1 Thessalonians 5:11 3/31/2026

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Little verse, big impact… Does this describe your friend group? Just prior to this verse, Paul says that we are destined to live with Jesus, and THAT is why we encourage each other… This indicates that the encouragement offered is substantial.  Not trivial surface compliments but reminding others that Jesus loves them and their destiny is secure.  Speaking real value into them, pointing out their spiritual gifts,  and helping them not to be distracted by the cheap trinkets and awards offered by this world.

So, let’s consider what percentage of the words you speak today fall into that category? How much of what leaves your mouth will be intended to encourage and build up someone else?

I recently attended a buddies retirement celebration and many people stood up and encouraged my friend, and it was a wonderful event… but why do we wait until retirement?  Why as Christians don’t we do this daily?  This verse doesn’t seem to be a suggestion. It seems more like a directive. What if quarterly, you and your friends met for dinner and designated that time to intentionally encourage and build each other up? This verse indicates that the Thessalonians were doing things like that, and Paul tells them to keep up the great work. 

This is definitely not the pattern we follow today. We instead tear each other down “in jest” or offer shallow compliments that lack substance.  So let me challenge you to obey this little verse today, on purpose.  

Plan a “celebration” of one of your friends …Get some buddies together and build that person up.  Tell them what you appreciate about them; tell stories about the great times you have had… tell them how they have impacted your life, bring some pictures of the fun times you have shared…. basically, tell them you love them, and then tell them why.  

It might feel a little weird, but what is weird is that we usually wait to do this until a funeral, or retirement, or someone is moving away… why? That makes no sense. Do it now… If you commit to obeying this verse, the only person who will be blessed more than the friend you are encouraging will be you. 

“Words give life; words bring death—you choose.” George Herbert Mead

Romans 11:22 3/24/2026

“Take notice, therefor, of the kindness and severity of God.“ 

Why do we insist on pushing only one attribute of God over the other? Some of us are obsessed with not offending anyone… So, we only talk about the love of God. Continuously quoting 1 John which says, “ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love”. 

On the other hand, Jesus said be “Salty”… because we are the salt of the earth… So, some of us think that means we must gag people with our saltiness, self-righteously offending everyone who disagrees with us. 

Unfortunately, both approaches are incomplete. The kindness and severity of God go hand in hand.  We should be consistently loving of sinners, but unapologetically salty toward their sin. The confusion develops because these days anything short of unbridled agreement and acceptance is labeled as hate. 

But this verse says God is more complicated than that.  He is your loving heavenly Father, and a terrifying omnipotent Judge.  He is kind and severe, loving and holy. In fact, it is His holiness that demanded the horrific sacrifice of His Son which demonstrated His incomprehensible love for us. That was the massive cost required to allow us to spend eternity with Him. 

If in every Sunday morning sermon you get beat up, and never hear about the love of God, then your Pastor has missed a defining attribute of God.  If after each sermon you leave feeling like the sin you tolerate is acceptable,  then you’re not being taught about the non-compromising, omniscient Judge whose clear demand is perfection… and the problem is, God is both. 

So, the question is do you worship the God of the Bible, or have you created your own little idol that comfortably fits your worldview? Are you salty in the right amount? Do people choke on your self-proclaimed righteousness, or is your life drab, tasteless, and without godliness?  Our mission is to make disciples. Sometimes that requires a hug, sometimes a reprimand. 

The Gospel is clear. God is a King, and a Father. We are to approach Him with faith and obedience. Never ignore sin. Never doubt the power of the cross… Embrace the attributes of God that make you uncomfortable. He didn’t die to make us comfortable; He died to make us holy.

“His love is holy love, not soft indulgence.” - A. W. Tozer

Nehemiah 1:4 3/17/2026

“Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying …”

Nehemiah hears that Jerusalem was in trouble, the walls were down, and his countrymen were suffering. His response was to spend days fasting and praying. Then he asked King Artaxerxes to send him to Jerusalem to restore the city. 

So, Nehemiah’s response to crisis appears to be fasting, being still and talking to God extensively, and then getting involved. Is that how you and I handle situations when friends are in trouble? Most of us will say a short prayer, a few will fast, and some will offer advice… but not many will show up and get involved.

