Steven Wales

STREET THEATER. Ezekiel 3:3; 4:1-17.

You’ve seen the guy painted silver who pretends to be a statue. And the juggler with bowling pins, the guy who “swallows” flaming swords, the magicians, drummers, and tap dancers in the French Quarter. Street theater is nothing like THEATER-theater. It’s not a play—there’s no script, and usually a cast of only one. Often there’sContinue reading “STREET THEATER. Ezekiel 3:3; 4:1-17.”

LOOKING UP FROM THE BOTTOM.

Remember Oscar the Grouch? He lived at the bottom of a trash can on Sesame Street–and somehow he was happy there. I always thought he had sunk about as low as anyone could. Have you reached the bottom? Different people have different bottoms. For one, a single failure in school or bad performance review on theContinue reading “LOOKING UP FROM THE BOTTOM.”

SCHOOL IS NOT PUNISHMENT.

I was unhappy in high school. And I was not the only one. Sharpstown High School had all the worst problems of American high schools, from drugs to riots to shootings. And for several months one year, someone phoned-in bomb threats nearly every day. The first time it happened it was funny and exciting, aContinue reading “SCHOOL IS NOT PUNISHMENT.”

TWO QUESTIONS. Lamentations 3:31-33.

QUESTION #1. Can you name this villain? To what cruel person do the following verses refer? “He is a bear waiting in ambush, a lion in hiding. He forced me off my way and tore me to pieces. He left me desolate. He strung his bow and set me as the target for his arrows.Continue reading “TWO QUESTIONS. Lamentations 3:31-33.”

JESUS CHRIST: THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. Lamentations 3:25-33; Hebrews 13:8; 1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:9.

Homer Simpson is confused about God: “He’s always happy. No wait. He’s always mad.” Which is it? Have you heard people argue God is always mad in the Old Testament, but always loving in the New? God never changes. God judges sin. You reap what you sow—both the good and the bad. He judges sin,Continue reading “JESUS CHRIST: THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. Lamentations 3:25-33; Hebrews 13:8; 1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:9.”

Is the Bible Too Long for You?

There’s a fascinating verse at the end of the Gospel of John: And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. John 21:25. What a way to end the story! It’sContinue reading “Is the Bible Too Long for You?”

Every Morning: New Mercy from God! Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s faithful love, we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23. —Great promise after pages and pages about God’s judgment. He will punish sin. We do reap what we sow. But He is merciful too. Praise the Lord for that!Continue reading “Every Morning: New Mercy from God! Lamentations 3:22-23”

A PARENT’S PRAYER FOR GREATER FAITH. Mark 9:24.

One of my favorite verses on prayer has always been, “Lord, I believe; please help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24. I love this verse because the speaker tells Jesus, “Yes, I believe!” and immediately admits he is also struggling with doubt: “help my unbelief!” I love that honesty—and I think God loves it too. Have youContinue reading ” A PARENT’S PRAYER FOR GREATER FAITH. Mark 9:24.”

“DON’T LET THE WORLD SQUEEZE YOU INTO ITS MOLD.” Romans 12:1-2.

This is good advice: Do not be confirmed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [through God’s Word], so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect. Romans 12:1-2. Does your mind conform to the mind of the world? HaveContinue reading ““DON’T LET THE WORLD SQUEEZE YOU INTO ITS MOLD.” Romans 12:1-2.”

STEP BACK. Jeremiah 51:6,45.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, God might strike me down for saying this, but, I think the Yankees might lose,” and then everyone listening steps back, as if there’s a chance God might actually send a lightning bolt? The old cliché always strikes me as silly and a bit irreverent. God will notContinue reading “STEP BACK. Jeremiah 51:6,45.”