An Instrument of God’s Peace
July 17, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 2:1-4; John 12:44-50 FIELD NOTES This passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures. It is a vision of God’s Kingdom: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation nor will they train for war anymore.” In…
Read MoreSharing My Faith with Others
July 16, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 119:105-112; Deuteronomy 32:1-10; Romans 15:14-21 OR Psalm 65:9-13; Isaiah 48:6-11; Romans 15:14-21 FIELD NOTES I may be a pastor, but I often find it challenging to share my faith with others, especially people I think will be skeptical of my beliefs. I don’t want my evangelism to be a turnoff to…
Read MoreSigns from God
July 15, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 119:105-112; Exodus 3:1-6; Romans 2:12-16 FIELD NOTES How many times I have wished that God would send me a burning bush! We face so many decisions, big and small, in life. Should I change jobs? Move closer to an ailing parent? Adopt a child? It seems it would make life much easier if God would…
Read MoreJesus Washes Our Feet
July 14, 2021 DAILY READING Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 29:31-35; John 13:1-17 FIELD NOTES John is a gospel full of symbolism. In today’s passage in John, Jesus is not only literally washing the feet of the disciples, but he speaks of how he washes us clean spiritually. How beautiful it is to know that no matter what…
Read MoreReligious Rituals and Faith
July 13, 2021 DAILY READING Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 29:1-14; Romans 3:1-8 OR Psalm 131; Jeremiah 28:10-17; Romans 3:1-8 FIELD NOTES In this larger section of Romans, Paul fleshes out a theology of sin and what it means to be sinful. He tries to get at what it means to be righteous by exploring what it means…
Read MoreA Wrathful God
July 12, 2021 DAILY READING Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 27:30-46; Romans 1:18-25 OR Psalm 131; Jeremiah 27:1-11, 16-22; Romans 1:18-25 FIELD NOTES I 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…
Read MoreBreaking Sabbath (Rev. Allen Black)
This week’s preacher: Rev. Allen Black. We continue our series on the criticisms that Jesus received during his earthly ministry from his own people called “Critiquing Jesus.” Our Scripture reading: Mark 3:1-6
Read MoreSurrendering to the Life Guard
July 10, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:18-29 Luke 10:21-24 Psalm 145:8-14 Zechariah 4:1-7 FIELD NOTES Even 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 to save you, please remember…
Read More“Yes, But” vs “Yes, And”
July 9, 2021 DAILY READING Romans 7:7-20 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:1-17 Zechariah 2:6-13 Psalm 145:8-14 FIELD NOTES Paul’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 I do not do the good…
Read MoreAction vs. Blame
July 8, 2021 DAILY READING Zechariah 1:1-16 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 25:19-27 Romans 7:1-6 Psalm 145:8-14 FIELD NOTES Richard 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. Richard Nixon, then, escorted Mrs. Muriel Humphrey at his funeral. Historians…
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