Posts by jhumphries

July 10, 2017 Daily ReadingRomans 1:18-25Song of Solomon 2:8-13Genesis 27:30-46This week’s sermon text: Mark 6:30-32 Field NotesI have to admit, I really struggle with passages that are full of God’s wrath and judgment like the passage from Romans today. I like to think of God as loving and gracious, not angry and scornful. But it…

July 8, 2017 Daily Reading Luke 10:21-24 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:18-29 Zechariah 4:1-7 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesEven the greatest swimmers cannot swim forever stranded in the Pacific Ocean without help. They need someone to save them. They need a savior. If you are ever drowning in water and someone comes…

 July 7, 2017 Daily Reading Romans 7:7-20 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:1-17 Zechariah 2:6-13 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesPaul’s inner conflict is ours, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For…

July 6, 2017 Daily Reading Zechariah 1:1-16 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 25:19-27 Romans 7:1-6 Psalm 145:8-14 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesRichard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were bitter political enemies. Just before he died, Humphrey told Nixon that life was too short to be bitter enemies. He asked Nixon to forgive him. They reconciled.…

 July 5, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 Matthew 11:20-24 Isaiah 51:1-3 Psalm 119:161-168 Jeremiah 18:1-11 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesOne person held the 4 key positions at a church I pastored. He told me that God had provided many miracles for his family and him during the previous 3 years. After we…

July 4, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 1 John 4:1-6 1 Kings 18:36-39 Psalm 119:161-168 1 Kings 21:1-16 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field Notes Happy 4th of July!  What word from God does our nation need right now?  In our scripture, John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are…

July 3, 2017 Daily Reading Psalm 47 Genesis 22:15-18 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Psalm 119:161-168 1 Kings 21:1-16 This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11 Field NotesHappiness depends upon events that happen such as jokes, celebrations, and victories. When the event is over, the happiness fades. Joy comes from a relationship. No matter what happens to us,…

July 1, 2017 Daily Reading Luke 17:1-4 Psalm 13 This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesLuke shows Jesus teaching his disciples to forgive within their closely bound fellowship. Jesus is realistic. In any community, members sometimes cause hurt to each other. Sin keeps us from living in true relationship with God and our neighbors.…

June 30, 2017 Daily Reading Galatians 5:2-12 Psalm 13 This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesFreedom is a fine Biblical word, and approaching July 4, we remember that a Bible verse about freedom is engraved inside our Liberty Bell, Leviticus 25:10. Galatians 5 begins with another verse we hear often, “For freedom Christ has…

June 29, 2017 Daily Reading Micah 7:18-20 Psalm 13 This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesWe know God first through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and we also know God as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. God sees and responds to our distress, and as with Hagar, God’s mercy reaches the outcast…