My previous post addressed the importance of a template to help us stay on track with personal Bible study. Today, I’ll share some considerations and tools that help us get the most out of our study. To gain insight into Biblical truth, we want to ask three basic questions of the passage we are studying. The first … Read More
In my last two blogs, I have addressed the issue of spiritual illiteracy. (You can read them here and here.) Many Christians do not know the Bible like they think they know it. The reason for this alarming illiteracy is a lack of personal Bible study. We have the Bible available to us in so many readable translations. Many people have access … Read More
Here we are again. The start of a New Year. A couple of things over the last month have put me in a pondering mood at the onset of 2023. My 58th birthday on December 9 reminded me that I have come a long way. Then a week off after Christmas gave me time to reflect back and think forward. … Read More
My uncle recently posted a quote on Facebook that captured my thoughts: “God is in control, but he doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.” With so many issues in life, people tend to gravitate toward extremes. And, if we aren’t careful, we do the same when living out our faith. We … Read More
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8 In prayer meeting she reported that the medical test came back negative. The recipient breathed a sigh of relief and proclaimed, “God is good!” She told her best friend about an unexpected financial windfall that came just as some unexpected bills … Read More
July 2, 2022 is the half-way mark of the year. It hardly seems 182 days ago that we set some spiritual goals for the year, and now provides us a great opportunity to check where we stand with those goals. The half-way point gives us a reference point from which to gauge our progress with … Read More
This week’s Monday Motivation video from Tommy Newberry included a quote from his father that set me to thinking. “Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.” (Click here to view the video.) We face opportunities the new year affords, so I want to challenge you again to live intentionally. I … Read More
Despite the celebrations, New Year’s Day is only another day on our endless trip around the Sun. But a new year is also an opportunity to write a new chapter in the story arc of our lives. One of the most important story arcs involves our spiritual growth. I hope that you set some goals to be more … Read More
Christmas is over and the un-decorating now begins, making room for all of the new gifts we received for Christmas. How do we repack the ornaments? Where we store the lights? And what we do with the nativity scene? As you put the decorations away, let me challenge you to intentionally leave one of the items … Read More
On January 3, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) opened the US House of Representative’s first session of 2021 with prayer. In addition to being a member of the House, Rep. Cleaver is also a United Methodist Minister. The last line of his prayer created a firestorm of controversy. His prayer, however, revealed a bigger problem for Christians … Read More
