6/16/24 – Dwindling Discipleship?

Question: “What is the cause of the decline in Christianity in America, and what are we to do about it?”   ——–While you might find this question to be a two-parter, it is actually a three-part question, as we must determine if there is actually a decline in ‘Christianity’ in America, or is it more a

1/29/24 – Losing “Heart”?

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought to pray and not lose heart. ——– I suppose you know this is about the parable of the persistent widow …. Someone who needed help, and though they frequently petitioned the local judge for relief, was ignored or rebuffed over and

1/26/24 – Holy “Word”-iness

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ——- Much has been assumed and theorized over time about what was meant by John as he quoted this statement, and it is clearly meant to tie Jesus to God the Father in some way, as

12/26/23 – FULL Agenda?

Galatians 4:4a But when the fullness of time had come, ——— The very first thing to point out about this partial verse is that it is indeed a partial verse, and I intend to deal with it as a totally separate truth of God – His timing, rather than the reason for the verse, the

11/13/23 – Future Promises

Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. I have told you how DAD often speaks to me in ways I don’t expect. Well, this morning as I hopped in the shower, I set

9/30/23 – Promise Perfect

2 Samuel 22:31a God’s way is perfect.  All the Lord’s promises prove true… ——- By now, you know that 2 Samuel covers the time of David’s reign, and we know that David was often beset by enemies that he could not best by himself.  This verse is one of those quotes in Scripture that prove

6/9/23 – Blindly Existing?

Isaiah 42:16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. ——–

2/14/23 – Willing Will

>>> A point of privilege. I began these lectio writings when a friend told me I had become his ‘pastor’. To me, he was better grounded as a Christian than I was, and that made me wonder how he could make such a statement. It made me want to be better in my own faith,

2/13/23 – Words Matter

Deuteronomy 32:1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. ——– It is believed that Moses wrote Deuteronomy, so we have Moses talking about teaching the people about God.  This makes plenty of sense when you realize that Moses probably only wrote the entirety of

2/4/23 – Heading Home?

Psalm 53:2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. —— This psalm starts out telling a truth that we see more of now than possibly any other time of our existence – that people deny the existence of God.  The psalm calls

1/31/23 – Testimony “Placement”

Revelation 1:9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. ——— I think you know some background on the

1/30/23 – Slave Results

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ——- Our writer is intent on anchoring the church’s understanding that they are freed from death through sin because of Jesus’ sacrifice for them. 

1/28/23 – Treasure Jars

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ——- This section of the letter from Paul to the Crointhians is about the treasure of the Life given from the sacrifice by Jesus.  Paul recounts the gift of salvation

1/20/23 – Path Foreknowledge

Psalm 139:9-10a If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, ———- The psalm that asks God to discern one’s spirit is all about the ever-present God.  It is David’s song acknowledging that God is everywhere at all

1/17/23 – Life “Deliverables”

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. ——– As is often the case, David is offering up praise and thanks to God.  In this instance, we find David again concerned with

1/16/23 – Gated Community?

John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ——– Some might not know that the gate Jesus is talking about here in this quote from him is the gate to the sheep pen, where the sheep are kept at night

1/3/23 – Final Answer….!

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. ——- You might know by now that Zechariah had the duty to prophecy during the Exile, and in this first chapter the ‘problem’ is

1/2/23 – Beginning “Re-Newed” [Happy New Year!]

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, you are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your creator. ——— I know you know that Paul is talking about new life in this section of his letter.  It is wholly appropriate for the first day of a new year, and I am

12/27/22 – Uncondemned Life

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ——- The eighth chapter of Romans is something like an executive summary of God’s Plan, and brings into focus the eternal side of our existence as the focus.  It delves deeper by pointing to the true foundation of all things,

12/25/22 – Birthing “Anti-Death”

Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ——- Did you know that certain translations subtitle this section of Romans “Peace with God through Faith”?  It is about the whole of The Tapestry of Creation,

12/23/22 – Denied Connection

Matthew 10:33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. ——– This is the section of Jesus’ story where He calls the disciples to Him and delegates His authority to them to heal, drive out demons and take away afflictions.  In other words, we see God’s

12/21/22 – Soulful Connection

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. ——– The entire chapter of Ezekiel is

12/18/22 – Calling, Calling

Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about Him – that everyone who puts his trust in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. ——This is the story of God sending Peter to a Gentile Centurion as a way of showing Peter that all God’s Creation is ‘clean’.  This is, as you know, directly opposed

12/17/22 – “Namely” One

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” ——– This chapter of Acts has Peter and John standing before the Council explaining their preaching of Jesus being resurrected and proclaiming salvation only through Christ.  They wind up

12/11/22 – Gladness Unmourned

Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, ——- We have been in Psalm 30 before, it is subtitled Joy Comes with the Morning.  It was composed for the dedication of the Temple.  It starts out like most of David’s songs, with