Joshua 9:1-2 5/5/2026

“Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, the lowland, and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard about it,  that they met together with one purpose, to fight with Joshua and with Israel.”

So, apparently ignoring inconvenient truths and adjusting your “algorithm” to support your agenda, is not a new phenomenon.  Everybody, including the kings referred to in this passage, had heard about the parting of the waters of the Jordan river. They were aware that the walls of Jericho fell at the shouts of the Israelites. Still, they ignored the success of the Israeli military and instead stubbornly planned to fight God’s army. 

It’s interesting that they didn’t examine those miracles… Despite the evidence, they neglected to consider the possibility that the Israelites God was actually God... They failed to explore Israel’s claims of divine deliverance. So, it seems the lesson this morning is that arrogance leads to willful ignorance.  And that arrogance still exists today. 

How many people today are ignoring truth and cherry-picking statistics to suit their agenda? Secular teaching offers no definitive answer as to how, or why we exist. And even if it did, science has been embarrassingly inconsistent throughout history.  Accordingly, researchers refer to “god particles” and other phrases that confirm that there is power out there that we don’t understand.  

So, we search… but not for truth, only for support of our opinion.  For example, If you ask Chat, it will list Christianity as the most historically defensible religion, and Judaism as the oldest continuous tradition. Yet many refuse to even read, much less study the Bible. Preferring to have no answers at all, over answers that don’t suit their purpose.

Don’t double down on willful ignorance. God has not hidden Himself. He has provided ample evidence and we are without excuse. God loves you and sent His Son to redeem you… Your eternal destiny hinges on what you do with that fact. Take and unbiased look… Study His love letter to you and weigh the evidence.  Don’t form your opinion and then collect truths to support it… Collect the truth, then form your opinion. 

“They would rather believe the impossible, than accept the unthinkable…  that there is a Creator.”  - Thomas Nagel

Deuteronomy 3:20 4/28/2026

“…until the Lord gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return, each man to his possession which I have given you.”

Moses is informing the Israelites that they are “all for one and one for all”. And God expects us to have the same mentality.  At times we hear about people in our church, family, or friend groups that are struggling…  we hurt for them but often feel helpless so we move on…. However, this verse sets a precedent that God’s people are to be strongly connected. Our motto must be that no one rests until everyone rests.  This passage illustrates that I need  a stronger “team view” regarding those who are in my community, instead of an “it’s OK, if I’m Ok” view.

What about you?  Are you resting while someone close to you is fighting for their life?  Have you received your portion of the “promised land”, and are content to put down your weapons and relax? That has never been God’s plan.

There are people in your immediate circle who need you badly.  They may not admit it; they may cover it well… but there are friends and relatives losing hope right now.  If that is you reach out to those who love you.  They are not silent because they don’t care, they are silent because they’re unaware.

If you’re not in the middle of a storm, be grateful, but don’t be one of those who is unaware.  Thank God for the peace you are experiencing, then pick up your sword and look around.  Find the hurting loved one, and fight for them side by side.  Christians don’t find peace by avoiding battles, they find peace by winning them.  It is described as a peace that passes understanding, because while you are standing there exhausted, bloodied, and bruised, there is an unexplainable ease and contentment.

That is the litmus test for friendship. Love disallows apathy. So, if a loved one is struggling, join them… No part of the body can hurt without the whole body hurting. … So, when they fight you fight - and when they rest you can rest.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” 
- Walter Winchell

2 Kings 18:4 4/21/2026

“He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel had been burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.”

King Hezekiah began his religious reformation by reopening the Temple.  He then tore down the High Places that had erroneously been used as places to worship God. Then he did something very interesting.  He commanded the bronze Serpent ,which God commissioned in Numbers 21:9, to be crushed to pieces… Why?  Why would something that God ordered, made for the deliverance of His people, need to be destroyed?  The answer is found at the end of the verse. The Israelites had begun to worship the gift instead of the Giver.  A good thing had become bad, because it had become an idol. 

 Has that happened in your life? Has something God provided to help you, become an idol that needs to be crushed. Even something that God ordained can be misused and become harmful. 