Back when I was a Head Coach, I once attempted to run a game from the Press Box. It was easy to sit up high and see mistakes. It helped me view the field, but I could never get the “vantage point” I had on the sidelines. I couldn’t read our team’s attitude or feel momentum change. It was difficult to make good decisions because I wasn’t close to the action. 

It reminded me of a principle illustrated by a plaque my Dad had in His office. It was a speech written by Roman General Paullus about a battle he was fighting in Macedonia. It basically said, if you want to give advice on the war, come with us. We will give you a horse and weapons, but if you just want to talk, stay in the city. 

I think this principal applies to Christians.  When our brothers are in peril, we aren’t called to only give advice… we are called to stand next to each other in combat. 

Everybody has opinions… But good friends, pray hard, and then run to the battle. They don’t sit comfortably and send recommendations; they enter the skirmish. When those you love are in trouble, hit your knees and pray. Communicate with God about it. Then instead of sending your advice… suit up and bring it with you as you fight side by side for your friend.

“The city itself furnishes an abundance of staples for conversation; let it confine its passion for talking within its own precincts, and rest assured that we shall pay no attention to any councils but such as shall be framed within our camp."  - Aemilius Paullus

Ephesians 2:10 3/10/2026

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

The American dream conjures up pictures of retiring in a lounge chair on a beach or sitting on the back porch gazing at the mountains. We dream of working hard, making our mark, and then coasting into retirement.  

That sounds good and has been promoted to us continuously, but there is one small problem…. Retirement isn’t found anywhere in the Bible. (See Moses, Abraham, John the Apostle, etc.) Even the Levites working in the tent of the meeting, who got to stop the heavy lifting at 50, continued to labor for the Lord. 

Our verse this morning clearly says we ARE God’s work, created to DO God’s work,  and there is no expiration date on our usefulness as it is to be our way of life. So, you may be able to retire from your professional “busyness”, but that simply allows you more time to chase what matters. 

In fact, this passage indicates that your schedule for today was created before you were.  What if those of us who are “more seasoned” didn’t follow society's expectations that we rest on our achievements – and instead enthusiastically pursued the good work God still has planned for us to do.  How energizing is it to know that, by God opening your eyes this morning, He is indicating that He still has tasks for you to complete. 

Young people in our culture have been rebuked for not valuing their elders… But perhaps we older ones need a little scolding for allowing age to make us question our ability, stamina, and importance. 

There is a difference between resting and being idle. Resting temporarily is necessary; it refreshes and strengthens you. Being idle is detrimental and allows you to drift into ineffectiveness. Paul said he “finished the race.” Races are finished sprinting to the end and leaning into the tape. Quit looking for an easy chair and instead run hard after what God has specifically equipped you to do today. 

Each year that you have lived has given you more wisdom and knowledge, training you to achieve the tasks God has planned for you today. So, saddle up. You can retire when you hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant”. 

“Don’t let the Old man in” – Clint Eastwood

2 Chron 34:18-19 3/3/2026

“Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.”  

As I was reading scripture this morning I struggled to concentrate. I have lots of things to do today so I was rushing through my quiet time. Then I read this: “When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes…” and it stopped me in my tracks. It dawned on me that putting in time is irrelevant if I don’t put in passion. When King Josiah came across the book of the Lord he was devastated by its reading… It changed his heart and changed his course - and God noticed. 

It is embarrassing to contrast my response to scripture this morning with King Josiah’s reaction. We are both reading words from the one and only True God - but he reacted with emotion and commitment… while I, at best, checked a box. 

When is the last time we figuratively “tore our clothes” and wept at the reading of God’s word? Do we view the Bible as a powerful treasure and allow its sacred words to penetrate our hearts? Men have been burned at the stake for translating this book allowing us to read its divine revelations and yet we rush through it, viewing it as a discipline instead of a gift. Instead of allowing it to expose our sin and falling on our faces in repentance… We put in our time and go about our day.

That must change. The Word of The Lord should strike like lightening, pierce our core, and change our direction. Each day we should be destroyed by God’s unattainable holiness, and reborn by His unimaginable grace. 

This morning, after reading God’s love letter containing its commandments and messages of restoration, spend the rest of the day wondering why an all-powerful, all-knowing God would choose to communicate with us in the first place. Let your unworthiness drive you to figuratively “tear your clothes”. Whenever you read about God’s love, it should hit you as if you’re hearing it for the first time.

