The funny thing about fathering is that even though the influence is so great and the responsibility so intense, billions of us have done it. Some have fathered well and some have fathered poorly, but it isn’t exactly a role you go to school for. There is no small segment of professional fathers for the rest of us amateurs to look up to. No, we all have to figure it out and learn and grow as this role in life comes our way. (3 Minutes/700 Words)
Read moreFriend of Sinners, Part 2 (Mark 2:15)
Friend of Sinners Part 2
(Mark 2:15)
Now, the day of salvation in your life should be a day of celebration, and that's how Levi saw things. He invited Jesus to his house and invited his friends, many tax collectors and sinners. They gathered around the table and, as was their custom, reclined as they feasted together. It was a celebration, but also a farewell party. Levi had a new life, calling, and adventure in front of him. (4 Minutes/1000 Words)
Read moreThe Sleeper in the Stern (Psalm 107:28-31)
The Sleeper in the Stern
(Psalm 107:28-31)
Written hundreds of years before Christ came, Psalm 107 describes the handiwork of God. "He made the storm be still," the psalmist cried, "And the waves of the sea were hushed. He brought them to their desired haven." These lyrics, and the entire psalm, detail the power of God. (2 Minutes/600 Words)
Read moreIn the Beginning, God (Genesis 1:1)
In the Beginning, God
(Genesis 1:1)
Like the blast of a cannon, the book begins. There is no long preamble, with no introductory comments. Instead, we are thrust into the story, and the story starts with God, which immediately throws us into the metaphysical realm. (3 Minutes/800 Words)
Read moreFaith is the Way to God (Hebrews 11:4)
Faith is the Way to God
(Hebrews 11:4)
In his treatise on faith, the author of Hebrews will dissect the outworkings of faith in Old Testament characters. After detailing the creation account (Hebrews 11:3), he moved to his first subject, Abel. (3 Minutes/700 Words)
Read moreWe Need The Spirit's Power (Acts 1:8)
We Need The Spirit's Power
(Acts 1:8)
Jesus, man, sometimes he drops some wild stuff. The Spirit had come upon some of the Old Testament saints. They did some great things for God. David killed the giant. The prophets prophesied. Esther did her thing. But when God's Spirit came upon those Old Testament heroes, it was temporary and rare. He did not stay in them or upon them, nor did he empower all of them. (2 Minutes, 500 Words)
Read moreMake Dead Friends (Romans 15:4)
Make Dead Friends
(Romans 15:4)
While writing to the church about the proper handling of liberties, Paul encouraged his readers to develop a lot of dead friends. What I mean is, he thought the endurance required for the Christian life requires a relationship with the characters of the Old Testament. He saw the pages of his Bible as a limitless source of encouragement for the modern life of faith. (8 Minutes/1600 Words)
Read moreUnited in the Workplace — Slaves and Masters (Ephesians 6:5-9)
The situation of Paul’s day was horrific. Slavery teemed throughout the Roman world. Some estimate as much as half the empire was enslaved, a fact which was cause for concern amongst the ruling class. A rebellion was feared. Not only large in number, but slaves were also often highly educated, working as physicians, lawyers, and teachers. (3 Minutes, 600 Words)
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