Tag: wisdom

  • Speed Check

    Speed Check

    Isaiah 56:1–8; Ezekiel 2:1–10 When you’re driving, do you continue to check your speed? What do you do when you check a speed limit sign? A speed limit sign cannot make you stop speeding. A speed limit sign cannot make you speed up. A speed limit sign can only tell what the authorities have set…

  • Whose Crown?

    Whose Crown?

    1 Samuel 8:1–22; Mark 10:35–45; 1 Corinthians 1:20–25 One cannot say the beginning of the fall of Israel was at the point they demanded a king. God pointed this out to disappointed Samuel. Israel’s “desire” for a king showed that Israel’s heart continued to not focus on God. Samuel’s sons were a mess. In no…

  • Calling One; Calling All

    Calling One; Calling All

    Luke 3:7–16; 2 Peter 1:3–15 What is calling? For pastors, their calling is…being a pastor. Even how “being a pastor” changes depending on character, passions, and context. However, due to the influence of the Roman Catholic church (statement not fault-finding), most Protestant traditions (there are some exceptions) use the word “calling” for only one “calling”…being…

  • Passionate Rightful Love

    Passionate Rightful Love

    Luke 11:14–28; Romans 12:9–21 Can you think of a house that is divided? It shouldn’t be hard at this point. It is displayed for the whole world to see. The United States has a motto: E pluribus unum. It means, “Out of many, one.” Yet it seems that instead, it ought to be, “E pluribus…

  • There’s Lots More

    Matthew 13:1–23; 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; James 1:5–8 One of the arguments against God and the saving work of Jesus Christ is that people can’t see God. And there isn’t much to say against that. What often goes along with that is seeing the “work” of God. This is ever present, and ever available. People are…

  • Calling

    Calling

    Matthew 11:16–19; Matthew 12:22–28; Matthew 21:23–27 Authenticity is appreciated. Hypocrisy is condemned. That is nothing new. What is more, the issue than even whether something is called authentic or hypocritical is when something is declared such (either way). Both Jesus’ and John’s ministries could have been declared authentic. With both men, you got what you…

  • A Little Prophesying

    A Little Prophesying

    Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Jeremiah 28:1–9 Doomsday prophets are certainly a thing. There are a lot of them, and of varying kinds: epidemiologist (disease), environment, morality, political, sexuality, education, freedom, financial, and so on and on. Doom sells. Doomsayers may also be helpful to guide us toward some sort of preparation or change. At this…

  • Pour

    Pour

    Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 19:12–27 (read online ⧉) If you’re like most people in the US, you have a retirement account. If you’ve retired, the stock market swings may not affect you very much, except for secondary investments. If you are not retired or have other significant investments in the stock market, your stock funds—your financial…