Hi! My name is Scott, Scott Volltrauer. During the fall of 2019, Bob and Judy invited my wife and me to join them in their home. That week we recorded some precious times of Bob reading excerpts of his writings.* Later that week, we gathered with some family members for lunch. Bob and those gathered […]
WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE? (How Many Sel
We now consider, finally, The Eternal Self for the people of God. This glorious, culminating phase of existence for every redeemed man, woman, and child will begin just after the great judgment and will never end. It is as certain as – far more certain than – tomorrow’s sunrise and the wetness of rain, because […]
HOW WILL GOD JUDGE BELIEVERS? How Many S...
This is the fourth segment of our series on what is called “the self” – who and what a person is at their core. You and I are unique selves, as are all who live, and have lived, on the earth. We exist individually, even though we are part of a certain cultural milieu that […]
WILL THE DEAD RISE? How Many Selves Are
This is the third installment of a series on “the self” – the identity, character, or essential qualities of a person. Each of us is a “self,” and we move through the years of life as a unique person. There has never been, nor ever will be, another you! Others on this planet may be […]
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH? How Many Selv...
This is part two of a study of the human “self”: the identity, character, essential qualities, and total “being” of a person. The self is who one “is” at their core, first of all materially (bodily) but also, as time passes, who one is as a developed human being: body, mind, will, emotions, relatability, likes […]
How Many Selves Are There?
Recently, my wife’s 95 year-old mother went to be with her Lord in glory. Judy’s much-loved mom, Blanche Engevik, was a faithful, delightful, and unselfish servant of God. Judy is the second of eight children, all still living, who miss their mother greatly, but rejoice in her homegoing. Blanche’s passing led me to think about […]
Why are the Rakestraw’s asking for praye
Why are the Rakestraw’s asking for prayer? Rakestraw Prayer Request (12-12-18) Grace Quest Ministries Update from Bob Rakestraw I have been holding back from writing for way too long, because I haven’t wanted to complain and I haven’t wanted to bring others down. Life has been hard over the past several months, but I didn’t […]
Where Are the Rakestraws?
Where Are the Rakestraws? Ponderings, No.8 (June 14, 2018) Robert V. Rakestraw, PhD Early in March, 2018, Bob and Judy Rakestraw and Grace Quest Ministries (GQM) moved from Minneapolis to Phoenix. The GQM International Headquarters has a new address: 3033 E. Thunderbird Rd., #1056, Phoenix, AZ 85032. Their email address remains the same: bob@gracequestministries.org. They […]
The Rakestraws Are Moving South! Ponderi...
The Rakestraws Are Moving South! Ponderings, No. 7 (February 6, 2018) Robert V. Rakestraw, PhD Where are the Rakestraw’s Moving? Judy and I will be moving to Phoenix on March 4. Since early September, 2017, I have known that a major change was in our near future. Worsening health for both of us (Judy’s Alzheimer’s […]
Some Beautiful Things
Some Beautiful Things “God is the only uncreated beauty. Although he is beautiful beyond description, we do well to ponder some of the qualities of our great God.” Robert V. Rakestraw, PhD Originally published on Decmber 30, 2010 at “The Benediction Project” http://bobrakestraw.blogspot.com I’m sick and tired of ugly—anything and everything ugly. I’m sick of violence, war, famine, […]