The Daily Breadcast

Agape Love (Cluster 2)

Sat, 16 May 2026 17:00:57 +0000

What does the Bible really mean when it speaks about Agape love? In this episode, we explore a powerful cluster of Scriptures that reveal the depth, character, and purpose of agape—the selfless, sacrificial love that comes from God. By walking through key Bible verses, we see how agape love is demonstrated by God toward humanity and how believers are called to reflect that same love toward others. Join us and listen to these passages and discover how this divine love transforms relationships, shapes our faith, and reflects the very nature of God.

#AgapeLove #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalLove #GodIsLove #FaithPodcast #ScriptureStudy #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #LoveInAction #FaithAndLife #SpiritualGrowth #BibleVerses #ChristianTeaching

What did Jesus mean? - A Very Ritchie Series (No.33)

Thu, 14 May 2026 02:00:09 +0000

“If you love me, keep my commandments”?

John records two incidents where Jesus makes this statement, John 14:15 and 15:10. In John 14 Phillip had asked “show us the Father…” Jesus answers and includes this statement. In John 15 Jesus speaks of the vine and branches, the relationship between himself and his disciples. What Jesus is instructing?

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Man's Anger vs. God's Anger (Cluster 1)

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:02 +0000

What does the Bible say about anger? In this episode, we examine a powerful cluster of Scriptures that contrast the anger of man with the anger of God. While human anger often springs from pride, frustration, and selfish motives, God’s anger is always rooted in holiness, justice, and righteousness. By looking at several passages throughout the Bible, we explore how Scripture warns believers about the dangers of uncontrolled anger while also revealing the purpose and perfection of God’s righteous wrath. Join us as we unveil these verses and observe this contrast so we can shape the way we respond to conflict, injustice, and sin.

#BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #ScriptureStudy #BiblicalTeaching #GodsWrath #RighteousAnger #FaithPodcast #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianGrowth #FaithAndTruth #BibleVerses #ChristianLiving #SpiritualFormation #TheologyMatters

God is So Distant - A Very Ritchie Series (No.32)

Thu, 07 May 2026 02:00:03 +0000

God is so distant!

How real is God to me? God, the Almighty, the Creator seems too far above me, so beyond understanding that He seems unreal. So distant that He seems more like a historical character than a person. That’s how many people feel. God is more a concept than a person. I think that is one reason why Jesus was sent to earth. God becoming flesh, personal, real!

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

What Does The Wonderful Counselor, The Prince of Peace, Say To Do, John?

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:21 +0000

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say? Luke 6:46

So… According to the record in John, what does our Lord say to do?

Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!

unless one is born again, he cannot...

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

A Father's Gift - A Very Ritchie Series (No.31)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000

A Fathers Gift

Harold Hugh Ritchie was born June 1932 in Port Arthur, Texas. There wasn’t anything particularly grand about his birth or place where he was born. He grew up in the shadow of an older sister like any boy, rough and tumble. His father worked for a furniture store at that time but soon began to work for “The Texas Company” (as grandad used to call it) which became Texaco. Due to Lillian’s health (Harold’s mother) they moved to Long Beach, California. But she passed away not long after arriving. Things quickly changed with the addition of a stepmother and stepbrother. Harold grew up in Southern California playing football, softball, riding motorcycles and working at a Japanese Nursery.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

The Chronicles of Willard P Franklin Continue.

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:48:25 +0000

What’s going on with Willard, you say…

Over the weeks following Willard’s job change, Elise found herself thinking more about her own life and choices. Watching him act quietly, deliberately, and faithfully—even when it cost him—had left a mark she could no longer ignore.

One Sunday morning, she arrived at the church earlier than usual like she had done a while back. The sunlight still streamed through the windows, the pews gleaming softly, and again, she felt a real pause settle over her. She opened her notebook and wrote down what had been on her mind for months: questions, fears, regrets, and hopes.

#chroniclesofwillard #willardpfrankin #willard #franklin #baptism

When We Leave

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:00:53 +0000

At the end of Steve Carrell’s time on the TV show “The Office,” his last episode ends with him leaving to go to Colorado to meet his soon to be wife a day earlier than everyone thought he was leaving. During the episode, he tries to bond with each person in his or their own special way. Well, at the end, it’s nearing 4:00 when he is about to head to the airport and only Jim figures out that it’s his last day. Michael turns after he puts on his overcoat and stares across the office looking at all his office mates one last time. They are obliviously continuing their work, as you would expect if there was nothing you suspected was different. No one looked at him except to say have a good night, or see you tomorrow or whatever departing salutation you’d say to someone you’d expect to see again. Then Jim looked at him and gave him the head nod of approval to get on out of there.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Entropy of the Universe - A Very Ritchie Series (No.30)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000

Entropy increases over time in any system. That is the essential of the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy is a funny word. It means disorder, lack of order or predictability, the gradual decline into disorder. So, increasing entropy means progressively increasing disorder. Seems contradictory, doesn’t it! An oxymoron. But this “law” is observed everywhere. That’s why a hot cup of coffee cools and a cold glass of tea warms.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

What Does The Son of the Living God, Jesus of Nazareth, Say To Do, Luke?

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0000

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say? Luke 6:46

So… According to the record in Luke, what does our Lord say to do?

Beginning at the end of chapter 2. He says that he himself needs to be about the Father’s business, so if we’re following Him, then we too need to be about the Father’s business.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by...

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Problem Resolution - A Very Ritchie Series (No.29)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:00:18 +0000

How many times have you been in a situation where problems disrupted relationships, even destroyed them? Events of life where people hurt, insulted, or wronged with resulting friction in relationships? Others may have hurt me, or I may have been the weapon that injured them, it does not matter; damaged relationships result. God provides some specific principals to help us begin reconciliation. I realize that a short article will not provide all the information needed to solve them, God wrote an entire book on the subject.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Daily Tormenting Yourself

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:00:44 +0000

“(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,” ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬

How much does it seem like you can relate to Lot?

We’re in a world (or society) that is corrupt to its core. We see division, lust, greed, pride, lovers of self, etc… all over the place. We have devices that promote self-indulgence into whatever we want, and how much do you suppose it’s used for the Glory of God?! We have our “wisest” among us that say to speak “your truth” and that “perspective is reality” and all manner of other idioms or colloquialisms that keep you tethered to self and make it hard to look any further than yourself. Satan’s greatest tactic, convince you that you can rely solely on yourself and not even consider that he is working on you.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Unconditional Love - A Very Ritchie Series (No.28)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:00:26 +0000

We hear this term used often, and it is true. We love others even when they hurt us and care for them when they are in pain. We hurt when they hurt and are joyful when they are. We sit by bedsides, have sleepless nights, spend untold amounts of time and money to help and aid. Compassion for those we love runs deep, sometimes overwhelming reason.

Love is that quality of compassionate care which never tires of taking the initiative to sacrificially give its best for the godly wellbeing of others regardless of who they are or how they respond. Consequently, giving love to others is not limited to or inhibited by anything. In this manner, love is unconditional. Scriptures clearly teach that God loves every person, planning and working towards everyone’s salvation (John 3:16). Therefore, if we are emulating God, we give our love to everyone in the same manner as He, freely (1 John 4:7-21).

#heisrisen #easter #christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

The Lord's Infirmary

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:30 +0000

Can a soldier of Christ be wounded?

What can happen to untreated wounds?

Turning again towards the enemy.

What stage in your recovery process are you in?

Jesus is the Great Physician!

How can I help others who are wounded?

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

The Big Bang - A Very Ritchie Series (No.27)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:00:54 +0000

The Big Bang

I believe in The Big Bang. One day there will be a Big Bang and everything we know will be annihilated, destroyed to atoms, returned to the nothing from which God made it. I may be present when this extraordinary event occurs, or I may not. But it will happen. God has promised.

Peter uses this fact to stimulate believers into a specific line of thought. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” (2 Peter 3:10-12).

#heisrisen #easter #christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

What Does Jesus My Lord Say To Do, Mark?

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:00:15 +0000

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say? Luke 6:46

What does our Lord say to do?

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Blessing or Calamity - A Very Ritchie Series (No.26)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:00:22 +0000

The Proverb writer records, “Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity,” Proverbs 28:14. Why is the one who fears the Lord blessed and calamity the property of the one with a hard heart? In life it doesn’t seem to be universally true that those who faithfully follow God are always blessed nor does it seem to happen that hard hearted people are always in trouble. Sometimes, it appears to be just the opposite. Job excruciates over this seeming disparity. What is the Proverb writer telling us?

The understanding of this proverb is based on knowing that Proverbs are not universal truths. They are generalizations of life, observations, not statements of absolute truth. It is also necessary to understand what God means for us to be blessed or to endure calamity.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

What Does King Jesus Says To Do, Matthew?

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:00:52 +0000

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say? Luke 6:46

So... What does our Lord say to do?

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Holiness - A Very Ritchie Series (No.25)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:00:55 +0000

Holiness is not something we think of much. And when we do, we usually apply that to God alone. So, what is holiness? What does it mean to be holy?

The Hebrew word is qadosh meaning “sacred” or “set apart.” The Greek word is hagios with the same meaning. Holiness is the quality of being holy, the quality of being sacred, set apart, or blameless.

The idea of set apart or blameless fits very well in passages such as Isaiah 6, Revelation 4 and 22, or Ephesians 1 where being holy is a description of God and his followers. They each are set apart and blameless, unique in every way.

As we are to emulate God, we are commanded to be holy as He is holy. The best passage in Scripture which describes how we are to practice holiness is 1 Peter 1:13-19. Let’s break this down into action steps.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Prayer Expectations

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 17:00:16 +0000

I’ve been wrestling with this one.

It’s begun to seem to me that there are times when I begin to put limits on God, and then suppose I know what God is going to do. For instance, I pray to have a good game at soccer and then I’ll say to God “you probably don’t even care about the outcome” because it’s a silly game. I mean… that makes sense to me, there is seemingly no direct connection between God’s will and my request for a good game.

However, I don’t know if that's a doubt, but there are times when I begin to wonder if maybe that is actually me doubting that my request will be addressed. But seriously, who am I to suppose that I am confident enough to know that something either matters or doesn’t matter to God.

Why do I do that?

How arrogant?!

My pride infiltrates my prayer or my reason to pray. My ignorance poses as knowledge. My immaturity on display and me too blind to even realize it.

James 1:7 if I doubt, then I shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:5 arrogance is hated by God, it’s an abomination

Claiming you know what God will or won’t do, why even pray?!

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

No Law - A Very Ritchie Series (No.24)

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:00:22 +0000

No Law

I have said this for many years; where there is no enforcement, there is no law. Every year that passes, the more obvious this becomes.

Examples of this are everywhere, especially from the consequences of health and social events of the past few years. Have you been sitting at a red light, it turns green, and someone flies through the intersection in front of you? There is a stop sign and many just do not stop. The sign on the door of the business says “EXIT” and people walk into the store through that door. No one stops them, no one corrects. Where there is no enforcement, there is no law.

