-school-to-do-list) _2026-08-08 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ What I need to make, find, and buy before next thursday ## [The Unbelief of Anxiety](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/the-unbelief-of-anxiety) _2026-08-07 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ I’ve begun reading John Piper’s book Battling Unbelief, and the first chapter is on anxiety. ## [Recipe PDFs Ready Fast (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/rnIMco5ic3V7) _2026-08-07 · **Sponsored**_ Turn online or personal recipes into clean, printable PDFs in seconds. ## [The Boldness of Common Men](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/the-boldness-of-common-men) _2026-08-03 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Learning from Peter and John in Acts 4 ## [Would my life be better without a car?](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/would-my-life-be-better-without-a) _2026-08-01 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ +August Family Update ## [An End-of-Summer Family Update](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/an-end-of-summer-family-update) _2026-07-31 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ I thought it was a good time for another family update since summer is ending/school is going to begin soon. ## [When Repetition is a Good Thing](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/when-repetition-is-a-good-thing) _2026-07-27 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ There are many contemporary Christian worship songs that, when used during Sunday service, are put on repeat to the end that they are simply mind-numbing. ## [He Causes the Dice to Land](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/he-causes-the-dice-to-land) _2026-07-24 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ There’s no such thing as “luck” ## [A Prayer for the Week](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/a-prayer-for-the-week) _2026-07-20 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Heavenly Father, ## [Why That House is Cleaner Than Yours](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/why-that-house-is-cleaner-than-yours) _2026-07-18 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ Because the people living in it make housekeeping related decisions faster than you do. ## [God is Sovereign at Work](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/god-is-sovereign-at-work) _2026-07-17 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ A few blogs back I mentioned there was something happening at my work that was making me anxious. ## [Low and Clear Fences](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/low-and-clear-fences) _2026-07-13 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ How to love other Christians in different denominations ## [Just Some Death Practice Ideas](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/just-some-death-practice-ideas) _2026-07-11 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ I saw a “happy death” before I ever heard the phrase. ## [Watch Chovy Code Live (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/CvfOUDLABy77) _2026-07-11 · **Sponsored**_ Join live coding streams with real-time collaborative screen sharing, open source and free. ## [Restore my Joy](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/restore-my-joy) _2026-07-10 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ I have been watching a podcast that Andy Mineo is on and he talked about something briefly that I think every Christian can relate to. ## [An Open Letter to Lecrae](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-to-lecrae) _2026-07-06 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Dear Lecrae, ## [Best Summer Ever—What’s Working, What I Need to Work On, and What Just Worked Out](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/best-summer-everwhats-working-what) _2026-07-04 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ +family update ## [You Were Washed](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/you-were-washed) _2026-07-03 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ There are a list of sins, of ungodly behaviors, that the Apostle Paul records in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that I think we should ponder. ## [One Year Since I Published Daily Calvinism](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/one-year-since-i-published-daily) _2026-06-29 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Sorry for the delay, friends. ## [My Absolute Top 5 Moments in Curious George](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/my-absolute-top-5-moments-in-curious) _2026-06-27 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ I have a toddler. ## [Going Deeper](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/going-deeper) _2026-06-26 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ “Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance…a deeper trust…a deeper knowledge of thyself…a deeper power in private prayer…\[and\] deeper holiness.” (Valley of Vision) ## [Random Thoughts on Creation](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/random-thoughts-on-creation) _2026-06-22 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ God created the universe in six literal 24-hour days. ## [Mama Maxima Culpa](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/mama-maxima-culpa) _2026-06-20 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ Whenever one of my children is in some kind of pain, my knee-jerk reaction is to blame myself. ## [No More than Pebbles](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/no-more-than-pebbles) _2026-06-19 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ I enjoy being liked. ## [International money transfers (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/djv89j3lCZmj) _2026-06-19 · **Sponsored**_ Send money to other countries and manage multi‑currency balances online. ## [Keep Praying about the “Small” Things](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/keep-praying-about-the-small-things) _2026-06-15 