Arrival in Heaven

Featured / pastorpete51 / 21 Comments

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”

Confessions of a Tree Climber

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
The climbing ropes and spikes and saddle
No longer sit up on my shelves
My high boots, saws, and brace and bit
Now live with someone else

Yet while I dream of times so long - long past
I still feel December’s cutting wind
And the pellets of its icy rain
That soaked me to the skin

But God reminds me to recall
The lilacs sweet in bloom
The sight of swallows on the breeze
Our boys sleeping in their room

And that of all the trees so high
That I have climbed before
None were as high as that lone tree
Where Christ gave all for me
For all God had in store


Confessions of a Tree Climber
Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026 all rights reserved



Running to the Finish Line

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7

Sharing this message at Life Care Center last week was a moving experience for me, both as I watched the faces of the residents and thought back over the years of God’s grace and faithfulness in my own race. In long-term care, we have so very few minutes to share the message of Jesus. Each minute matters. Run your race, not someone else’s, and be patient with the other runners. Run with all your strength. There is not another life in which you can give your best. Today is the day of salvation, healing and deliverance, and another day on this planet is not promised. Last of all, we are not running to the finish line. We are running to Jesus who waits beyond the end of our race. He is calling out, “Don’t give up! Don’t turn back! You can do it!” And He waits with the crown of righteousness, not only for those we consider, “The Saints”, but as Paul says, in 2 Timothy 4:8 “For all those who love His appearing.” I pray that the seven short minutes of this video will be an encouragement, a challenge and a blessing. Have a great week everybody!