Some religions have elevated people and relics far above their intended purposes. Other denominations have pushed some gifts to levels of importance to which they were never intended to be raised.  Others look to their discipline and routines to provide their salvation. Even the cross can be pushed beyond a symbol of the one who died upon it… The item or action itself may be neutral but worshiping it is not.  Burning incense literally or figuratively to a created object, person or practice is idol worship. And  ANYTHING that detracts from Jesus Christ as God  - must be crushed to pieces.  

It doesn’t have to be people or relics, it can be routines, emblems, images, religion, reputation, education, etc. The enemy is skilled in misdirecting us by using neutral items to pull us off the path we are intended to follow. God is a jealous God, and Jesus was clear, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". Chase what matters… and chase only what matters. Being a man after God’s own heart, means making sure nothing even comes close to participating in the  worship that is due to the one and only true God. 

The first commandment is first for a reason – One God and only One God.

 "An 'idol' is anything which displaces God in my heart." — A. W. Pink

1 Kings 6:15,18,20 4/14/2026

“He lined its interior walls with cedar boards, paneling them from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and covered the floor of the temple with planks of juniper…  The inside of the temple was cedar… He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.”

Interesting details about Solomon using precious materials to build the Temple.  It was fascinating to me that various types of beautiful and expensive woods were covered by gold. Had I been the designer I would have used cheap materials for anything that was going to  be gold plated.

I think that’s an illustration of how man cares about appearance, but God looks deeper than that.  When men walked into the temple, they saw the surface beauty. But when God entered the temple, He saw the workmanship and quality material used in its construction. 

The same is true of my life. Men only see the surface. But God looks at every level and knows if what I have constructed is a cheap imitation covered with flashy material, or if I used the best of the best, and gave all I had to build a dwelling for Him.

It doesn’t say in this chapter, but my guess is God prefers the foundation to be quality even if it doesn’t look flashy.  Unfortunately, we emphasize the opposite, focusing mostly on appearance…  Sometimes our Sunday morning self looks like we’re covered in gold, but Monday shows the plywood and plastic that our image is built on. 

Let me challenge you today to examine your life at a deeper level.  At the core of your walk is there strong quality material that will be sturdy in times of trial.  Gold is pretty but it’s soft… is there solid commitment under the Gold coating?

In life you must build the solid prior to the shiny. Don’t misunderstand, our offering should be covered with the most glistening  beautiful substance we possess. But the foundation of our faith, the part that goes unseen, must be solid valuable material that will withstand the onslaught of this world.  We must have “Iceberg faith”, which means while what is above should be beautiful, the strength comes from the depth and quality that is underneath.

“Ninety percent of an iceberg is underwater.  It is that unseen foundation that allows it to destroy anything that comes against it.”

Esther 10:3 4/7/2026

“Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.”

Many of us have heard sermons on Esther including the famous line “for such a time as this”, but most lessons focus on Esther being told that, instead of Mordecai who said it. 

Early in this book Mordecai is introduced as having adopted Esther because she had neither father nor mother. That little tidbit tells us that Mordecai was a good man, even before people were watching. He did the right thing. Taking care of widows and orphans is true religion and it identifies him as a follower of God. Long before God made Esther queen, He made Mordecai faithful.  

Mordecai started out as an ordinary guy sitting by the city gate; but this verse indicates that later he was elevated to the number two man in the kingdom and loved and admired by the people. However, that was never his target. That happened because God blessed his obedience. There was no strategy for advancement, no campaign, just a man with a heart that followed God. He took care of those who couldn’t take care of themselves.  He worked for the good of his people and had their backs when things got tough. Whether he was sitting unnoticed at the city gate, or the number 2 man in the kingdom, he was the same man, and he loved and valued others. 

You may be in a chapter of life where you feel obscure and unnoticed, daily doing the mundane deeds God requires of you, … or maybe, like Mordecai in this verse, the crowd is cheering your accomplishments… Either way, your heart is what matters… Are you protecting it?  Because what is inside, will come out. 

So, today, whether God places you in a position of influence, or calls you to serve in anonymity… live with integrity and a servant’s heart… Stay ready to be used… Because in your life, just like in this story, Esther may not be the only one being prepared for “such a time as this”. 

“Godliness isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something The Spirit grows inside of us and then it overflows into our words, choices, and actions.”  - anonymous

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