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ A brief story on persistent prayer ## [St. Anthony's Checklist](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/st-anthonys-checklist) _2026-06-13 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ Petitioner ID: Hinds Family, Case #00051020321 ## [The Ugliest Thing in the World](https://blakealong.substack.com/p/the-ugliest-thing-in-the-world) _2026-06-12 · Blake Long · Theology and Life_ Reflecting on a quote from Francis Schaeffer ## ["Lemonade and Popcorn" Summer](https://stilltoday.substack.com/p/lemonade-and-popcorn-summer) _2026-06-06 · Meredith Hinds · Still Today_ I named this summer after I cancelled the camping trip. ## [Teaching, Serving, Standing](https://ofreport.com/blog/2026-05-27-teaching-serving-standing/) _2026-05-27 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ January 16, 2026 — 8:50 am. We were seated in our blue Ford van, headed once again to the Polish border. Rebekah would soon turn 18, and so it was time to visit the Ukrainian consulate in Krakow to get her a visa. Anya, a Ukrainian friend, had come along for the ride. The morning was crisp; the roads, thankfully, clear. As the three of us sped toward the border, conversation lulled, and my mind… ## [Family Update and New Substack](https://ofreport.com/blog/2026-03-31-family-update-and-new-substack/) _2026-03-31 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ We’re excited about a new project Kelsie is launching over on Substack, where she plans to write on a monthly basis. She would be excited and honored if our blog readers, and in particular the women in our audience, would visit the link below and click Subscribe. There you’ll find a little more detail about her writing plans. Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from her family update… ## [25 Years in Ukraine](https://ofreport.com/blog/2026-03-18-25-years-in-ukraine/) _2026-03-18 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ Today marks exactly 25 years since I arrived in Ukraine to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary. I felt I could not let this day pass without expressing my gratefulness to the Lord and to the many friends and family who have walked with me through this journey. ## [We Survived!](https://ofreport.com/blog/2026-03-11-we-survived/) _2026-03-11 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ It’s been a minute, but yes, we’re still here in Ukraine! Sometimes it’s hard to be a missionary and keep up with telling everybody how it’s going. We’ve fallen behind on reporting, so today I’m posting a whirlwind tour of the past several months. A more detailed newsletter is in the works, but in the meantime, here’s what we’ve been up to and what God has been doing in our ministry. ## [Announcing Ukraine Gospel Outreach](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-08-31-announcing-ukraine-gospel-outreach/) _2025-08-31 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ One of the fundamental principles we taught our CMO teams was this: methods may change, but the message remains the same. That message — the Gospel of Jesus Christ — transcends cultures and languages, remaining constant across the centuries, and offering salvation to anyone who believes. As Christians, our calling is to take this good news to the world, whether at home or abroad, and challenge our… ## [Bible Course, Books to Press, and a Birthday Girl!](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-07-29-bible-course-books-to-press-birthday-girl/) _2025-07-29 · Kelsie Steele · OFReport.com_ Here’s a peek into our last few weeks. First up, Bible First Online has been getting some TLC! Designed to help students know God through His Word, the Bible First Lessons and the Bible First Online web application have been a core part of our ministry for years. ## [Speaking into the Struggle](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-07-06-speaking-into-the-struggle/) _2025-07-06 · Kelsie Steele · OFReport.com_ Last week we experienced the largest missile and drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the war, spending most of Saturday night/Sunday morning in our hallway. We are thankful for God’s protection; our area was not hit, though explosions could be heard throughout the night. After catching only a couple hours sleep, Joshua delivered the Sunday morning sermon! Church carried on as normal,… ## [Before the Curtain Closes](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-04-23-before-the-curtain-closes/) _2025-04-23 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ Our team of four barely fit into a mid-size Ford van, which we had packed from floor to ceiling with supplies: bread, aid boxes, rice, and cases of the Bible comic book Good and Evil. After hours of travel from Lviv in the west, passing through Zhytomyr and Kyiv in the north, we entered the flat, open plains of Ukraine’s southern regions. Gone were the urban centers and smooth highways; in their… ## [When is Daddy Coming Home?](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-04-07-when-is-daddy-coming-home/) _2025-04-07 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ “When is Daddy coming home?” This is a question all children ask, and it points to a promise all good parents make. Kelsie and I have said it countless times to our children “Mommy and Daddy will always come back.” Yet, no matter how we long to reassure our little ones, we know that our power to fulfill that promise is limited. Tragically, there are times when life takes away our promise, times… ## [The November Project](https://ofreport.com/blog/2025-02-24-the-november-project/) _2025-02-24 · Joshua Steele · OFReport.com_ It all began with a phone call from Ben Sargent. Ben serves on our board of directors with Euro Team Outreach, and for some time, we’d been planning for him to visit Ukraine. The goal had been to brainstorm and plan future ministry projects. But now Ben had a new idea. “Josh, when I get there, I want you to find me an interpreter and a vehicle to take me close to the front so I can preach the…