#christjesus #love #pray #prayer #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

The Battle for our Loyalty: Fun & Entertainment

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:52 +0000

WHAT DOES LOYALTY LOOK LIKE?

CONSISTENT
DEPENDABLE
TRUSTWORTHY
COMMITMENT SHOWN THROUGH ACTION
INVOLVES:
HONESTY
PROMISE KEEPING or KEEPING YOU WORD
SHOWING UP REGARDLESS IF IT’S TOUGH
PRIORITIZING
DEFENDING THEM (WHOMEVER YOU’RE LOYAL TO)
WORKING THROUGH STRUGGLE RATHER THAN ABANDONING AMIDST THE STRUGGLE

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT THAT CREATE OR GIVE US PLEASURE… THINGS THAT COULD REPLACE OUR LOYALTY TO GOD

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PURSUE PLEASURE?

WHEN DOES OUR PURSUIT OF PLEASURE TURN INTO IDOLATRY?

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE AN IDOLATOR TODAY?

What effect could a pursuit of pleasure have on our work for the Lord?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Results - A Very Ritchie Series (No.23)

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:00:53 +0000

“For the joy set before him…”

In chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he explains joy’s source. Joy is not found in happiness, pleasure or fun. Joy comes from a forward focus upon tasks that produce long term blessings, both for self and others. We see this all around us. We make our kids do certain things (even when they do not want to) knowing the results for them will be beneficial. We do this with employees or fellow workers. We instruct or ask to have things done a certain way knowing the best results. Many times, in all these circumstances, we do not explain our reasoning, only that the work is done in the manner instructed.

As Paul explains in Philippians 2, Jesus becomes the supreme example of joy due to that forward focus. In Hebrews 12:2 this same idea is expressed, “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

When it's Easy...

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 18:00:47 +0000

When things are easy, things come naturally or you’re not challenged then support, desire, effort, and all kinds of things just… appear.

What makes things easy?

I’ll start from a coaching perspective:

Talented, hard-working kids that are determined to win.
Support given from parents or community members (especially for school teams)
Opponents that are not as talented or hard-working
Players that do everything right on and off the field
There’s probably more

What about starting a business...

What makes things easy when trying to live a christian life...

However…I want to look at when things are not easy or don’t come naturally.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

I'm Fine - A Very Ritchie Series (No.22)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:00:20 +0000

“I’m Fine!”

Has someone ever said that to you? Have you ever said that to someone? You probably have. I know I have. Perhaps you were using the acronym F.I.N.E.

F-reaked out

I-nsecure

N-eurotic

E-motional

If you were stating, “I’M FINE!!!!” to convince yourself you are, then perhaps you were correct. But I suspect not.

It’s so easy to just spit out those words without thinking. We really do not like telling others our problems and withhold expressing fatigue, frustration, and other such things. Perhaps we are just trying to spare the questioner a long story about our day. Perhaps we are sparing ourselves from confronting those in ourselves. But responding FINE is not really answering, it’s avoidance. We know that’s true. Well, not all the time, but most! How should we respond when we are asked, “How are you?” I have a few suggestions.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

To Be Saved

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:00:30 +0000

“When once it is supposed possible that there may be falsehood or fallacy in any word of God, a door is then opened to downright unfaithfulness.” By Michael Hardin

This is stated in context to what Satan did to Eve in the garden.

Think about it today though…

How many places tell you what you need to do to be saved? Then, how many different ways are there to be saved?

But…

The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the father except by him.

So, when Jesus speaks we should listen. Too many messages by churches today say…

Accept Jesus into your hearts, or…

Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or…

All you have to do is believe in your heart.

They take small snapshots of God’s word and make it all encompassing. When in legitimacy, you must take the Bible in its entirety and compose all statements that indicate salvation.

So... What must you do to be saved?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

A Crop of Weeds - A Very Ritchie Series (No.21)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:35 +0000

It's difficult, time consuming and costly to have a nice lawn. Knowledge of how to mow properly, fertilize at the right time with the right stuff, herbicides, pesticides, pre-emergents, devotion of several hours every week all year long and hundreds of dollars are necessary to have that excellent lawn. Millions of dollars and tens of thousands of manhours are spent each year on parks, baseball fields, soccer fields, etc. just for the enjoyment of the game or time with nature. On the other hand, it's easy, cheap and takes no time at all to grow weeds. You need to know nothing, spend no money, take no time, and make no effort to develop a fine crop of weeds. Just ignore your lawn or be lazy and voile, weeds!

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

To Whom is Credit Due?

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:11 +0000

How many times have you heard one of these stories…

Someone who takes care of their diet, exercises daily, then just something inward causes death at 50. They followed doctors and dietician advice.

Someone else, no regard for diet, no real exercise or “health” habits, and they does of natural causes at the age of 80 or ninety.

We have no control of our physical end, as long as we don’t take our own life. The best we can hope for is control of how we feel physically in the present.

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬

Solomon echoes this sentiment multiple times in Ecclesiastes. It’s likely because today is a gift from God, so… enjoy today with what God has given you.

When you think you are the one in control, and especially in control of your end (time on earth), God, according to biblical examples, will humble you.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Trimming Trees - A Very Ritchie Series (No.20)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:00:43 +0000

Watching a professional group trim trees is entertaining. They climb up into the tree and start cutting, then swing to another area and continue. Branches are falling everywhere. When they are done, you sometimes wonder with all they cut out, how is the tree going to survive?

I was helping the Jalbert’s pack their truck when they moved. Across the street there was a tree that was a mess. Part was dead (from the freeze that winter) and part was growing in a very confused manner. Kory Kaufman was in the group and saw me looking at that poor tree. He stated, “look at all that monkey growth.” What a wonderful expression of the crazy growth. We both mused as to how to remove the bad and clean up the good so that the tree would not only survive but thrive.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

Without Expectation of Return

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0000

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬

I think we get accustomed to expecting some kind of return for when we give:

Gift in return
Responses
of gratitude
thank you note
Show of enthusiasm
Acknowledgement of the gift

It can even get to a point of more dangerous ground like:

a favor returned or in tow, this is seen or presumed to be in the political field
consideration for something the giver covets, especially in a job setting
or some sort of social contract that is enacted

We are not to give with the expectation of anything… I mean ANYTHING!!

Make sure you stay tuned until at least 7:50 mark to get a full, well-rounded understanding of this topic…

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Family, Soldiers, Citizens, and Saints - A Very Ritchie Series (No.19)

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:00:29 +0000

We, fellow Christians, are described in scripture in many ways. Which description used is based upon the relationship under consideration. We are described as growing together as family, serving together as soldiers, living together as citizens, and maturing together as Saints. All these terms are collective, describing our functional Christian relationship as we live toward God.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

Without Love

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:00:51 +0000

Without Love you cannot be the person that God created you to be.

God is Love! We are designed in God’s image. Which means, we are to BE LOVE as God is Love!

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Guard Rails - A Very Ritchie Series (No.18)

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:00:04 +0000

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:20-32 about the changes that should have taken place in the lives of those who “learned Christ.” He enumerates both positive and negative statements regarding aspects of conduct and character, even stating the reason, “and give no opportunity to the devil.” Read this short section of Scripture before proceeding.

I am sure you have driven on roads passing damaged guardrails. You wonder, “What happened there? How would someone hit a guardrail there?” I met a fellow years ago who told me he was very happy for guardrails. He told me his story of driving in the Colorado Rockies during the late evening hours, right at sunset. The twisting road was snaking its way through steep terrain. He said he took his eyes off the road for just a moment when bang! He hit a guardrail.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

Toxicity

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:38 +0000

What does it mean to be toxic?

To be toxic means to be harmful, malicious, or poisonous, causing distress and damage to others' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Toxic behaviors are often characterized by self-centeredness, manipulation, a lack of boundaries or empathy, and a consistent disregard for others' feelings and needs. These actions can leave individuals feeling drained, insecure, controlled, or traumatized

If we’re going to use the word “toxic”…

Who is it that is actually toxic?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Lawnmower Blades - A Very Ritchie Series (No.17)

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:35 +0000

I’m picky when it comes to my tools. I keep them clean, lubricated and organized. I wash my shovels, rakes and hand tools after every use. I lubricate them with oil, check for wear and make needed repairs. I winterize my lawn equipment so that when the spring comes, everything starts easily and runs well. Twice a year I unbolt my lawnmower blade and sharpen it. It is truly amazing looking at the hardened steel blade. I mow grass, just grass. Not rocks or gravel, not tree stumps. Yet that blade is worn down and blunt, even has irregular edges with curves in it. Is grass that tough? Is Bermuda grass so hard it wears down steel? It must be, for the blade shows the evidence.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

What's There To Complain About?

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:00:46 +0000

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now before I go further, we all do it, including myself, and we have to be mindful of it, but…

Why do people complain?

Things don’t happen the way we want
People that know better or a better way
Not getting what you want
Dissatisfaction
Seeking things like
attention
validation
sympathy
Maybe they just need to vent
Wanting control

I guess my main question is… why all the complaints, why so much complaining?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Root of Bitterness - A Very Ritchie Series (No.16)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:49 +0000

I planted a Wax Myrtle in the front yard. I thought it would be great evergreen to shelter a bedroom window that was in front of the fence. I hated that Myrtle! Don’t ever plant Wax Myrtle. You must trim them four or five times a year just to keep them looking okay. They grow aggressively, invading everything around them. Even if you kill it with Roundup, dig out the root ball (if you can), there are lateral roots that run out from the base in every direction and grow more Myrtle! Ah! What a mess.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

Be the Thank You Note

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 18:00:51 +0000

I heard a quote from a visiting preacher once that went…

“God doesn’t want you to send him a thank you note. He wants you to be the thank you note!” ~ Mark Roberts

There’s nothing wrong with sending thank you notes. It’s a kind and thoughtful gesture and it does convey thanks for whatever the occasion.

However, we are called to live lives separate, holy, sanctified, and transformed. Live the thanks you give!

So, what are ways you can live a life where you are the thank you note? …

1 - I think we need to eliminate complaints.

2 - Find peace in the day to day

3 - Let your actions show gratitude

Lastly - recognize that you don’t have it in you to direct your own steps and that you need God.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

Contentment - A Very Ritchie Series (No.15)

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:00:21 +0000

I came home from the office through the garage as usual. As I entered the house, I could hear Joe speaking to Selma. My Father and Mother-in-law lived in the Master bedroom of our home at the end of the hall from the garage. By this time Selma had become bedfast due to progressing illness, her strength waning and pain becoming unremitting from degenerative bone disease. Joe was just finishing the segment of Philippians 4 stating, “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” As he spoke that phrase in his baritone confident and peaceful voice, he asked, “can you do that dear?’ Selma responded through the pain of debilitating illness in her weak fluttering south Texas drawl, “I’ll do the best I can.”