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us … let God do most of the talking.”  — D.L. Moody

2 Chron 1:6-7

“And Solomon went up there before the LORD to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

I have long been aware that God offered to grant any request King Solomon made.  Solomon was rewarded for requesting wisdom and given much more. But what I was not aware of, is the part of our passage this morning which comes just prior to God’s offer.

Like Solomon, I have often asked for wisdom. But in reading this passage I realize my heart may not have been like his.  Apparently, the king spent an entire day and a significant amount of money just glorifying God with 1000 burnt offerings. He never asked for anything… This is apparently an important event, as it is recorded in 1 Kings 3:4 as well. 

I am not sure how much each offering cost or how long they took to burn but Solomon spent a significant amount of time and invested substantial resources worshipping God. He was praising God for what He had done not asking Him to do anything else … In fact, it was God who asked Solomon what He could give him. 

And that is the convicting point this morning…. What is the longest I have ever spent on my knees just praising God? When is the last time I prayed… thanked Him for all He has done for me… and then went about my day? To be honest with you I don’t know if that has ever happened.  Instead of “hallowed be thy name” I usually open with take care of me, bless me, protect me. “Thy will be done” is often polluted with “My will be done”.  When I bow my head, it is almost automatic for me to start asking for things…. maybe not always things for me but asking and petitioning all the same.  

What would God’s response be if we invested a full day and significant resources in just worshiping Him and not requesting anything? Are we capable of that? Perhaps today we should simply make the request for the ability to pray without making requests.

“Prayer is not a means of getting what we want, but of becoming what God wants us to be.” - A. W. Tozer

Proverbs 8:22 2/17/2026

“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.”

The “me” in this verse, references wisdom. Wisdom predates all the riches of God’s creation. Prior to beachfront ocean views, prior to the majesty of mountain ranges, before there were starry constellations, or powerful rain clouds…wisdom was there. 

What does that mean? Lots of people have opinions about that question. Some struggle because “me” could be referring to Christ, and the Hebrew verb “qanah” accurately translated here as “possessed” is sometimes translated as “created”.  There is a rabbit hole there, that some have fallen into and landed in heresy.  

This passage has multiple applications but one is that it poetically describes wisdom as an attribute of God prior to creation. And when you don’t seek God’s wisdom, or worse reject it, you are denying the very substance of what is an eternal reality.  

We believe we determine what is wise. But when you begin speaking of your own truth, your own reality, or your own wisdom, you’re existing in an imaginary world.  Wisdom is not owned or defined by us. It is not debatable, nor does it seek our validation. It is static, established and clearly illuminated in the Living Word of God.  He has revealed what has eternally been part of Himself in order to help us navigate the life He has given us. 

Yet instead of embracing wisdom we try to reshape it. The problem is that it predates us and was instrumental in our design. Our attempts to remodel wisdom are as foolish as thinking a painting can change the painter…it only works the other way around.

Wisdom is established and essential. Scripture says, “…whoever finds wisdom, finds life and obtains the favor of the Lord.” Obtaining the Lord’s favor should be your priority, so seeking wisdom should be a common practice, and true wisdom is only found in Scripture … Stop trying to change wisdom to fit your lifestyle and start changing your lifestyle to fit wisdom.

Knowledge is important. Even after you graduate, never stop pursuing your education… But filter everything you learn through the eternal, unmovable, precise standards recorded in the Word of God. That is your pathway to wisdom, and if you find that, you find life and obtain favor from the Lord. 

"To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom." - Charles Spurgeon

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 2/10/26

“For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”

Some of us are all too eager to reprimand our brothers. You know who you are, so don’t use this entry as an excuse to be harsh.  But to the rest of us, this passage illustrates that, in order to make disciples, we must not only encourage, support, and model… but at times, admonish as well.

Our culture doesn’t respond well to correction.  If I disagree with someone, I hate them… If I don’t embrace sin, I’m judgmental.  If I say someone lacks discipline (as Paul does here) I’m a bully. We embrace scripture when it makes us “FEEL” better, but we balk at it when it demands we “BE” better.

As a coach, I loved my players, and I focused on encouraging. But I didn’t hesitate to correct problems.  I didn’t waste time sugarcoating – I just pointed out problems and expected them to be corrected. 

