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Matthew 14:1-12

01 Aug

14 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”

3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Matthe 14:1-12

Dear God, I like how you can see Matthew correcting his narrative a little. He started to tell us about Herod’s interest in Jesus, but the he had to double back and tell us about John the Baptist’s death.

Herod’s interest in Jesus was seemingly two-fold. And we’ll see it later at the Passion when he and Pilate bond over what happened to Jesus. My feeling is that they bonded over being forced into a position that even they, a couple a pretty immoral people, found reprehensible and to be avoided: the murder of a good man (although, again, they had murdered plenty of good people in their day). I think Herod was also interested because of his making a connection between Jesus and John the Baptist and wondering if Jesus was channeling John from beyond the grave. Little did he know that it was John who was channeling Elijah. I wonder why this is the only mention of this Herod that Matthew gives us. I’d have thought he was setting us up for something more in the future. Maybe he was intentionally telling us about what happened to John the Baptist.

I’ve written about Herod before and his failure when it came to John the Baptist and how his immorally-gained wife manipulated him by using their daughter. Parents continue to use children to manipulate their spouses or the child’s other parent to this day. Nothing is new under the Sun.

Father, I don’t know what I really have here this morning except it’s always good to be reminded of these stories. It’s good for me to remember to only love and raise my children and not use them. It’s good to be reminded to assuage my guilt through true repentance, and not through acting out or even carrying around the guilt and shame. It’s good to sit here and know who you are and that I love you and you love me. I give you glory for everything.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 1, 2026 in Matthew

 

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Jeremiah 26

31 Jul

26 This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the Lord, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, 5 and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them— 6 then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’”

7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened to Jeremiah as he spoke in front of the Lord’s Temple. 8 But when Jeremiah had finished his message, saying everything the Lord had told him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people at the Temple mobbed him. “Kill him!” they shouted. 9 “What right do you have to prophesy in the Lord’s name that this Temple will be destroyed like Shiloh? What do you mean, saying that Jerusalem will be destroyed and left with no inhabitants?” And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.

10 When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold court. 11 The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials and the people. “This man should die!” they said. “You have heard with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,” he said. “The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken. 13 But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best. 15 But if you kill me, rest assured that you will be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living in it. For it is absolutely true that the Lord sent me to speak every word you have heard.”

16 Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there. 18 They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah,

‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;
    Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!
A thicket will grow on the heights
    where the Temple now stands.’

19 But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the Lord. They begged him for mercy. Then the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”

20 At this time Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also prophesying for the Lord. And he predicted the same terrible disaster against the city and nation as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and the army officers and officials heard what he was saying, the king sent someone to kill him. But Uriah heard about the plan and escaped in fear to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt along with several other men to capture Uriah. 23 They took him prisoner and brought him back to King Jehoiakim. The king then killed Uriah with a sword and had him buried in an unmarked grave.

24 Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah and persuaded the court not to turn him over to the mob to be killed.

Jeremiah 26

Dear God, this is a fascinating part of the story. I am pretty sure that, on the timeline, it happens after Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites/Assyrians. Yeah, that’s what I thought. I just looked it up. On a timeline of Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah is one of the last ones. It looks like Jonah was even before Micah, who the elders mention in verse 18. But I can’t help but notice that it was easier for the Ninevites, and even their king, to repent than it was for these prideful people in Jeremiah’s time.

I suppose the first stage of grief is denial. And when we here something that makes us sad and we want to initially deny it, then the next thing we need to do is get rid of the messenger. He’s a “liar” after all, and he should be put to death for speaking false prophecy in your name. Ah, but was Jeremiah a false prophet? Was he a liar? We know now that he wasn’t, but they didn’t know what to make of him then. They just knew they were hearing news they didn’t want to hear. they were comfortable with their habits. They didn’t want to repent.

How would I handle a prophetic word of rebuke? Would my first inclination be to lable the person as a fake who didn’t know me or what she or he was talking about? Would I turn my back to them and not hear them? Or would I take a moment to consider what they are saying to me? Would I entertain it long enough to discern the truth of it through prayer and possibly repentance? Am I humble enough to hear your rebuke and accept it at any given time?