Being content with how the current situation progressed was his solution for the extreme duress of that moment.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

Profitably Unprofitable

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000

There are two types of unprofitable servants described in the gospel accounts:

The type who is described by the Parable of the Talents:

Matthew 25:14-30 - unprofitable has to do with earning, gaining or building something you were meant to help grow

The type who is described by the Luke regarding Faith and Duty:

Luke 17:5-10 - unprofitable has to do with expectation, seeking credit or recognition or personal gain

We are supposed to be Profitably unprofitable servants. HOW ABOUT THAT PARADOX FOR YOU?!

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

The Battle Within

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 18:00:56 +0000

The Battle for Our Souls:

WHAT ARE THE ASPECTS OF YOUR NATURE?
What are the two aspects of man’s nature?
Distinctions between Flesh & Spirit
Man’s relationship to both realms
Man’s God Given Capability
Capability of the Conscience...Can you ignore it?
SELFISHNESS is the BATTLE WITHIN
WE MUST ALLOW SELF TO DIE

#fyp #trendingnow #TBT #newyear #newme #explore #love #pride #humility #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #fyp #foryou #insta #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Dorian Gray - A Very Ritchie Series (No.14)

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:00:23 +0000

Just imagine. You remain young, attractive, and vital. No matter what you do, you never change. But you are drawn to your portrait which daily begins to change, become altered with a twisted mouth, humped shoulders, straw like hair, and witch like hands. Every day you are compelled to look at this constantly altered image of self. Daily, with each act of hatred, lust, envy, and greed; the portrait warps. Each day it becomes more hideous and grotesque. Yet, when you leave home, you easily forget how terrible the image and only see the young, attractive, and vital self you desire.

The book Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde published in 1891, was a philosophical journey into living a hedonistic lifestyle of physical indulgence without regard to effect or consequence.

#fyp #trendingnow #wednesday #explore #love #pride #humility #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #fyp #foryou #insta #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 365

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 19-22

Day 364

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 15-18

Day 363

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 11-14

Day 362

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 7-10

Let it Soak

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:36 +0000

Last night I had a pan that I used to cook chicken, and it has burnt on grease caked to the pan. I would scrape and scrape and scrape, but not making much of a difference. Then, using hot water, I let it soak overnight. Everything released from the pan with a slight scrape, a nudge if you will, the pan was totally clean.

Sometimes, being transformed by the renewing of our mind means letting it soak in God's Word.

#love #pride #humility #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #fyp #foryou #insta #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 361

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 4-6

Day 360

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Revelation 1-3

The Student's Mite

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:00:41 +0000

What must we give?

All we have
Open our hands wide
Supply their need
Firstfruit of our increase
Whatever they ask

How must we give?

Bountifully
Purposefully
Cheerfully
Secretly
Lovingly
Generously

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard #pride #humility #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #fyp #foryou #insta #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #itunes #advice #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 359

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Books of 2nd John, 3rd John & Jude

Anger is Easy - A Very Ritchie Series (No.13)

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:00:58 +0000

I was recently asked how I control my anger. Honestly in years past I did poorly in this department. I can recall vividly those events in my life where I was such a fool, blasting out in rage over stupid things. Even when I recall those events in the privacy of my own mind, I hang my head in shame and beg God for mercy and forgiveness. My heart pounds and I get a lump in my throat as I review the grandiose stupidity of grossly immature character.

Anger is easy.

Day 358

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of 1st John

Day 357

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Peter

Day 356

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Peter

Day 355

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of James

The Heart is in the Details

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 18:00:32 +0000

Fine flour or chunky flour - Spotless or blemished animal

The amount of time/effort spent trying to make it or find the best, will be known by God.

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

As I ask you this question, I also ask myself…

What are things you do that you consciously dedicate or give to God?
What sacrifices were made in order to do that?
What is the level of attention you give to those things?

#love #pride #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #viral #instagram #explorepage #explore #instagood #love #reels #fashion #fyp #trend #follow #like #trendingreels #photography #india #instadaily #tiktok #foryou #followforfollowback #reelsinstagram #likeforlikes #trendingnow #memes #style #photooftheday #viralpost #music #viralvideos #insta #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 354

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Hebrews 10-13

Day 353

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Hebrews 7-9

Day 352

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Hebrews 4-6

No One is Looking - A Very Ritchie Series (No.12)

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000

Our attitude, our disposition towards rule and law is seen most when no one is looking. When no one else is around we will do what we want, for there are no “consequences” to our actions at that moment. There are no police to reprimand, no parent to discipline, no authority to inhibit action. What we do in those many moments each day is driven by our disposition towards laws and rules, or at least the enforcement of them. Therefore, with no one around to enforce the rule, it’s no big deal! No harm, no foul! (I hope you hear my sarcasm)

#bible #jesuschrist #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling #dallascowboys

Day 351

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Hebrews 1-3

Day 350

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Philemon

Day 349

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Titus

Day 348

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Timothy

But... It's Trendy

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 18:00:45 +0000

Romans 12:2 - conforming to the world or being transformed?

Isn’t following trends or being trendy conforming to the world??

It’s a sad day when you hear a reason or justification for something and it sounds like this… “because it’s trendy”

Who cares what’s trendy? Why is that a concern? For kids in school, is it because they don’t want to be made fun of? Is it because they want to fit in? Is it because they have ZERO self-esteem, so they have to just do what everyone else does?

That’s such a dangerous road…

10 Trendy things the Bible warned us about:

Lovers of self
Calling evil good and good evil
etc...

#podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 347

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Timothy 4-6

Day 346

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Timothy 1-3

Day 345

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of 2nd Thessalonians

Above the Din - A Very Ritchie Series (No.11)

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:00:16 +0000

Dana and I took a vacation with the Ryan’s one year. They invited us to stay with them in Lake City, Colorado. This is a lovely town in the central portion of Colorado nestled in a valley between several 14,000ft. peaks. Yet even there the sounds of a city are present. Cars and trucks driving on the highway through town, people mowing their lawns, tourist noise of excitement and activity; all produce a noticeable din. It is substantially less than being in Dallas, yet it is present. That background noise of hubbub.

Day 344

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of 1st Thessalonians

Day 343

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Colossians

Day 342

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Philippians

Day 341

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ephesians 4-6

Worse Than a Prostitute

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:53 +0000

From a blog that’s long been inactive, I found a post that references Ezekiel 16:31ffl the excerpt from the post is this…

He unloads: “You’re nothing but a prostitute. No, I take that back. You’re worse than a prostitute. A prostitute gets paid to sleep with strangers. You, on the other hand…you do it for free. Even worse, you’re the one paying for the sleazy service.” A little later in the one-sided conversation, God continues: “You’re as bad as Sodom. No, you’re worse than Sodom. As a matter of fact, you are so much worse that you make Sodom look good.” Heart wrenching. Pitiful. Disgusting.

Let’s read Ezekiel 16:31-59 …

Have you ever had these feelings about yourself in some capacity?

#love #nfl #nhl #mlb #nba #trending #viral #instagram #explorepage #explore #instagood #love #reels #fashion #fyp #trend #follow #like #trendingreels #photography #india #instadaily #tiktok #foryou #followforfollowback #reelsinstagram #likeforlikes #trendingnow #memes #style #photooftheday #viralpost #music #viralvideos #insta

Day 340

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ephesians 1-3

Day 339

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Galatians 4-6

Day 338

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Galatians 1-3

Is Good Enough Good Enough - A Very Ritchie Series (No.10)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000

Life is hard work because of Satan’s corruption of man. Effort is required to obtain desirable results, part of the judgement of God for that sin. Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to be transformed away from this world to demonstrate to the world that the will of God is perfect. Would you say that Paul was stating “just give it a good enough effort to present your bodies a living sacrifice?” He states with great emotion, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God…” He is pleading with us to “give it all we got!” As Christians we committed to doing our best in living by God’s will when we were baptized into His body (Romans 6:4-7, 1 John 3:1-3). Anything less than our best effort produces the result the effort deserves (Matthew 7:22-23 & Revelation 3:14-22).

Day 337

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Corinthians 10-13

Day 336

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Corinthians 7-9

Day 335

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Corinthians 4-6

Day 334

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Corinthians 1-3

Angel Encounters in Acts

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:41 +0000

What was the purpose of the angels in the book of Acts?

I saw it mentioned that the book of Acts covers about 30 years of the early church, and with the number of angel encounters in that time frame, it is the most dense angelic activity recorded apart from the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. To me, this means there are probably several similarities, but be on watch for how I compare OT angelic encounters throughout this dialogue, and also… consider yourself how other similarities may exist throughout the old testament accounts. When you think of it… The beginning of the Church that is the body of Christ is much like an exodus from enslavement and leading up to the conquest of Canaan and establishment of a nation.

So… let’s briefly discuss the stories where angels appeared:

Acts 1:10-11 - Watching Jesus ascend into heaven

Acts 5:17-29 - Releasing the apostles from prison

Acts 8:26-40 - Sending Philip to Gaza for the Ethiopian eunuch

Acts 10 - Cornelius directed to send for Peter

Acts 12:1-19 - Peter Released from Prison

Acts 12:20-23 - Herod killed

Acts 27 - Paul at Sea during a storm on his way to Rome

#love

#trending #viral #instagram #explorepage #explore #instagood #love #reels #fashion #fyp #trend #follow #like #trendingreels #photography #india #instadaily #tiktok #foryou #followforfollowback #reelsinstagram #likeforlikes #trendingnow #memes #style #photooftheday #viralpost #music #viralvideos #insta

Day 333

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Corinthians 13-16

Day 332

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Corinthians 9-12

Day 331

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Corinthians 5-8

Gotta Serve Somebody - A Very Ritchie Series (No.9)

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 03:00:32 +0000

You may be an ambassador to England or France, You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world, You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk, You may be the head of some big TV network

You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame, You may be living in another country under another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes, You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a construction worker working on a home, You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome

You might own guns and you might even own tanks, You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks

Still, you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes, You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody

This is an excerpt from the song entitled. “Gotta Serve Somebody” by Bob Dylan.

#bobdylan #podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling #dallascowboys

Day 330

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Corinthians 1-4

Day 329

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Romans 13-16

Day 328

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Romans 9-12

Day 327

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Romans 5-8

Love Like Jesus

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 18:00:45 +0000

Love Like Jesus - a Slogan, a Bumper sticker, a Fad?

Love Like Jesus - a personal decision and a way that you live your life toward others?

Stop looking outward and demanding people love, and start working on myself to make sure I am demonstrating love in the same or similar manner as Jesus.

#love

Day 326

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Romans 1-4

Day 325

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 25-28

Day 324

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 21-24

God Given Rights - A Very Ritchie Series (No.8)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:12 +0000

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This is the first phrase of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. This is not scripture, nor was it inspired of God. Yet I hear many people state this as “My God given rights.” Who made these “God given”? Men, the writers of the Declaration! Although these words and the ideas behind them are honorable and just, they are not God’s word, nor do they carry God’s power even though “their Creator” is cited as the source. It is interesting that in a society which is progressively becoming more godless, “God given rights” are used as an excuse for violating rules and common sense.

