Reading with the Pastor John 16 and Psalms 133-135 Travails in the Schoenleber family have kept me from posting anything new for more than a week but I hope it hasn’t kept you from reading with the pastor. Today we come to John 16 and Psalms 133-135. It is a good selection to be coupled … More Waking Up Angels
Psalms 109 Psalm 109 is a difficult psalm to pray if you have a weak view of God’s holiness and the ferocity of His love for His people. In comparison to David, our prayers are soft-headed when placed alongside David’s robust boldness in praying not only for God to bless him but to vanquish his … More Praying to a Ferocious Lover
I’m reading a novel that was first published 71 years ago. I don’t know how it got to my shelf. I never heard of it before. It has a terrible cover. It probably got shelved from a set of books that were donated to me. The author is unknown to me. But the 1985 copy … More Schizophrenic Pastors
Reading with the Pastor Luke 19 and Psalm 100-101 It has been fun to see how appropriate the coupling of these psalms with the Gospel portions has turned out to be. Today, we read two short psalms and the familiar story of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to get a better glimpse of Jesus. Don’t you … More A Postcard from God
Friday is for Discipleship Random thoughts on Psalm 119 Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Does this word not imply that my eyes are closed and blind to the beauty and wonder of His word? What can closed eyes see? NOTHING! They can distinguish nothing, not even … More When You KNOW You Don’t Measure Up
Reading with the Pastor Mark 3 and Psalm 73 Today we are reading chapter 3 in the Gospel of Mark again because it is a critical chapter in the book. One of the reasons it is so critical is the clarity of what discipleship looked like for the disciples. The verses to examine are 13-15. … More The Reason We Aren’t Making Disciples is Simple
Reading with the Pastor James 3 and Psalm 56-57 As a teacher, it is hard for me to get past verse 1 of chapter 3 in the letter of James. “Let not many of you become teachers, my brothers, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” There is a weight that any teacher … More How is it Possible to Write Without Pain?
Reading with the Pastor Mark 7 and Psalm 42-43 Today’s readings are sobering and exciting. The Pharisees continue to fight the teaching and ministry of Christ. Even though they have the Scripture, they don’t understand it. Nevertheless, a Gentile woman expresses faith in Christ and a desire to receive His blessing and healing for her … More How About This on Your Gravestone?
Reading with the Pastor Mark 1 and Psalm 37:1-22 As you are reading Mark today, don’t miss verse 35-39, but especially verse 35. These verses and the lifestyle that they hint at are a constant challenge to me as a morning-shunning night-person. 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed … More I Hate Mornings But Jesus Didn’t
First Picture Judas betrays Christ for 30 pieces of silver and then when he sees that Jesus is condemned to death returns to the chief priests and elders of Israel and says “I have betrayed innocent blood.” They, however, show no remorse or retreat from their decision to kill Jesus whereupon, Judas takes the money and … More Warped Righteousness
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