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.”
Tag Archives: Invest in yourself by memorizing scripture
Paul, the Great Teacher of Grace, Did Not Hesitate to Place Great Demands on Christian Behavior; Good Behavior is Not Legalism. Galatians 5:4.
“I spent my whole education degree studying how Jesus taught. He never asked anyone to memorize anything.” That was my friend James talking. James is focused on grace. He only reads the New Testament. He says things like, “Well, I’m not really an Old Testament guy.” James considers the idea of spiritual disciplines to beContinue reading “Paul, the Great Teacher of Grace, Did Not Hesitate to Place Great Demands on Christian Behavior; Good Behavior is Not Legalism. Galatians 5:4.”
DISCIPLESHIP: Grow With G.R.A.M.P.S. Deuteronomy 2.
“Steven, you got a telephone call,” my dad announced one Saturday morning. He was oddly excited about it, eager to tell me the whole story. I had just crawled out of bed, a college student coming in the kitchen at 9 o’clock looking for some cereal. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” “Well, he calledContinue reading “DISCIPLESHIP: Grow With G.R.A.M.P.S. Deuteronomy 2.”
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.”
“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.”
ARE YOU ENTITLED? Busy David and Lazy David. 2 Samuel 11:1.
David on the Balcony. Picture generated by A.I. One morning during a series of wars, two military men had an interesting conversation: “Haven’t you been on a long journey? Last night you finally arrived in town. Why didn’t you go home and see your wife?” “The ark, and Israel, and Judah are living in tents.Continue reading “ARE YOU ENTITLED? Busy David and Lazy David. 2 Samuel 11:1.”
PROUD TO BE IGNORANT. Acts 7:22.
Have you noticed the way some Christians are proud to be uneducated? Preachers will say things like “well, I’m just a poor country preacher, but …” and you can tell they wear that badge with pride. Pride in your own ignorance is a classic example of anti-intellectualism, and it has deep roots in the AmericanContinue reading “PROUD TO BE IGNORANT. Acts 7:22.”
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”
MADE TO WORSHIP, MADE TO SERVE. Romans 6.
God gave us two deeply rooted drives: We are (1) driven to worship and (2) driven to serve. Everyone worships—some worship God, some worship idols, money, dreams, or themselves. Similarly, everyone serves. Some serve God, some serve their appetites. The Bible uses another word for “serve” and that is “SLAVE.” You can be a slaveContinue reading “MADE TO WORSHIP, MADE TO SERVE. Romans 6.”
Household Words: 