Image: Erich Hartmann/Magnum Photos. From https://www.city-journal.org/article/with-meaning-for-all After decades of taking my Bible to church every Sunday, I found myself bringing only my phone. One reason is that I have surrounded myself with chronological Bibles, which are AMAZING to read, but difficult to use during a sermon because chronological Bibles are not printed in a predictableContinue reading “Memorial Stones. Deuteronomy 27.”
Category Archives: Memorize scripture
Lullaby and Goodnight: What’s Your Bedtime Routine? Micah 2:1.
My childhood music minister Gerald B. Ray died at 92 recently and I was pleased to be able to attend the service celebrating his extraordinary life. His daughter Kristy shared that her father was in the habit of reciting the 23rd Psalm each night as he went to sleep. While he was in hospice care,Continue reading “Lullaby and Goodnight: What’s Your Bedtime Routine? Micah 2:1.”
Replace Self-Affirmations with God’s Affirmations. Psalm 139.
Are you familiar with self-affirmation? Merriam-Webster defines SELF-AFFIRMATION as “the act of affirming one’s own worthiness and value as an individual.” An article[1] online reports real-life examples of celebrity self-affirmations: Lizzo says, “I started talking to my belly this year.” Every day she tells her belly the following: “You deserve all the space in theContinue reading “Replace Self-Affirmations with God’s Affirmations. Psalm 139.”
MEMORIZE: Replace Your Thoughts With God’s Thoughts! Jeremiah 15:16.
Imagine with me: You are an unhappy young person, low-key depressed. You think you are happy, maybe, at least while scrolling on your phone. But all you get on social media is ads and sales pitches from influencers and pointless videos of car crashes, street fighting, two kids dancing, concert clips, comedy clips, storytellers goingContinue reading “MEMORIZE: Replace Your Thoughts With God’s Thoughts! Jeremiah 15:16.”
Praise: Talk to God About His Greatness, Part 2 of 2. Job 19:25-27.
Suffering is a universal truth of life. Everyone suffers, whether rich or poor, powerful or weak. As Jesus said, “He … causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust” Matthew 5:45. Suffering does not become easier as you get older. When it hurts, it hurts! But handling suffering becomes easier—because with experience,Continue reading “Praise: Talk to God About His Greatness, Part 2 of 2. Job 19:25-27.”
“My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge” Hosea 4:6.
On the day you were born, our society began pushing knowledge and education on you: Knowledge is Power. Readers are Leaders. Teach a Man to Fish … But to whom does that apply? Does everyone need education? Yes. Everyone needs an education appropriate to the culture in which they will live. A Tibetan proverb says,Continue reading ““My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge” Hosea 4:6.”
THE ART OF LANGUAGE. Psalm 46.
How powerful are WORDS? Visual art can capture scenes and moods, whether an epic war or a domestic still life. Music uses sound to capture emotions, and it runs the gamut from light comedy to epic drama. Art, music, dance, and even the art of cooking can convey emotions and some simple ideas. But onlyContinue reading “THE ART OF LANGUAGE. Psalm 46.”
Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8
Boys in the ‘70s and ‘80s loved to jump ramps. We would lay a post on the ground and nail one end of a piece of scrap plywood to it, and voila! a ramp. Most of these were rudimentary, made from found wood that we dragged home from someone’s trash. Some of the ramps wereContinue reading “Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8”
My Favorite Verse. Romans 8:28
I suppose most of us have a favorite Bible verse. Since high school I have considered Romans 8:28 my favorite. “For we know that God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good in the lives of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” I love the reassurance—no matter what happens,Continue reading “My Favorite Verse. Romans 8:28”
FOLLOWING GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
God called me to law school. I could not ignore that powerful voice: I knew it was Him and I felt His reassurance every day. I was excited but I knew it would be tough. A year later I was well into my first semester and challenges came fast and hot. A year after that,Continue reading “FOLLOWING GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.”
Household Words: 