What are our “God given rights”? Are there such things? Let’s explore the scriptures and see what God has to say.

#podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 323

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 17-20

Day 322

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 13-16

Day 321

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 9-12

Day 320

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 5-8

Fine Flour Offering

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 18:00:01 +0000

Leviticus 2 - grain offering of fine flour

Think about the offering, and the temptations that exist with the preparations, or the mindset or heart regarding the offering:

Keeping the best for yourself
You worked hard and you want to be rewarded and have something to show for your hard work
Shortcuts in the preparation
Not sifting thoroughly
Taking what doesn’t belong to you so you don’t have to work as hard to obtain what you offer
Giving up too soon
Not wanting to do all the work because its too hard or too long
Prioritizing other things and not giving yourself enough time to dedicate to the making of the flour
Hiding Imperfections
Trying to mask what you offer
Put the good stuff on top and the bad stuff on bottom and hope no one notices

#podcast #podcasting #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #music #youtube #radio #love #applepodcasts #podcastshow #podcasters #gambling #gaintheworld #nfl #mlb #interview #spotifypodcast #newpodcast #entrepreneur #radioshow #motivation #jesus #itunes #advice #church #christ #newepisode #applepodcast #couseling

Day 319

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Acts 1-4

Day 318

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

John 17-21

Day 317

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

John 13-16

Lost in the Woods - A Very Ritchie Series (No.7)

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:00:03 +0000

During the early summer of that year we boys would go out exploring in the woods around the motel. Most of the time it was my older brother who determined where we would go. One day we went out and an argument ensued once we had gone a fair distance into the woods. I got angry and left my brothers, backtracking my way to the motel. We had followed a stream into the woods so I followed it back. As I progressed, the stream ended and there was no motel in sight. A little panic began to take hold. I began to hurry following the stream again which ended at yet another dead end in the woods. Now greater panic became my companion.

Day 316

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

John 9-12

Day 315

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

John 5-8

Day 314

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

John 1-4

Day 313

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 21-24

Am I an AHAB?

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 18:00:11 +0000

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭20‬-‭22‬, ‭25‬-‭29‬

20 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?”

And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: 21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’

23-24 is about Jezebel

25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”

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Day 312

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 17-20

Day 311

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 13-16

Day 310

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 9-12

Look Directly Forward - A Very Ritchie Series (No.6)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:00:19 +0000

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27

Solomon’s dissertation on Wisdom is all about anchoring our identity in God. Using the eternal wisdom of the infinite God to know what is true, what is right, the best way to live the life He created to its ultimate goal, unity with Him. When we anchor of our identity in Him, He will dwell with us and we with him (John 17)

Day 309

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 5-8

Day 308

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Luke 1-4

Day 307

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Mark 13-16

Day 306

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Mark 10-12

Placing My Crowns

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 17:00:42 +0000

There is a song that has the line “at thy feet I place my crowns,” it goes…

AT YOUR FEET I BOW IN WONDER, AT YOUR FEET I PLACE MY CROWNS
LET SURRENDER BE THE ONLY SOUND, AT YOUR FEET I LAY ME DOWN

The song “Old rugged cross” has a line in it that says “Til my trophies at last I lay down”

Revelation 4:9-11 - Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

What are your Crowns? Trophies?

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Day 305

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Mark 7-9

Day 304

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Mark 4-6

Day 303

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Mark 1-3

Idowanna - A Very Ritchie Series (No.5)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 02:00:45 +0000

“Idowanna”

Last week in a Fiesta Grocery store in south Dallas, a woman throws what can only be described as a tantrum when asked to wear a mask. She then precedes the throw all her groceries from her cart onto the floor screaming obscenities and then walks out of the store. Even more ridiculous is that she is holding a mask in her hand as she throws this childish fit. In a Dallas drycleaner, a man walks into the store up to the counter. The owner asks the man to put on his mask. The man who enters the store attacks the manager physically knocking him to the floor then storms out slamming the door and breaking the glass. Unfortunately these are both true incidents.

Day 302

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 25-28

Day 301

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 21-24

Day 300

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 17-20

Day 299

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 13-16

A Sacrifice that Costs Me Nothing

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:00:46 +0000

2 Samuel 24:24 - “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that costs me nothing.”

Have I done this? I have made a “sacrifice” that cost me nothing?

What are sacrifices that are pleasing to God?

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Day 298

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 9-12

Day 297

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 5-8

Day 296

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Matthew 1-4

Pushed, Pulled and Manipulated - A Very Ritchie Series (No.4)

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 02:00:20 +0000

Pushed, Pulled and Manipulated

A man and his several month pregnant wife board an airplane, having purchased first-class tickets to give his wife more room. Both of them and all the passengers they can see are wearing their masks. In the third seat of this large aircraft another man sits down with his mask hanging around his neck. The first man, after pausing and thinking for quite a while, finally asks the man not wearing the mask to kindly put it on to help ensure his pregnant wife and unborn child are protected from the COVID infection. The second man glares at the two with great indignation and shouts, “Last time I looked, this was a free country and I can do whatever I want.”

This is a true story and occurred just a few weeks ago.

Day 295

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Malachi

Day 294

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Zechariah 11-14

Day 293

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Zechariah 7-10

Mind Your Business

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 17:00:58 +0000

1 Thessalonians 4:10-11 But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands

Stay in your lane

If it doesn’t pertain to you, mind your business

I learned a hard lesson a while back, and it unfortunately had to do with people I’m related to, but don’t seek to go where you’re not wanted, uninvited. Don’t seek an invitation, don’t force your way in. It’s much more peaceful staying in your lane, it’s much more quiet driving your life in your own lane.

Quit sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.

Quit focusing on people who only bring you down.

Quit having opinions of other people, quite frankly. They are not part of your business

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Day 292

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Zechariah 4-6

Eggshells & Landmines

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:00:41 +0000

We all have our own opinions about church stuff:

Attendance, sinful behavior, questionable behavior, what these would/wouldn’t do, how my house operates, how their house operates, etc…

Let’s run with the attendance one for a bit:

You could probably ask these same questions or a version of these with any of the church stuff we have our own opinions about, but…

Does God keep track of attendance?
Does God base salvation on attendance?
Does God understand when you miss?
Does God care either way about attendance?

You can probably see the ticky tack nature that these questions could go down. And you’ll probably start to notice that they are likely used as defense mechanisms about whether or not I should feel convicted about (whatever the thing is).

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Day 291

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Zechariah 1-3

Day 290

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Haggai

Day 289

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: The Book of Zephaniah

Yardwork - A Very Ritchie Series (No.3)

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 02:00:37 +0000

Yardwork

With the recent warm days and more than 5 inches of rain; grasses, trees and shrubs are growing robustly. Frankly this makes me happy because I like seeing these beautiful things grow but also I like working in my yard! Trimming the bushes, mowing the yard, removing dead limbs from trees, yes and even crawling around on the ground digging out weeds are all things I enjoy.

Day 288

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: The Book of Habbakuk

Day 287

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:30:26 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: The Book of Nahum

Day 286

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Micah 5-7

Day 285

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Micah 1-4

Satan is Showing Aces

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 17:00:51 +0000

If the devil is showing ACES, think it through before playing your hand.

Well...The devil is showing ACES

Genesis 3:1 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
John 8:44 - When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
He knows what God says or has said:
Matthew 4:5 Satan said “For it is written…”
Genesis 3:4-5 “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

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Day 284

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Jonah

Day 283

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Obadiah

Day 282

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Amos 7-9

I Want ... More - A Very Ritchie Series (No.2)

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:00:16 +0000

Interesting how certain things or feelings generate the desire to have more once you have a little. Kind of like that special dessert when you eat it, you get that feeling of “Oh my, that’s good” and want more, even though you just ate and are full. The curse of the holidays! Or like when I go ...

Day 281

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Amos 4-6

Day 280

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Amos 1-3

Day 279

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Joel

Day 278

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Hosea 11-14

Day 277

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Hosea 7-10

Day 276

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Hosea 4-6

Day 275

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Hosea 1-3

Post-Trial Blues - A Very Ritchie Series (No.1)

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:00:22 +0000

Post-Trial Blues

Sounds like a song title, doesn’t it. But the truth of it is present in almost every person with whom I have spoken when they have endured a great strain in life. Trials like the death of a father, spouse or child. Issues such as severe illness, financial ruin and legal traumas. The pain of deep conflict with family or dear friends from all kinds of stuff in life and more. These trials, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual wound deeply. But once we have endured and overcome, what next?

Day 274

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Daniel 10-12

Day 273

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Daniel 7-9

Day 272

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Daniel 4-6

Day 271

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Daniel 1-3

Day 270

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 46-48

Day 269

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 43-45

Day 268

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 40-42

Day 267

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 37-39

Day 266

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 34-36

Day 265

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 31-33

Day 264

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 28-30

Day 263

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 25-27

Day 262

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 22-24

Day 261

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 19-21

Day 260

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 16-18

Day 259

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 13-15

Day 258

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 10-12

Day 257

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 7-9

Day 256

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 4-6

Day 255

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Ezekiel 1-3

Do It In Secret ... Whatever it is

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 23:00:17 +0000

Matthew 6:1-18

Day 254

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: The Book of Lamentations

Day 253

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 50-52

Die to Self

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:00:28 +0000

I’m about to make up a phrase, and I say make it up because it’s not in a Bible verse I can find through multiple Bible verse searches, or key word searches through the Bible app, Google, or chatgpt.

“Die to Self”

How do you die to self? What does it mean to die to self?

Is dying to self a thing? Or is it just denying self?

I think dying to self is how to truly know that love is demonstrated.

Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross, if he had the choice. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Day 252

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 47-49

Day 251

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 43-46

Day 250

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 40-42

Day 249

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 37-39

Day 248

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 34-36

Day 247

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 31-33

Day 246

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 28-30

Day 245

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 25-27

18" From Heaven

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:00:59 +0000

People are governed by 2 methods of making decisions, guiding their life, becoming informed or aware, and these things play a large role in determining the direction of their lives. Heart and mind.

When it comes to spiritual matters, these two things are no different. Understanding of what the bible says, or who God is, or what the truth is as well as a heart that seeks, searches and is dedicated to finding the truth and abiding in that truth.

Some people can have a head full of knowledge or God, the Bible, or spirituality, but not a heart connection. Likewise, others can feel that they know God, or want to know God, or feel they’re doing right or that God is with them, but they lack understanding and knowledge because the Bible is a tough read, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, so it’s a convicting read as well and they haven’t gained the understanding that it offers.