Father, I think the modern day message of this story is to accept your judgment and welcome it as for my good. The better I can be here, the more useful my small little life will be for you. I guess my ultimate goal is to simply try to love you and love others and then let your use of my life fall however you want it to fall. I heard something yesterday where this podcast was discussing this book called Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything. Apparently the thesis of the book is that young people, especially young women, are being taught that their only worth is in building their brand and then selling themselves to the world–whether as an influencer or whatever. Somehow, we are all learning that we have to have this life that is “important.” Well, like I’ve said many times, the widow who put her two coins in the offering that Jesus saw never knew her life would be talked about for thousands of years. She just knew she woke up poor that morning, she worshipped you through her officer, and then she went to bed that night as poor as she was when she woke up. And she probably died that poor too. So help me to live the life of that simple woman and be content in the fact that maybe all I have is the love of my God and the fact that he’s been doubly good to me by bringing me an amazing woman for my wife.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 31, 2026 in Jeremiah

 

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Matthew 13:47-52

30 Jul

47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?”

“Yes,” they said, “we do.”

52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

Matthew 15:47-52

Dear God, the obvious part of today’s gospel reading to focus on would be the parable in verses 47-50, but I want to actually look at verse 52. It’s one thing to be a teacher and another thing to be a disciple. Oh, please, let me be a disciple! I don’t want to be a teacher if I will teach heresy, but I do want to follow you, learn to be more and more like Jesus, and then rest in you and your love, serving you in any way in which you call me to serve.

It’s interesting to find myself in the role of a teacher for others when I have no formal training. But then, even if I had formal seminary training, how much of what I learn there would be errant? Rapture theology, for example. Truth or something made up in the 1800s? Jesus born in a stable. Truth or our conjecture when we layer our 21st-century American sensibilities over the words that are actually given to us. I had breakfast this morning with a friend who went to the Creation Museum and Noah’s Ark Encounter in Kentucky with his family of origin earlier this month. Is everything in their exhibits 100% true? I doubt it. But which parts are wrong. I know that some of my theology is wrong. But which parts?!?

Father, if I teach people anything, I want it to be how to be your disciple in the here and now. Today. If they are your worshipper and becoming more and more like you/Jesus/Holy Spirit today (and then the next day, and the next day, …) then the rest will take care of itself. We need your grace for that. You give it through the part of you that is Jesus and everything he did and continues to do. You give us your presence through your Holy Spirit, whom I pray is here with me now as I pray to you. And as I go through the rest of my day today, help me to be an example of your love and mercy. Help me to encourage others with your voice.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 30, 2026 in Matthew

 

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Jeremiah 15:16-21 and Luke 10:38-42

29 Jul

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins. Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry. ” This is how the Lord responds:“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you! They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken! Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands. ”

Jeremiah 15:16-21

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me. ” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her. ”

Luke 10:38-42

Dear God, as I read the Old Testament and Gospel readings this morning the theme occurred to me that everyone has a different role to play in your world, whether we like it or not. It might be struggles through hardships of parenting or marriage. It might be poverty. It might be to be the unwelcome prophet. It might be to be wealthy and share resources with others. It might be to be a role model of who to be, and it might be a role model of who not to be.

Honestly, it’s hard for me to complain about my life. And while I have sorrows and things I lament, even those could be so much worse. The question I ask myself when I stop and appreciate what I have and what you’ve done for me is, What is my responsibility and the work you have for me to do? There’s my vocational work. There’s the volunteer work I’ve found myself doing. But is there more? Am I missing anything?

Father, I am having the privilege of visiting some tremendous people yesterday and today. Really great people who love and worship you. Who submit themselves to you and are doing their best to discern your will for their lives. Who celebrate you in their successes and in their struggles. They are good examples for me. I love them all. I pray, Holy Spirit, your blessing over the home I’m in right now. Let your Spirit move, reign and live in every room. With each life that lives here. With each life that enters here, let them feel your presence, let your peace envelope them, and draw each one closer to the center of you and who you are. I ask your blessing on this family.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 29, 2026 in Jeremiah, Luke

 

Philippians 3:12-14

28 Jul

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:12-14

Dear God, so this is ironic. Yesterday’s verse of the day was Hebrews 12:1,

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

That was the theme for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1986, the first year I went to the national conference in Estes Park. Today’s verse, Philippians 3:14, was the verse the next year in 1987. The real irony is that I am traveling today to see my best friend from high school who got involved in FCA with me our senior year. We both had shirts that had these verses on them.

What does this mean? Holy Spirit, are you trying to prepare me for something on this trip and visit with him? I don’t know, but the coincidences are remarkable.

