Posts by jhumphries

February 12, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 110:1-4 Exodus 19:7-25 Hebrews 2:1-4 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:34 FIELD NOTESFebruary is American Heart Month, intended to raise awareness of heart disease and its prevention. Cardiologists encourage healthy eating and regular exercise, but they also know there is more to a healthy heart than “dos and don’ts.” Sometimes…

February 10, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 50:1-6 1 Kings 16:1-7 Luke 19:41-44 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 6:10-24 FIELD NOTESThis morning I glanced through some headlines in the news. Far too many of them spoke of war, violence, and genocide. Many of the headlines were minor headlines, yet the stories recounted the killing of hundreds of…

February 9, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 50:1-6 1 Kings 14:1-18 1 Timothy 1:12-20 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 6:10-24 FIELD NOTESOftentimes, my mind and activity each day and week are consumed with work, family needs, and my own need to rest. While none of these are inherently bad ways to spend my time, I often find…

February 8, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 50:1-6 1 Kings 11:26-40 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 6:10-24 FIELD NOTES Have you ever roasted garlic or onions on the stove or cooked bacon or fish in your house? As these ingredients heat up, your whole house starts to smell of their pungent fragrance. It permeates…

February 7, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 102:12-28 Job 6:1-13 Mark 3:7-12 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 6:10-24 FIELD NOTESAll of this talk about miracles raises some questions for me. Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible because in it, Job asks some of the deepest, most challenging questions of God. In the book,…

February 6, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 102:12-28 2 Kings 8:1-6 Acts 15:36-41 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 6:10-24 FIELD NOTESWhat struck me in our readings today, specifically in Acts, is something small, really a minute detail. Acts 15:36 says, “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the believers in every…

February 3, 2018 DAILY READING Matthew 12:9-14 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 4:19-27 FIELD NOTES In this passage, the Pharisees are trying to set a trap for Jesus. He has entered the Pharisees home turf—the synagogue—and they confront him (a staged scene, I suspect) with a man who has a “withered hand.” Since most of the…

February 2, 2018 DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 9:1-16 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 4:19-27 FIELD NOTESFrom this passage, we learn that some apostles felt the freedom to take advantage of their status and rights. They married and received financial payment for their ministry work. They were afforded certain privileges and they took them. Paul doesn’t see…

February 1, 2018 DAILY READING Galatians 5:2-15 This weekend’s reading: Daniel 4:19-27 FIELD NOTES“Jesus, United by Thy Grace” Jesus, united by thy graceAnd each to each endeared,With confidence we seek thy faceAnd know our prayer is heard. Up unto thee, our living HeadLet us in all things grow;Till thou hast made us free indeedAnd spotless…