So… The average distance between someone’s head and heart is about 18”

And… if you have knowledge but your heart is far from God, or you lack or refuse knowledge but you operate with your feelings regarding God and the truth, then you may very-well miss out on heaven by 18”

Day 244

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 22-24

Day 243

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 19-21

Day 242

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 16-18

Day 241

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 13-15

Day 240

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 10-12

Day 239

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 7-9

Day 238

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish: Jeremiah 4-6

The Problem with Obedience

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:00:19 +0000

When you begin to investigate why there is such a problem with obedience is it, you pretty quickly uncover one of the major battle themes of the Bible: Arrogance vs Humility

Day 237

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Jeremiah 1-3

Day 236

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 64-66

Day 235

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 61-63

Day 234

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 58-60

Day 233

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 55-57

Day 232

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 52-54

Day 231

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 49-51

Self Unsacrificed

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:00:22 +0000

How much are you driven by self?

How do you get away from self or living for self?

Day 230

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 46-48

Day 229

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 43-45

Day 228

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 40-42

Day 227

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 37-39

Day 226

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 34-36

Day 225

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 31-33

Day 224

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 28-30

Just Sit Up

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:00:31 +0000

Stop arguing with people. There are really people that would drown in a foot of water when all they have to do is JUST SIT UP. These people vote, are around you and have just as much right to talk, give their opinions, share what they want, argue with whomever they want, and do whatever their heart desires. You have to figure out if this is worth the argument or maybe you need to JUST SIT UP.

Day 223

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 25-27

Day 222

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 22-24

Day 221

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 19-21

Day 220

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 16-18

Day 219

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 13-15

Day 218

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 10-12

Day 217

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 7-9

Jumping Waves

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:30 +0000

I'm sure you can map the episodes that are obvious I was just at the beach, Well, this is one of them. One of the most done activities on the beach by all kinds of people is jumping waves. No amount of money is needed to prepare to jump waves. It's free for all, and believe me, it's a free-for-all. But the dangers of the waves has an excellent tie-in to the walk we take as a child of God. The confidence, self-assurance, self-direction ... or the security, fear, and understanding we have or need with God our Father.

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Day 216

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 4-6

Day 215

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Isaiah 1-3

Day 214

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Song of Solomon 5-8

Day 213

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Song of Solomon 1-4

Day 212

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ecclesiastes 10-12

Day 211

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ecclesiastes 7-9

Day 210

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ecclesiastes 4-6

Day 209

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ecclesiastes 1-3

Day 208

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 28-31

Day 207

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 25-27

Day 206

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 22-24

Day 205

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 19-21

Day 204

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 16-18

Day 203

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 13-15

Day 202

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 10-12

Day 201

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 7-9

Day 200

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 4-6

Day 199

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Proverbs 1-3

Day 198

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 147-150

Day 197

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 144-146

Day 196

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 141-143

Day 195

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 137-140

Day 194

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 134-136

Day 193

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 131-133

Day 192

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 127-130

Day 191

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 124-126

Day 190

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 121-123

Day 189

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 117-120

Day 188

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 114-116

Day 187

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 111-113

Day 186

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 107-110

Day 185

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 104-106

Day 184

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 101-103

Day 183

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 97-100

Day 182

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 94-96

Day 181

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 91-93

Day 180

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 87-90

Day 179

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 84-86

Day 178

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 81-83

Day 177

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 78-80

Day 176

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 74-77

Day 175

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 71-73

Day 174

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 67-70

Day 173

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 64-66

Day 172

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 61-63

Day 171

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 57-60

Day 170

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 54-56

Day 169

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 51-53

Day 168

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 47-50

Day 167

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 44-46

Day 166

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 41-43

Obedience, is it Commanded?

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0000

The Necessity of Obedience…

Is it - Required? Demanded? Expected? Commanded?

From the Words of Jesus:

John 14:15 - “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

His commandments are not burdensome - 1 John 5:3

Mark 16:16 - “He who believes and is baptized (DOES SOMETHING) will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Baptism is an act of obedience.

Luke 6:46 - “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

OBEDIENCE IS EXPECTED IF JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR LIFE

Day 165

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 37-40

Day 164

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 34-36

Day 163

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 31-33

Day 162

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 27-30

Day 161

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 24-26

Day 160

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 21-23

Day 159

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 17-20

Build on the Rock

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 7:24-29 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Day 158

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 14-16

Day 157

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 11-13

Day 156

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 7-10

Day 155

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 4-6

Day 154

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Psalms 1-3

Day 153

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 40-42

Day 152

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 37-39

What Will It Be Like?

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Moses - Exodus 33:18–23 (NKJV)

18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you... But,”

20 “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.

22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.

23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Day 151

Sat, 31 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 34-36

Day 150

Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 31-33

Day 149

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 28-30

Known by Your Fruit

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Day 148

Wed, 28 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 25-27

Day 147

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 22-24

Day 146

Mon, 26 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 19-21

Day 145

Sun, 25 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 16-18

Day 144

Sat, 24 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 13-15

Day 143

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 10-12

Day 142

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 7-9

Narrow vs Wide

Thu, 22 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Day 141

Wed, 21 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 4-6

Day 140

Tue, 20 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Job 1-3

Day 139

Mon, 19 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Esther 7-10

Day 138

Sun, 18 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Esther 4-6

Day 137

Sat, 17 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Esther 1-3

Day 136

Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Nehemiah 11-13

Day 135

Thu, 15 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Nehemiah 7-10

Ask, Seek, Knock

Thu, 15 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Day 134

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Nehemiah 4-6

Day 133

Tue, 13 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Nehemiah 1-3

Day 132

Mon, 12 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ezra 7-10

Day 131

Sun, 11 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ezra 4-6

Day 130

Sat, 10 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Ezra 1-3

Day 129

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 34-36

Day 128

Thu, 08 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 31-33

Do Not Worry

Thu, 08 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Day 127

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 28-30

Day 126

Tue, 06 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 25-27

Day 125

Mon, 05 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 22-24

Day 124

Sun, 04 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 19-21

Day 123

Sat, 03 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 16-18

Day 122

Fri, 02 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 13-15

Day 121

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 10-12

Even If...

Thu, 01 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

After listening to the song Even if by Mercy me, I developed the desire to tug at that thread.

Here are some Lyrics:

Verse 1:

They say sometimes you win some Sometimes you lose some And right now I'm losing bad

I've stood on this stage night after night Reminding the broken it'll be alright But right now I just can't

It's easy to sing When there's nothing to bring me down

But what will I say When I'm held to the flame Like I am right now

Chorus:

I know You're able and I know You can Save through the fire with Your mighty hand

But even if You don't My hope is You alone

Daniel 3:13-18 - 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Even if … means:

I will still give you the glory

hope in the blood of Christ
be a doer or your word
give my life to you

I will still trust in you

believe in you
live for you
praise you

Day 120

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 7-9

Day 119

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 4-6

God or Riches?

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Day 118

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Chronicles 1-3

Day 117

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 27-29

Day 116

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 24-26

Day 115

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 21-23

Day 114

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 17-20

Day 113

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 14-16

Day 112

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 10-13

Lamp of the Body

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Day 111

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 7-9

Day 110

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 4-6

Day 109

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Chronicles 1-3

Day 108

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 23-25

Day 107

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 20-22

Day 106

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 17-19

Day 105

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 14-16

Where is Your Treasure?

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Day 104

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 11-13

Day 103

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 7-10

Day 102

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 4-6

Day 101

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Kings 1-3

Day 100

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 20-21

Day 99

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 17-19

Day 98

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 14-16

Why Do You Do Good?

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 6:1-18 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Day 97

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 10-13

Day 96

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 7-9

Day 95

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 4-6

Day 94

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Kings 1-3

Day 93

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 22-24

Day 92

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 19-21

Darkness Does Not Comprehend Light

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

John 1:4-5 - In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Have you ever felt misunderstood? You try to do the right thing, you try to explain it, defend it, or encourage it and no one understands why you’ve done what you did.

The easy example is when someone reviles you or threatens you and you don’t revile or threaten in return: 1 Peter 2:23-24

Someone says they deserve what’s coming to them, and then starts giving you ways to “get even.” Possibly, they may even encourage or enable the opportunity to do so. However, you try to explain why you aren’t going to give into that line of thinking, and that you simply want to dismiss the need or feeling for retribution or revenge.

Day 91

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 16-18

A Scale of Ahab to David

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0000

The Sermon on the Mount Series will resume on the 7th of next month...

We’re all on a scale of kings for on one end we have David and the other end we have Ahab.

1 Samuel 13:14 - God says David is a man after His own heart.

1 Kings 21:25 - there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord

Suppose we could make this a linear scale… We all fall somewhere on this line.

Day 90

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 13-15

Day 89

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 10-12

Day 88

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 7-9

Love Your Enemies

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Day 87

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 4-6

Day 86

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

2 Samuel 1-3

Day 85

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 29-31

Day 84

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 26-28

Day 83

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 23-25

Day 82

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 20-22

Day 81

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 17-19

Go the Second Mile

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Day 80

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 14-16

Day 79

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 10-13

Day 78

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 7-9

Day 77

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 4-6

Day 76

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

1 Samuel 1-3

Day 75

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

The Book of Ruth

Day 74

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 19-21

It Begins in the Heart

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Matthew5:21-30 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Day 73

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 16-18

Day 72

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 13-15

Day 71

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 10-12

Day 70

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 7-9

Day 69

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 4-6

Day 68

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Judges 1-3

Day 67

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 22-24

Salt & Light

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Day 66

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 19-21

Day 65

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 16-18

Day 64

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 13-15

Day 63

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 10-12

Day 62

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 7-9

Day 61

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 4-6

Day 60

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Joshua 1-3

Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Day 59

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 31-34

Day 58

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 28-30

Day 57

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 25-27

Day 56

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 22-24

Day 55

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 19-21

Day 54

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 16-18

Day 53

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 13-15

Peacemakers

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Day 52

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 10-12

Day 51

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 7-9

Day 50

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 4-6

Day 49

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Deuteronomy 1-3

Day 48

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 34-36

Day 47

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 31-33

Day 46

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 28-30

Pure in Heart

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 7:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Day 45

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 25-27

Day 44

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 22-24

Day 43

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 19-21

Day 42

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 16-18

Day 41

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 13-15

Day 40

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 10-12

Day 39

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 7-9

Merciful

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Day 38

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 4-6

Day 37

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Numbers 1-3

Day 36

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 25-27

Day 35

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 22-24

Day 34

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 19-21

Teen Guys Discuss - Dating Expectations from a Bible Perspective

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

The Beatitudes will continue on February 7th... Listen and follow along as Cole, Elijah, Tucker and Colin join me to discuss (at their request) dating advice for teens from a biblical perspective.

Day 33

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 16-18

Advice for Dating from the Bible

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

The Beatitudes will continue on February 7th... Starting out as a dad of 3 daughters, and now 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys, I am always concerned about the type of person they will end up with, the type of person they will be, and whether that will aid or hinder their spiritual growth.

As a man, what do I expect from the men my daughters will marry?
How do I expect my boys to behave towards their wives?
Regarding the girls, How do I expect my girls to behave towards their husbands?
What do I expect from the wives my sons will marry?