As a Christian, I’m not only urged in Matthew 18 to point out sin – I’m commanded to do it. In 2 Timothy it says, “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting …”. Yet, rebuking and correcting aren’t considered acceptable in our culture, nor in many churches.

The opposition argues that we are commanded to speak the truth “IN LOVE”.  That is true, and it is good that we  major on love, but we cannot minor on truth. Scripture makes no distinction of importance between the two when issuing the command.  In fact, they are indivisible. I cannot love you without telling you the truth. 

People’s feelings matter, but their eternal destiny matters more…  If you enjoy reprimanding people, then you’re doing it wrong. Reprimanding is difficult and it must be motivated by love and concern for the one being reprimanded… and though it is hard, the verse after this passage tells me to never tire of trying.  Happiness is not our target, Holiness is… We are instructed to point out sin wherever we see it… whether it’s in our brother, or in our mirror.

"In the long run, the most unpleasant truth is a safer companion than a pleasant falsehood." — Theodore Roosevelt

1 Chron 28:10 2/3/2026

“Consider now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”

In this verse we get some “coach talk” from David to his boy.  He tells Solomon that God has got a job for him to do, so he needs to get busy. Then ten verses later,  in case Solomon missed it, David repeats himself,  “Be strong and courageous and do it.” 

David is being the kind of father we need more of today, sending the message that when God gives marching orders the question is not “IF”, but “HOW” to do it. And that question cannot be allowed to linger too long. The correct response to God’s instructions is to boldly take the first step and trust Him for the second.

Unfortunately, we seldom do that. Our culture suffers from paralysis by analysis.  Our standard operating procedure is to talk any dilemma to death. We have become afraid to act. As parents we negotiate instead of discipline. As consumers we search the web endlessly before we purchase even meaningless items.  As managers we have committees to discuss committees. If our forefathers had this life approach we would still be in England, wondering what happens when you sail over the horizon. 

Let me be clear, research is important for making solid decisions. And it’s wise to consider your options prior to implementing a plan… But once the plan is in place, you need to saddle up or go home.  Plans don’t fix problems -  The courageous implementation of plans does. 

When making life decisions there is really only one question that needs to be answered… “Is this what God wants me to do?”  And that’s a very important question. Research it, pray about it, seek godly counsel…. but once you’ve decided what God wants you to do  – stop all the hand wringing and second guessing – and just be strong and do it! 

The longest journey starts with one step. Being afraid to take that step often prevents us from achieving the incredible things God has planned for us. Consider what the Lord has chosen for you. Confirm it through scripture, prayer, and wise counsel – then get out of your comfort zone, pull the trigger, and get it done. 

“Risk is the antithesis of mediocrity and the certain sign that you’re not infected by it.” - Craig D. Lounsbrough

Acts 3:3-4

“When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. …”

In this passage Peter and John were entering the Temple for an important meeting launching the New Testament Church. Sitting close to the entrance was a beggar, and scripture points out something interesting.  It says that Peter and John “looked straight at him”.  That verse caught my attention…  because I often don’t. 

Sometimes when I see someone in need I look away, making sure I don’t catch their eye. This causes me to miss opportunities to minister because, unlike Peter and John, I’m not looking for them. Instead of being eager to spontaneously share the love of God, I find myself either busy or uncomfortable.  This makes me a hypocrite, praying I will be used by God as I rush past His children while they beg for help. 

As a Christian, I should understand that I’m more likely to have opportunities to witness on my way to church - than once I arrive. And I miss those opportunities when I’m not looking for them. The battlefield for evangelism is in offices, restaurants, classrooms, and public gatherings. Jesus said His disciples will be recognized by the way they love… and you can’t love someone if you’re not willing to look at them.

The next few verses in this passage show the importance of John and Peter noticing the beggar. God uses this crippled man to attract people so Peter could preach the gospel -  and that doesn’t happen unless Peter and John stop and look into his eyes.  

They didn’t see this meeting as uncomfortable, because they saw him as a child of God… They didn’t see his handicap, his skin color, nor his political affiliation … They saw a man that God loves, in need of help. They looked him in the eye, and gave him the truth about his condition, and a way for him to be healed.  

That is our job as well.  Love your neighbor enough to instinctively introduce them to your Savior. Don’t overlook your ministry as you’re rushing into church… love broken people…. You can find them everywhere, but you won’t see them if you don’t look at them. 

“God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.” – George Whitefield