Looking

Many times there are where we are looking back and looking down, but when do we STOP and look up and look forward?  Multiple times through each day we may stop with our feet, but to intentionally look up and to look forward, beyond what’s directly in front of us?  The disciple that was with Jesus through the crucifixion recorded these images.   “Then I saw heaven (above) opened, and a white horse was standing there.  Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fai...

Chords and Cords

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.  On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together with one accord, in one place.”  Chords and cords.Imagine a church (or family) like this today, as it was on this day and immediately following, strengthened from harmony, chords and cords.  A time and place where the evidence of God’s Spiri

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Stuck

We get stuck.  People get stuck, perhaps in the ruts of habits that hold us back in the past or stuck in the repetitive cycle of today and every day, with little memory of the past or the hope of tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow.  Alternatively, we might get stuck in the future, not being thankful to God for the blessings He has given us in the past or the smell of roses today.  Just stuck.  So how do we and people groups move forward, progressively and aggressivel...

Interruptions



Like it or not, we best plan for them, interruptions, for they seem to happen more than most like or appreciate regardless; be they casual or of great importance.  Those of you that like your uninterrupted schedule and yet have open doors know well this is true. But imagine this scene!  “The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.”  It’s one thing for a speaker or pastor with a message

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Belonging

Many today seem to not belong, not that they are so wired, rather, it’s an inside tape that plays.  It’s not a new thing, as I recall the Beatles’ lyrics, “all the lonely people.”  AI, be it Apple intelligence or artificial intelligence, we now have an additional inside voice, a certain belonging; and yet, there are innocent places that will turn to be the wrong place at the wrong time.“This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.”  The same letter and others are welcomin...

Load Bearing

Loads are meant to either be foundational or bearing, like walls.  Some walls do not really bear the load of the second floor structure.  Others walls, if weakened or removed would cause the structure to collapse. Rather than being a load inducer, one that causes another to bear a load, be a load sharer, a load bearing sharer!  That’s the observation and recommendation from one traveling pastor of record.  “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ...

Messaging

Many are taught to have an elevator speech polished and ready to deliver.  So what’s your message, on the tip of your tongue?The Apostle Peter admonished us, “Worship Christ as Lord of your life.  And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”  Have your message ready.  Jesus had taught him, as He does so with us, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” Is there a better message than that of a...

Boss

Colloquial or not, what’s a boss other than the one in charge of our tasks, the employer to the employee.  To think otherwise is, not wise!  The one in charge is, the authority, the boss.  And the boss’ expectation is that you do your job, yes? Which is to say, simply, obey for the related tasks.

Jesus said, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”  Lord means, simply speaking, boss.  After all, “Jesus added, “The Son of Man is Lord, even ...

Counter

My thoughts are not going toward counter-tops and home improvements, rather toward behavior patterns.  Knowingly or not, many of us counter one another in normal conversation. It may not seem intentional, but it is disruptive as a counter move.Jesus had just stated, “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.”  Now that was in conclusion.  We are then told, “On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching.  The tea...

Advance!

We often consider an advance being a financial transaction, a payment prior to the anticipated work to be completed.  An advance is also a military term, being “forward, ho!” I remember one leader wanting to take his staff on a retreat, but refused to call it anything but, an advance!  Some would say God is not engaging.  However, His record reveals otherwise, having acted in advance.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through ...

Exchange

It almost takes on a different meaning, that of exchange, in the current era of returned merchandise.  We then simply order the size or item “in exchange,” as it relates to our desire.  We also act as exchange students through various means.  More serious is the exchange negotiations for prisoners of war.Before our time, and even the time before Jesus, God revealed this as documented evidence.  “Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down...

Nightlife

Nightlife has a differing meaning across the spectrum of people and occupations, even generations, as we age from one bracket to another.  Our preoccupation with work and worry has a tendency to disrupt even our nightlife, of which many have set aside for social, hobby, schooling, relaxation, and yes, even sleep, in its time. 

As the psalmist penned, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”  You and I together could easily devise a lis...

Workie Workie

Yep.  That’s what we do, workie workie.  Never is our plan to fail, but often it does, so we, workie workie again, maybe (hopefully) differently.“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display His craftsmanship, the work of His hands.”  We read that God rested, stopping after the sixth day, but that was the work of creation, and setting an example for us.  The Bible does not say He quit being God and ruler of the created universe for a day, nor for a day a week ...

Wake Up!

Wake up! is an everyday command, regardless of how we have an alarm set or paused.  And there may be more than one alarm, one call, through the day.“So David took the spear and jug of water that were near King Saul’s head.”  Not bad for an enemy.  And David was not an enemy, but he was a threat (the next king).  “Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.  Then David shouted down to the ...

Happy Mother's Day

...as the FBC men honor the Mother's, serving a wonderful Brittany's Bruch! -- Gratefully. 

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