It’s a relatively difficult thing to conceptualize right now. Too much of a cloud has been cast over what is considered appropriate behavior, what is considered toxic, what is considered extreme regarding conservatism and liberalism, and the general outlook of outside people that think they have a say in how you conduct your life. Most of these outside people think they have influence, and unfortunately, too many times people allow the influence of naysayers or negativity to guide their conscience. This is the major issue I would say is at the heart of dating, or finding “your person.”

What is the influence you will use as your guide for how you’ll behave and what you’ll expect?

Day 32

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 13-15

Brainwashed

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

The Beatitudes will continue on February 7th...

I saw a FB post that said “I was brainwashed by a legalistic church for almost a decade. The internal struggle it caused made me a very anxious person. Thankfully I was able to recognize it and heal.”

First of all, this is a very victimhood approach. The assertion that the intent of the church you attended, at your own will, was to brainwash you.

Second, the necessity of personal accountability is non-existent in this statement.

Lastly, there is only one way to get brainwashed, and that is to expect the church you go to, to tell you what to do.

2 Timothy 2:15 says “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It’s no one else’s job to study for you, it’s no one else’s job to divide the word for you. This is one of those passages that makes the personal accountability of knowing what is in the bible and places it squarely on you. It’s one of the reasons why there is such a heavy influence in my mind that the place you go to for worship pales in comparison to what you bring to it. I’m not suggesting you can just go to any church, but I do think there are righteous people from many different religious backgrounds, and it’s not my place to speculate whether they will be judged to hell simply based on the building they walk in for worship.

Day 31

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 10-12

Day 30

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 7-9

Day 29

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 4-6

Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Day 28

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Leviticus 1-3

Day 27

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 37-40

Day 26

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 34-36

Day 25

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 31-33

Day 24

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 27-30

Day 23

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 24-26

Day 22

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 21-23

Meek

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Day 21

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 17-20

Day 20

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 14-16

Day 19

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 14:35:04 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 11-13

Day 18

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 7-10

Day 17

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 4-6

Day 16

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Exodus 1-3

Day 15

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 47-50

Those Who Mourn

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Day 14

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 44-46

Day 13

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 41-43

Day 12

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 37-40

Day 11

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 34-36

Day 10

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 31-33

Day 9

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 27-30

Day 8

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 24-26

Poor in Spirit

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be Poor in Spirit, and how can I get to that point?

Day 7

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 21-23

Day 6

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 17-20

Day 5

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 14-16

Day 4

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 11-13

Day 3

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 7-10

Day 2

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 4-6

Day 1

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 1-3

Give Preference to One Another

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Competition seems to come to mind.

Competition implies

Keeping score
Winner/Loser
Relentless pursuit of a goal
Determination to succeed
Boasting in a win
Sulking in a loss
Reflection in how to improve
Trying to be the best
Putting pieces in place while training, and practicing until you are tested

Let 'em Talk

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

2 Samuel 16:5-14

5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!” 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” 11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

Have you ever been cursed? … Cussed at, belittled, someone with such rage toward you that you were ravaged with insults and an attempt was made to make you feel lower than dirt?

The Christmas Orange

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Jake was a resident of an orphan’s home, one of ten children supported by what contributions the home could secure on a continuous struggle. There was very little to eat, but at Christmas there always seemed to be a little more than usual to eat, and the home seemed a little warmer. It was a time for more than usual enjoyment, but more than this, there was the orange. At Christmas time, each child received an orange; the only time of year that such a rare item was provided… and it was coveted by each child like no other thing they ever possessed. They would save it for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it, and contemplating the moment when they would eat it. Truly, it was a “piece de resistance” to the Christmas tide, and the year, for many would wait until New Year’s Day or later to eat it.

Be Still

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Exodus 14:13-14 - And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

We live in a world where everyone wants to be seen as perfect, or somehow like the standard of humanity. The best looking, the best life, the best … whatever. We live in a fake world.

In order to maintain this standard, people put on an elaborate show for the world to see. That’s all we see in social media… the things people want to show, the absolute best of their lives. They doll themselves up and essentially do it for their own vanity. The whole thing is a sham. Appearing to you only to get your attention, at the expense of your attention. At the expense of your praise and trying to gain value by you expending your time, energy, thoughts, etc…

Another way people try to maintain this standard for others to see requires lies and manipulation at your expense. After the curtain was drawn back, it seems that I have fallen prey to this. Because to the world, there is one story told about me, but behind the curtain, there is a barrage of insults, claims that contradict all the story outwardly told. Social media posts or group texts that proclaim one thing, and then private phone calls and texts that say another thing all together.

The hardest thing to do is keep quiet and not jump to defend ourselves. What does jumping to defense accomplish?

Teamwork

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Teams/teamwork is scattered throughout the Bible

The 12 sons of Israel working together in Genesis
Each of the 12 tribes
Moses their Coach in the wilderness
Joshua their coach throughout the conquest of Canaan
The different armies under kings Saul, David, etc
The people who went with Nehemiah to rebuild Judah and the walls of Jerusalem
The disciples of Jesus during His ministry
The Apostles

Teams always have a goal in mind, and success is generally defined by whatever that goal is.

Jacob’s sons getting through the famine together
Israelites escaping Egypt & surviving the wilderness and conquering Canaan
Establishment of the kingdom of Israel under the different kings
Rebuilding Judah after it burned
Spreading the message of Christ to the whole world

The Day Jesus Rose from the Dead

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Using all 4 Gospels, I tried to put all accounts together in a single reading incorporating all parts of each gospel account. Beginning from the time Jesus died on the cross.

I may have gotten some out of order, but I tried to make it chronologically make sense to me based on the wordings of each account.

The Day Jesus Died

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Using all 4 Gospels, I tried to put all accounts together in a single reading incorporating all parts of each gospel account. Beginning from the time they led him out of the Garden of Gethsemane.

I may have gotten some out of order, but I tried to make it chronologically make sense to me based on the wordings of each account.

2 Stumps

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

How deliberately you are shaped will govern the type of fire you offer on behalf of Christ.
Do you go with the flow?
Do you accept whatever is thrown your way?
Do you test with fire advice, activities, information, etc…? 1 Corinthians 3:13
The more attentively you tend your spirit will govern the type of fire you offer on behalf of Christ.
Keep with all diligence your heart because out of it flows the issues of life Proverbs 4:23
Be sober, vigilant, you adversary walks about seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8
Add to your faith, virtue, virtue knowledge, knowledge, self-control etc… 2 Peter 1:5-7
Put on the whole armor of God.
The more you limit the escape of fire starters will govern the type of fire you offer on behalf of Christ.
Do you keep those you associate with accountable?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 the word of God is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.
Do you raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephesians 6:4
This is where I’ve struggled, and I’m trying to teach more diligently and frequently
Hard to overcome this if you don’t start out diligently or maintain that diligence
Do you notice when you try and start fires with others that they fizzle they don’t keep it lit
Even after multiple attempts, nothing takes hold
It may be time to move on.
The more the glow is contained will govern the type of fire you offer on behalf of Christ.
Does your Zeal fade?
A people zealous for good works Titus 2:14
Can people feel the warmth that radiates off of you for Christ?
People see your good works and glorify God Matthew 5:16

Love

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

“We can only Love by Loving” - Iris Murdoch

Let all that you do be done in love - 1 Corinthians 16:14

What is Love? - An intense feeling of deep affection; a great interest & pleasure in something

Bible defines love as:

Patient and Kind
Sincere
Fearless
Protects, Trusts, Hopes, Perseveres

Love is commanded

Love fulfills the Law

Love is Bearing Burdens of Others … which also fulfills the law

Love is the manner in which all meaningful things are done

Why should I love?

Love binds everything together in perfect harmony
You’ll win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man
It covers multitude of sins
So God will abide in me
To Know God
To be effective & fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
To Follow Christ’s example
Because God Loved us
So People will know I’m a disciple of Jesus

What Do You Bring?

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

What do you bring?

I ask this because right now we’re in the midst of the religion battle. The disturbance between people who go to this church or that one. What I’m about to say may turn some people off, but Paul said something similar in Philippians 1…

It doesn’t matter where you go… I’ll wait for the outrage to cease…

Think about two places:

The first is pristine, stained glass, crosses, images of Christ everywhere, decorated to the nines
The second is bland, nothing fancy, possibly rundown, some bible verses on the wall just so it's not blank, but fanciness is minimal

You are already judging these two places, and you may even think I have two very specific places in mind or very specific denominations, but I don’t. This is the product of different representations from movies and such.

It matters what you bring! The thing you bring to the table is what matters!

Philippians 1:15-22 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

What does Paul Bring???

fruit from his labor
ashamed in nothing
all boldness
Christ will be magnified in his body

***Christ***

Consuming Fire

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

“The leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”: The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!” The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What does it mean to be a consuming Fire?

I had the opportunity this weekend to be around a campfire whenever we decided to light it, and even sometimes when we weren’t expecting it to get lit. You know … hot embers catch dry wood on fire, even if it doesn’t appear to be hot.

It amazes me how much stuff we put into the fire pit, and how little remained.

The way the fire breaks down what gets caught in it is simply amazing. Pizza boxes, water bottles, firewood, pine needles, leaves, pine cones… anything you can think of, when it’s burned the manner in which it gets broken down to its most basic component… dust

The heat the fire gives off radiates, causes you to tread lightly, forces you to stay attentive to the little pops/explosions, even just sitting here next to it as I’m typing up some thoughts, the hair is cinged on my shins and the back of my phone case has gotten nearly scorched.

Outer Strength & Inner Weakness

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

People’s nature will always be to do whatever it takes to get what they want, and if possible, suffer as little consequence as possible. It is human nature to try and get what we want or what we desire.

I’m guilty of behaving this way before.

When we have people in our lives that do not have our best interests at heart, or who are only focused on themselves, we are to love them, do good to them, and be patient, humble etc… with them.

Bible Thoughts From the Minds of Children

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Listen along as Paige, Zach and Charlsie describe some of their favorite Bible stories, explain details that stand out to them and talk about things they have learned from them.

Sheep Amidst Wolves

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I know the traditional understanding of this is be pure, holy, innocent in the midst of evil all around, looking to corrupt you, trying to catch you and devour you. But…

Couldn’t this also have something more to it, especially since there is a follow up to this phrase that advises to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves?!

So, journey with me down this tangent…

When we learn and obey the truth and we are called to be salt of the earth, we are called to be useful throughout the earth, and not to become useless because we could be trampled under foot. That alone, or along with being a light to the world, has strong indications that we are to take this broken, dark, evil world the truth. Of course this is fortified which concepts like the great commission (although that’s particularly is told by Jesus to his followers post resurrection) and Romans 10:14-15 how can they hear without a preacher, 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word, be ready in season out of season, and just accompany that with imitate me (Paul says) as I imitate Christ and the multiple times he talks about preaching or sharing the gospel.

So, Jesus sends the disciples out as sheep in the midst of wolves…

Think about a sheep …

How the Bible Addresses Racism and General Prejudice - Group Discussion

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Join the Discussion and Kay and Kevin rejoin along with Gil and hid daughter Madeline to discuss how they use the Bible or suggesting using the Bible in order to address general prejudices and racism.

