8/31/2024 – Behold the Man
Open in New Tab Here Behold the Man A bible program I often use opens with Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening entry for the day. The evening entry for July 22 titled, Behold the Man, opened with this striking statement: If there be one place where our Lord Jesus most fully
Read More...8/23/24
Open in New Tab Here 1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so
Read More...8/16/2024 – Darwin and I at the Ophthalmologist
Open in New Tab Here Darwin and I at the Ophthalmologist For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Rom. 1:20 Sometimes, as I permit
Read More...8/02/2024
Open in New Tab Here For a long time now I have been fascinated with the many questions found in the book of Job. Because of this, I have determined to consider these questions one by one as I have the opportunity to write the weekly pastoral encouragement in the months and years
Read More...7/26/2024-For the Sake of Your Goodness, O Lord!
Open in New Tab Here For the Sake of Your Goodness, O Lord! I didn’t know much about Ranger School before my son Simeon joined the Army. But because he is now on his second attempt to complete the program, I understand much more now. As of today, he will
Read More...7/19/2024 – Making Sense of it All
Open in New Tab Here Making Sense of it All My Grandson Wesley wrote the following to me on Wednesday: “Nampa, The world seems ablaze now more than ever after the Trump assassination attempt. I’ve been disheartened by all of it. Even in casual conversation, coworkers and acquaintances mention wishing
Read More...7/12/2024
Open in New Tab Here He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Ps. 147:4 ESV The concert between science and Scripture always brings me joy. For example, the book of Job has several detailed statements of such scientific accuracy that they bear
Read More...7/3/2024
Open in New Tab Here Tomorrow is the 4th of July and Americans across the globe will be unfurling their flags and rolling out their grills. We gather together to celebrate the victory of a provincial gaggle of conflicted colonies over the dominant world power of the 18th and 19th
Read More...6/28/2024 – Running the Race
Open in New Tab Here Running the Race “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Heb. 12: 1 I have been having breakfast with Christian brothers one day per week since my retirement about 25 years ago. The cast of diners has changed over time.
Read More...6/24/2024
Open in New Tab Here “You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter” Psalm 74:17 Are you enjoying your first days of summer? The warm, long-lit days to feel the heat and take in their delights. Every winter and early spring while still
Read More...6/14/2024
Open in New Tab Here “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 My 3rd oldest daughter Emma graduated last week and on Sunday I have the privilege of leading Berean’s annual baby dedication. Naturally, I’m reflecting on just how fast 18
Read More...6/7/2024 – The Priest with Dirty Clothes
Open in New Tab Here The Priest with Dirty Clothes Have you ever accidentally picked up a stick or log by an old fire only to realize that it had turned to charcoal? Ugh! Unless you drop everything and thoroughly clean your hands, you will stain everything you touch. Removing
Read More...5/31/2024-Lighthearted Confessions of a Deadliner
Open in New Tab Here Lighthearted Confessions of a Deadliner 1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. In sharp and unflattering contrast to myself, my lovely spouse is a hard worker. Now that she is
Read More...5/24/2024-The Beautiful Bride
Open in New Tab Here The Beautiful Bride Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”– for the fine linen
Read More...5/17/2024
Open in New Tab Here Psalm 33:20–22 (ESV): 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we
Read More...5/10/2024-Thresholds: A Line in the Grass
Open in New Tab Here Thresholds: A Line in the Grass There can be little doubt about it now: I am an old man! It has been a hard thing to accept, but the unavoidable truth is setting in. It is unwelcome. I am disposed to follow the inclination of
Read More...5/3/2024
Open in New Tab Here Romans 7:14 – “but I am of the flesh, sold under sin” “Concupiscence” is my word of the day. Did you know we all battle concupiscence every day? Paul did and told us why in the text above. What is this you might be saying? Concupiscence is
Read More...4/19/24-Supervised Salvation
Open in New Tab Here Supersized Salvation How many of you remember when you had your first supersized meal from your local fast food joint? Or perhaps you rode your bike to the local Seven 11 and were delighted to find that you could supersize your Slurpee to 128 ounces.
Read More...4/12/24- Growing Old
Open in New Tab Here Growing Old Prov. 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” This week I find myself testing a pair of hearing aids. The event has triggered in me what Longfellow might have
Read More...4/5/2024
Open in New Tab Here Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Psalms 111:2 ESV In my daily Bible reading plan, Psalm 111 was on the list for yesterday. It is one of my favorites, probably because of verse 2 (above) that clearly
Read More...7/25/2025 – Traveling Light
Open in New Tab Here Traveling Light 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. Genesis 13:18 KJV Next month, Jackie and I will have been married 65 years. We are both closer now to
Read More...7/19/2025
Open in New Tab Here And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Read More...7/11/2025 – Work Reimagined
Open in New Tab Here Work Reimagined I recently read a short but interesting article on AI and the future of work. In “Work Reimagined: How AI Could Usher in a New Age of Human Artisanship[1],” Pavan Muzumdar argues that AI just might be our avenue to more meaningful, creative,
Read More...7/2/2025 – True Freedom
Open in New Tab Here July 4th Devotional: True Freedom “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36 (ESV) As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Yet, as believers, we’re reminded that our
Read More...6/21/2025
Open in new tab here 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:10 In the midst of severe suffering, Job answered his
Read More...6/13/2025 – Get in the Boat
Open in New Tab Here Get in the Boat Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side… Mark 6:45 During the years when I had the privilege of being an active elder at our church, I took what my Sunday School class must have
Read More...6/6/2025
Open in New Tab Here If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to
Read More...5/30/2025 – An Encouragement to Pray Psalm 139 (ESV)
Open in New Tab Here An Encouragement to Pray Psalm 139 (ESV) “My Swiss Army Knife for Life and Prayer” Sometimes we struggle to know how to pray, especially in moments of deep joy, sorrow, confusion, or fatigue. The words don’t come easily. That’s when Scripture becomes our framework, a steady guide,
Read More...5/16/2025 – The Fall of Spring
Open in New Tab Here The Fall of Spring While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Gen. 8:22 Perhaps it is some failing of perception on my part, but I do not note so great an antagonism between the
Read More...5/10/2025
Open in New Tab Here “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” Genesis 2:18 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a “This mystery is
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