But let me go back to this passage. I was having dinner with a couple of friends last night and we were talking about where to draw the line when deciding whether or not to confront someone else about sin in their lives. When it comes down to it, the Holy Spirit and I are working out my sin. Someone else is working out their sin with the Holy Spirit as long as they are working towards discipleship. I’m more interested in helping someone learn how to walk the narrow path of discipleship and then confront or work out their sin as you present it to them than I am just going around and telling people they are wrong.

I was thinking about the “press on” part of this verse this morning as I worked out. I did a virtual bicycle climb that took almost two and a half hours. There were times I thought about quitting. Then I thought of this verse and the metaphor for “pressing on.” I am on vacation this week, taking a break from my normal responsibilities. But when I get back next week, I need to press on.

Father, help me to forget what is behind and look forward to what lies ahead (verse 13). Help me to press on to finish the race you have called me to. It’s not necessarily an amazing race with amazing glory. It might just be a common life among the 7-ish billion people on earth. But if it could just be useful to you and your plan in some little unseen way that I might not even realize then I can live with that. “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 28, 2026 in Philippians

 

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Hebrews 11

27 Jul

11 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Hebrews 11

Dear God, I don’t know that I’ve ever really spent a lot of time with this chapter, but it feels really important. “It was by faith…”

  • Abel’s offering
  • Enoch’s assumption
  • Noah’s ark
  • Abraham’s obedience
  • Sara’s conception
  • Abraham’s sacrifice
  • Isaac’s blessing
  • Jacob’s worship
  • Jochebed’s disobedience
  • Moses’s choice
  • Moses’s exodus
  • Moses’s Passover
  • Israel’s journey
  • Israel’s march
  • Rahab’s welcome
  • Gideon
  • Barak
  • Samson
  • Jephthah
  • David
  • Samuel
  • The prophets

Some received earthly rewards, but some suffered and died for their faith. Their faith was “better life after the resurrection.” Therefore, since I am surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let me strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up. And let me run with encdurance the race you have set before me. I will do this by keeping my eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects my faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside your throne. When I grow weary and want to give up, I will think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people. After all, I have not get given my life in my struggle against sin.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 27, 2026 in Hebrews

 

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“Secure” by Grace Pelley

26 Jul
“Secure” by Grace Pelley. From the poetry collection A Measured Universe.

Dear God, I was listening to the Voxology podcast two weeks ago, and they were talking about this special camp in Alabama for children with disabilities. One of the hosts, who is a pastor and also the father of a son with Down Syndrome, described the camp from his experience of having just taken his son there and also being a volunteer. The place sounds amazing.

During his description of the camp, he talked about this woman with cerebral palsey. Her name is Grace Pelley, and she has written a wonderful book of poetry called A Measured Universe. He read two poems from the book, and I knew I had to get it for my wife. It came in last week. I’ve only looked at a few of the poems, but knowing the personal pain and frustration from which they are written makes them incredibly rich in meaning.

I decided I wanted to spend some time with one of these poems and see what kind of insights Ms. Pelley might have for me. What I might learn about you through her. But being someone who doesn’t spend much time with poetry, I wanted to start with a shorter one. I’ll pick some longer ones later.

This first one–“Secure”–did not disappoint. Just starting with the title, this makes me think about the pastor I heard back in 2020 who said we make an idol out of “certainty.” We want to feel certain, i.e. secure. We want to know what’s going on.

Before I start with the poem, the title alone makes me think of Job 38:4-5, when you are setting Job straight, so to speak:

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
    and stretched out the surveying line?

Your universe is measured and intentional. I have to accept that I cannot always see why. I’m sure Ms. Pelley has struggled to see why sometimes too. But she has found your universe to be measured, indeed.

So what do I see here?