How the Bible Addresses Racism and General Prejudice

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I think the thing we have to be aware of is the concept that exists between races… it’s the same concept of people from different states or parts of the country regardless of race.

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT!

Things I do, think, believe, want, etc… are different from what you do, think, believe, want, etc… or at least they should be expected to be different, because you are not me and I am not you.

We get in a lot of trouble trying to force people to “be” or act a certain way. What we deem “appropriate” or “right” or whatever.

Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group

Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

So this explains that prejudice can seem to be a positive or negative, but again, you’ll get into trouble because prejudice generally has no justification, reason, or explanation that backs up the person exhibiting prejudice.

Integrity

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Integrity is a scale (or a dial).

People are described as being someone of:

High Integrity or Low integrity

Full of Integrity or Lacking Integrity

There really isn’t a way to describe someone in the middle, I mean the bible does… “lukewarm”

But can you even say someone is mediocre-ly filled with integrity????

Integrity:

the quality of being honest

having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

the state of being whole and undivided.

acts ethically & transparently in all dealings

prioritizes doing the right thing over personal gain

Integrity is a core virtue in the Christian faith. It’s about being honest, moral, and consistent in our actions, whether we’re in public or private, at church or at work. Integrity is not just about avoiding sin—it’s about actively pursuing godliness, truth, and righteousness in every aspect of life.

As Christians, we are called to live with integrity because God Himself is a God of truth and righteousness. This study will explore how integrity impacts our walk with God and how it should shape our daily lives, regardless of our age or how long we’ve been walking with Christ.

Key Bible Verse:

Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV): "He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known."

Integrity isn’t just about doing the right thing when others are watching, but about making right choices that bring security and trust in our lives.

Humility

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A modest or low view of one’s own importance; freedom from pride/arrogance

Have you ever heard… “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.” Humility says .. even if I am the smartest person in the room, no one will ever know that I know that nor will I even give the slightest hint that that’s the way I perceive myself...

Humility is something that needs to be cultivated daily. Here are some practical ways to develop this virtue:

Serve Others: seek opportunities to serve.
Admit Mistakes and Ask for Forgiveness: admit when they are wrong & ask for forgiveness.
Submit to God’s Will: trusting God’s plan and submitting to His authority in every area of life.
Practice Gratitude: acknowledge that all good things come from God

Humility allows us to live in harmony with one another

Romans 12:16 - Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
Philippians 2:3-4 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Seeking to Devour

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

1 Peter 5:8 - Our Adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

I heard the analogy of when you're camping in a “wilderness,” some place where wildlife is prevalent or just possible to come in contact with, that you don’t leave food lying around.

Various dangerous creatures (Bears, Mountain Lions, Wolves, etc…) will venture into your camp to see what they can devour, and if you’re in the wrong place, or caught off guard, you’ll be devoured with whatever food is left lying around.

So… What food are you leaving out and unsecured that might lure the devil into your midst?

Essentially these are the temptations you don’t address or guard against

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 and again in chapter 18 that whatever body part causes us to stumble, to pluck it out, discard it and enter into the kingdom of heaven maimed or blind rather than being whole and thrust into hell fire.

This essentially is saying that you need to throw away anything that might get you to compromise your values, belief, faith, etc… Anything that will cause you to sin, in any way dispose of it, and dispose of it permanently As permanent as losing an arm or an eye would be.

Mind Full of Mush vs. Mindful of Much

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Do you have a Mind full of mush? Or… Are you mindful of much?

2 Corinthians 10:5 - Cast down everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Why do we struggle with thoughts?

Romans 7:19-25 - For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Roadblocks to Religious Discussions - Group Discussion

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Tune in to our little roundtable discussion as Terry, Jeremy and Lauren join me in discussing ways to navigate religious discussion with those of differing beliefs, and ways we have experienced planting the seed of God and His word in the minds of those we interact with.

Roadblocks in Religious Discussions

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

What is your opinion of Bible interpretations/versions?

How much have you personally researched it?

Which version do you typically gravitate towards?

Keep in mind, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

So… reading the bible, understanding it, following it, applying it, living by it, etc… it all up to me for me and my salvation, and ultimately if I get it wrong, I must give an account of it in judgment.

So…AT FIRST - What do we need to agree on?

Existence of God
All Powerful
All Knowing
All Present
Living
Jesus Christ is the Son of God
He was born
He was raised in Jewish custom
He was crucified by the Romans under Jewish leaders’ demands
He was raised on the 3rd day
Bible
The word of God
The only authority we have today

What else?

Confidence

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

At the heart of confidence is action. It’s the willingness to try. If you try you’re not going to die, you’ll learn something. When you learn something, it removes a little bit of the insecurity so it makes it slightly easier to try again.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(contextually, this is “ can overcome all things” or I can get through all things”)

What are you confident in?

Your ability in certain areas
If you're on a team, you can confidence in one another (teammates)
Your desire to excel at whatever you do

What about for the child of God?

The Nature of Angels

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

What are Angels (Greek - ANGULOS, Hebrew - MAL’AK or MALECH)?

Messengers
Ambassadors sent by God
obedient servants
subordinate to God who:
reflect His glory
Psalm 103:19-21
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
1 Timothy 5:21 - gives the idea of emissaries chosen by God
Direct our attention to God
Ministering Spirits to those who will inherit salvation

Doubting

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Doubt - fear/suspect

Call into question the truth
To be uncertain
To lack confidence
To consider unlikely
Uncertainty of belief
An inclination not to believe
Hesitation - Distrust - Skepticism

What do we have to Doubt?

Truth, Faith / Belief, Certainties?? Idk

When someone tells you they’ll do something, what is your immediate thought?

Do you believe them?
Do you question them?

Likely, the reason we doubt is because we have been let down before.

What does it take to overcome doubt?

Thomas needed to put his hand in the piercings. What do you need?

Making Good Contact

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

With the world series & playoff baseball just ending AND the fact that I’m on a golf weekend…

What does it take to make good contact?

Good Balance

Proper Timing

Keeping your eye on the ball

Hitting the sweet spot

Loading up to transfer power into the ball

Practice/Repetition

You must swing

Let’s use these ideas in how we can make a good connection to God? Make good contact…

Balance: priorities

Proper Timing: Put God First

Keep your eye on the ball: Stay focused

Hitting the Sweet spot: application of God’s word

Loading up to transfer power into the ball: study

Practice/Repetition: keep God’s commandments

You must swing: Get Started

The Measurement You Use

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What is your measurement device?

What's the scale you use to measure?

What are you measuring?

Why are you measuring?

Matthew 7:2 Whatever measure you use it will be measured back to you

The direct context is judging someone… the way you judge it;ll be judged back to you, whatever measure you use…

What is the measurement you use against yourself?

Is it different from what you use against others?

I’d argue that it should be, it’s necessary to be different. You may raise an eyebrow to that, but hear me out…

How Do You Involve Prayer In Your Life

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Tune in to our little roundtable discussion as Kevin, Kay and Lauren join me in discussing ways to incorporate prayer daily, how we learned how and when to pray and all that goes into developing the habit of regular prayer to our Father in heaven!

Prayer

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

We are called to renew our minds so that we don’t conform to the patter of the world Romans 12:2

And the only way to renew our minds is to do what we can to draw closer to God then James 4:8 says he’ll draw closer to me

I have come up with 4 ways to draw closer to God, in nor particular order:

Read His Word
Love & Serve Others
Serve God
Pray

Prayer is how we let God into our lives, and how we give our cares and worries over to Him. Think about it from the most basic of actions… Simply stating what needs to be stated. Getting something off your chest. You could be a skeptic and say that the whole prayer thing is just a “religious” practice, but has no real merit. Ok… why don’t you voice your cares and concerns out loud for a few days, and see if you don’t feel a little better. Then, maybe you’ll start to understand that when I give my cares and concerns to God, full belief knowing he cares for me 1 Peter 5:7, then I will have a peace that only God can provide through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:7

What does the bible say about Prayer?

We are to be:

faithful in prayer Romans 12:12
devoted in prayer Colossians 4:2
Continual in prayer 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Faithfulness

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Faithfulness - Likened to:

perseverance
obedience
trustworthiness

Jesus was faithful unto death, even death on a cross.

Revelation 2:10 - be faithful unto death and receive a crown of life.

Unfailingly Remaining Loyal - despite circumstances

Being a Parent

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Picture God’s face when we say

“I don’t need you, I can do it myself.”

“I can do this and it won’t be that big of deal.”

“I don’t need to talk to you.”

“I don’t need to listen to your words.”

“I don’t need people telling me how to fix my life.”

“I can all things I want and when I want”

“I hate you”

“I wish I was never born”

“It’s all your fault”

“I’m leaving”

Just picture the look of heartbreak and disappointment on His face.

Disputing

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Disputing

Argue
Discuss Heatedly
Opposing Views Discuss in Anger
Heated Argument Over Trivial Matters

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining or disputing

Why - (vs 15) that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

Sins That So Easily Trap Us

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

What is the difference between being tempted and being tested, in your experience?

Tested something to see if you pass (builds the fruit of the spirit)

Tempted is something to see if you fail (encourages the works of the flesh)

Splitting hairs… Maybe

Tested is normally something you can’t control (financial struggle, family turmoil, loss of a family member, something that requires patience, love, peace, etc… to get through)

Tempted is normally something you can/should control (lust, pride, etc… that is a desire of your heart)

Tested

Trials test your faith - James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Jesus was tested while he fasted 40 days in the wilderness without food, relying solely on God and his word to sustain him.

Tempted

James 1:13-14 - Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness with food, immortality and power.

The devil was fooled… He thought Jesus was just a man. Which he was a man, but he was God with us - Matthew 1:23 (Isaiah 7:14)

Dealing with Disrespect (applied)

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

You may remember the episode “Dealing with Disrespect” back on September 26th…

If you’re caught up, you also know about some things going on in my life that are less than ideal.

Don’t get me wrong, I also have a few things going on that are exciting and make my life complete.

But I wanna talk about things that I’ve had to deal with lately that have required me to apply this concept of dealing with disrespect.

Marriage - Public Education - Siblings

Can anyone relate to struggles in these areas?

Being Judgmental

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Casting Judgment vs Discernment

You might feel that I’m splitting hairs with this one, and maybe I am.

Too frequently people feel “judged” by others, probably most prevalent in the church. Then they blame the judgment and hypocrisy for the reasons they leave a congregation, or stop going to church altogether.

What is this “judgment” that is being cast?

Is it sending someone to hell, or saying they’re not going to heaven?
Is it making a statement about something that needs to be addressed
Modesty
Bad language
Something inappropriate??
Is it hypocritical to make these statements like these?

When Others Hurt

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

When Others hurt

When you know someone is hurting…

Loss of loved one
Dealing with life struggles (anything that causes internal or external turmoil)
Divorce
Job loss
Financial
Familial
Etc…

Most people when asked “How would you feel knowing _________ is hurting?”

They would want to know how they could help, what they could do, etc…

The experiences I have noticed is:

Some use these words “if there is anything I can do…”
I’ve found that the people that give specifics
I personally use “ask whatever you need, and if it’s in my power or ability…”

Picking Weeds

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

My christian walk is like picking weeds & trying to maintain a yard

The wind blows seeds, the rain allows those seeds to take root, Weeds spring up & before you know it, the yard is overgrown with weeds, shallow rooted (most of them) eye sores.

We all desire to have a manicured yard we can show off

What does that look like?

No weeds - a perpetual task
No dead spots
No bald spots
Proper & consistent height mowed
Perfect edges
Lush green
Thick - walk barefoot - grass
Maybe landscaping
Tree circle(s)
Flower bed(s)
Bushes/Hedges

To get the things we all would like to have, you first need to address the things to eliminate

When Life Hurts

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

When does life hurt for you?

Is the hurt normally emotional or physical?

Abuse
Age
Conflict
Loss
Mundaneness
Triggers

Life is terrible if you have no purpose.

Everything deteriorates, and hope is largely non-existent

What’s your purpose?

God
Family
Job
Money
Entertainment
Etc…

Baptism as the Bible Describes

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Water is cleansing - water is restorative - water saves…and it is all through the old testament

Lets just begin with creation

The waters were divided and creation came from water

Water is mentioned 722 times in the old testament

Noah was saved by water from the wickedness around him

The earth was cleaned of its impurity by a flood
Water got rid of the evil
Got rid of the old man
Made a way for the new man

Moses passed through the water to be saved from the Egyptians

To be saved from the evil
To be rescued
To be delivered

Washing with Water cleansed impurities or discharges in Leviticus 15

To be cleansed they were to wash clothes and bathe in water

In the new testament 1 Peter 3:21 - baptism now saves us!! Not removing the filth of the flesh, but an answer of a clean conscience towards God. This is shown as a saving similar to how Noah and the eight souls on the ark were saved by water.

Where is your focus?

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

“One day a woman gave her children a rock and a lollipop. They were instructed to put the rock in their shoe and walked down the street and back home with the rock in their shoe and the lollipop in their mouth. You should’ve heard the grumbling. They couldn’t walk normal because the rock was uncomfortable. They were limping and staggering just trying to get home.

When they came back in the house, she asked them what it was like for them to walk around like that. The answers varied, but mostly talked about how hard it was to walk around with the rock in their shoe. Nobody mentioned how sweet the lollipop was in their mouth.”

We often fail to realize God’s blessings because we put too much focus on the struggles of life.

Negativity is a tendency to be downbeat, disagreeable or skeptical; expecting the worst. An attitude that is not hopeful or enthusiastic.

Prolonged negativity diminishes your ability to think, reason and form memories.

In Numbers 11, the children of Israel (I GUESS) were tired of the manna they had to eat everyday to be nourished. You know… the manna they received from God when they complained about not being filled to the full, like they were in Egypt. Hmmmm… Now they are tired of only having manna, and they complained about not having meat to eat. Again, compared it to Egypt when they had fish o’plenty, or the mass amounts of fruit, whatever they wanted.

Rewards

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

What will keep you out of Heaven?

First of all, I believe the parable of the kingdom of heaven that compares it to the workers in the vineyard is a parable that gives some sort of license to people who drag their feet and they take each day for granted and say “I’ll do it tomorrow,” or is a reassurance to those who don’t hear the gospel until late in life and they can have the same reward as those who’ve practiced their walk in the spirit for decades.

Matthew 20:1-16 Workers in the vineyard

Some came early in the morning
Some came at the 3rd hour of the day
Some came at the 6th hour of the day
Some came at the 9th hour of the day
Some brought in from about the 11th hour of the day
All received 1 denarii
The outrage because the early workers didn’t think it was fair.

Self-righteousness - seeking the glory that belongs to God
Living for the flesh
Measuring the acts of others, but not applying that same measure to yourself
Willingly sinning
Keeping a ledger to gain your reward
Blaspheme the Holy Spirit

While it called today!!! Hebrews 3:13-15 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Faith: Living or Dead

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

What did you do to earn your salvation?

Some people will have an answer for that question, and it may go something like this:

I gave alms to the poor
I go to church every week
I pray every day
I help the orphans and the widows

Others won’t have an answer, or their answer is:

I didn’t
I can’t
I could never earn it
I there’s nothing I could ever do
Nothing will ever be enough

Maybe the question is wrong. Try this one: What does salvation require?

Christian Foundations

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

God -> Jesus -> Bible -> God

Most of what anyone says they believe about God, Jesus, the Bible itself is found in the bible. Many skeptics will say it’s a circular argument. Like trying to define a word by using the word itself.

I.e. If I were to teach you about Complementary angles and say “they are angles that are complements of each other.” Well, you might follow that up with “what are angles that are complements of each other?” to which the answer would be “Complementary angles.” Circular arguments don’t tell you anything.

So to say I believe the Bible is the truth because the Bible says it is, sounds like a circular argument.

However, the evidences of the bible are what validate the use of the bible to corroborate your belief.

From the Bible we learn about God and also His plan of salvation that includes Jesus, His Son.

False Sense of Security (part 2)

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

I do this little exercise, and it wasn’t for this purpose, but it is a byproduct of doing this thing…

I journal bible things and date the entries

I take notes and date the day I took notes
I write my prayers down as I pray (many times, but not always) then date the prayer
I draw pictures and use bible verses or bible language as the inspiration for the picture and date the picture.

Then as I open up a journal to use an empty page, I notice how long it was since I last journaled.

Journaling was the exercise that got me climbing out of a hole I dug myself in, and am still climbing out of. But it got me focusing on God’s word, and my need for Him. The dating of entries only led me to analyze… “MAN!!! It’s been a little while.”

There is a reason it’s called Daily Bread!!

We need God DAILY!!!

False Sense of Security (part 1)

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Exodus chapter 16

The Israelites have been wandering the wilderness for a few days/weeks, and they were concerned for what they would eat. The previous chapter they were concerned for going three days without water… all the while being led by GOD!! At any rate, they complained because they were filled with food in Egypt, and it would’ve been better had they died in Egypt because they were fed.

Uggghhhh - how frustrating people are… self-reliance, such a dependence on their feelings.

I will work myself to death, but at least I have a nice car

I hate my job, but at least I have ________________ insert any temporal pleasure, anything that in reality, doesn’t have much depth to it.

MATTHEW 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

But I digress… God heard the people’s complaints and caused bread to rain from heaven, but he heard them very well…

They said “we ate bread to the full” so God put a requirement that everyone only gather enough for the day for them to be full, and “Let no one leave any of it till morning.”

This is such a man’s response to this… I’m guilty of this... Hoarding or Stretching your blessings, trying to take something extra so you can have it later, or not eating until you’re full; thinking that you can split what you have to make it last another day, or two. They thought they were clever, and created this false sense of security - It’s from God. How can it go bad? How can I be wrong from keeping some for the next day? I don’t need to work tomorrow, I have enough for two days (three days, four…).

The stuff left until the next morning spoiled, worms and stank to high holy, and Moses was furious.

Paraphrasing Moses - “I told you to get what would fill you and not have any leftovers!” “I told you there would be some daily!” “Yet, you fools don’t listen, and think you know best!” “UUUGGGGHHH!”

So they realized God was serious, so they got for the day what they needed to be filled, and the rest of the manna melted.

God's Breath

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Being thankful is easy for the big stuff, you have a car, house, job, family, friends, food, etc…

Being hateful or resentful or angry…

What about being thankful for the most basic, seemingly menial, things God has given you?!

A new day
Opening your eyes
Every breath of each moment of your life

It would probably become extremely difficult to name all the things God has given us, without which we would likely be lost, helpless, hopeless or nonexistent. When we lose sight of the little things we’re blessed with, it’s incredibly easy to get entitled, or expectant, or lose our thanksgiving.

We know that when Adam was made, God breathed into him the breath of life that was put into his nostrils - Genesis 2:7

Let’s take a look at what breath given by God can do:

Jesus Breathed on the Apostles and they received the Holy Spirit! John 20:21-22
The Valley of the Dry Bones - Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. - Ezekiel 37:4-5
Psalm 104:29-30 - When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Science has told us that circulation of blood is dependent on, or the mechanism, that transfers oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.

Science has also told us that oxygen and carbon dioxide are brought in and expelled with every breath you take.

We do not survive without breathing. Life does not exist without the ability to breathe. God gave us His breath, and it is His breath that sustains us.

Job 33:4 - the breath of the Almighty gives me life

Job 27:3 - As long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils

Dealing with Disrespect

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

"You gotta give respect, to get respect!"

How do you respond when you're disrespected?

Be Forgiving
Focus on Doing What's Right
Practice what you Preach
Love your Neighbor

Go to God's Word to find what we are to do when faced with the daily difficult scenario of dealing with a disrespectful person.

Overcoming Yourself

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:52:02 +0000

You are your biggest enemy! How can we overcome self? What is our standard of life, that we live for or seek to achieve?

1) Blame - who's at fault when you're life is a mess?

2) Check your ego - what can I do to take accountability?

3) Walk in the Spirit - am I demonstrating the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life?

Everyone's Opinion

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 04:38:01 +0000

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both

Which One Are You

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 01:05:36 +0000

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

The Fall That Awaits

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 03:47:47 +0000

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Be Content

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 23:50:08 +0000

God calls us to be his workmanship, to demonstrate virtues that are pleasing to him. It is impossible to be virtuous without contentment.

Friendship

Sat, 16 May 2020 16:52:05 +0000

Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly

Kindness

Sat, 16 May 2020 16:04:48 +0000

How do you Express Love?

Discipline & Correction (Hebrews 12:6)

Showing kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Benefits of Prayer

Sat, 16 May 2020 15:55:17 +0000

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jesus is Patient

Sat, 16 May 2020 05:34:49 +0000

Throughout the gospels, Jesus clearly gets portrayed as a very patient man. After all, He was surrounded by disciples who constantly doubted him, Pharisees and Sadducees who continually attacked Him, and large crowds who wouldn’t leave Him alone. Despite all of that, He kept His composure and responded appropriately to every individual.

Jesus is Selfless

Sat, 16 May 2020 05:31:49 +0000

1 Peter 2:22-24 'Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously

Jesus is My Strength

Sat, 16 May 2020 05:22:53 +0000

Philipians 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Jesus is Forgiving

Thu, 14 May 2020 16:06:05 +0000

Luke 23:34

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Jesus is Humble

Thu, 14 May 2020 15:57:57 +0000

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Jesus is Love

Thu, 14 May 2020 15:44:26 +0000

Our greatest gift, the greatest attribute and the most needed thing in the world today is LOVE!! 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 spells out its importance:

thought I speak with tongues of men and angels
though I have the gift of prophecy
though I have faith to move mountains
though I give all my goods to the poor

IF I DO NOT HAVE LOVE IT PROFITS ME NOTHING!!!