  • “Beyond what we can see is the real Reality and its good, gracious King.” Beyond the reality I can see. I can see so little of what is happening around me. Powers. Principalities. Plans beyond my comprehension.
  • “He exalts children.” Jesus and the children. Those who offer nothing. As adults, we think we have something to offer, but to you, we have no more to offer than the child who brings us a fingerpainting and thinks they’ve given us the world. And to their parent, they have. And to you, our Father, we have. I wonder if we get disappointed in ourselves because we don’t realize just how much closer to being children we are than being like you.
  • “And crowns those the world discards.” I think of the people who Jesus healed. Then I think of the man on the cross Jesus forgave. A discarded person if ever there was one. He didn’t even repent. He just worshipped and revered.
  • “Already his rule is slipping out from the veil and finding us.” We can’t see you, but we get glimpses. We get moments. Visitations. Maybe from angels we are hosting unaware. Maybe through the words of a friend or a poetry book suggested by a podcast host. Maybe through the nature you created that sometimes breaks beyond what we can control. You are too big and mighty to be hidden. And then you sent Jesus. We got a real good look at you through…well, you. You lifted the veil for 33 years and gave us a good look.
  • “The curatin will be lifted soon.” In death? Certainly. Possibly in the second coming of Jesus in my lifetime, although I doubt it. More likely in death, I will see through this veil. This curtain. I’ll see it all. It reminds me of the last letter in Screwtape Letters, when, after the human “patient” dies in a bombing, the master demon Screwtape asks the demon Wormwood what it was like when the human saw him for the first time. I cannot imagine what the first moment looking through the curtain will look like.
  • “and we’ll know He never could have lost.” This goes back to the idol of our certainty. The reality is big and it is obvious. We just cannot see it–yet.
  • “There is nothing to fear.” ‘Nuff said.

Father, there is nothing to fear. There are things to mourn. There are things to struggle against with your power and for the sake of others more than myself. But there is nothing to fear. The reality is that you will never lose.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 26, 2026 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

25 Jul

“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the sun does not appear
I, I will be here

If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand, and have no fear
Cause I, I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind,
I will listen and
I will be here when the laughter turns to cryin’
Through the winning, losing and tryin’
We’ll be together ’cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the future is unclear
I, I will be here
As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I, I will be here

I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder,
When the mirror tells us we’re older,
I will hold you and
I will be here to watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

I, I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I I will be here we’ll be together

I will be here

Dear God, my wife’s aunt sang this song at our wedding 34 years ago (today). It’s amazing how we can bravely, naively, and ignorantly make these promises. My wife and I were 21 and 22, respectively, when we made ours. Pretty young. Pretty naive. Pretty ignorant. Life would have challenges for us. And we’ve made it this far. I’m grateful we are still happy together. I’m grateful we still love and enjoy each other. I know many don’t. In mathematical terms, our relationship has not been the solid positive slope we anticipated. It’s been a sine wave with a positive trend: an oscillating wave. There have been many times when we’ve take two steps back to only get one step foward. But there have been other times when we’ve take five steps forward and only lost one step backward. My point is, it’s been harder to keep the promises of this song than we thought it would be, but because we have kept the promises we still have each other.

I don’t think I’ve made this link between the parable of the sower I read yesterday and the life of a marriage, but I suspect it might be as true for relationships as it is for individual lives.

  • The seed that falls on the path is the encouter between two people that just doesn’t work from the start.
  • The seed that falls in the rocks is the encounter that leads to a short-term relationship, but roots never grow, and they end up flaming out when things get uncomfortable.
  • The seed that falls in the thorns is the encounter that leads to real relationship, but we allow our hearts to get distracted by the pursuit of money and the cares of this world.
  • The seed that falls on the good soil is the relationship that works to till its soil. It works to love selflessly. It works to serve. It ignores the idols of even the relationship itself and gets each person to selflessly given themselves to you and to the other.

I want to be careful to say I don’t think there is a magic potion that will give someone a completely happy marriage. There is no solid “if/then” statement. “IF I do this, THEN this will definitely happen.” No, things can still go very wrong. The loss of a child is one. Sickness. Mental illness. The wheels can completely come off, and we might not end up living the life we want to live.

So back to the promises of this song. Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife are still married, but I know they’ve encountered difficult times. He’s talked about them. The most outwardly known one is when one of their young children died through an accident at home. They hadn’t taken that into account when they made their promises. I have a long list of things I didn’t take into account when I made my promises to my wife. But here we are, living up to the promises.

Father, help me to be here for my wife regardless of what it costs me. She’s your daughter. I’m your son-in-law. You have given her to me in marriage. Regardless of what it costs me, I am responsible for loving her the way you want me to love her. “I will be true to the promise I have made to [her] and to [You] who gave [her] to me.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Matthew 13:18-23

24 Jul

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Matthew 13:18-23

Dear God, it’s funny that this is the gospel reading today because I accidentally read it last night at the graduation ceremony. It was one of the more surreal moments I’ve ever had public speaking. I’m assuming it was of the Holy Spirit. I intended to read the parable of the wheat and the weeds, which happens to be right after these verses, but when I was copying and pasting the scripture into my outline from which I read I accidentally copied the parable of the sower instead. So I started reading the passage from my notes and, in real time, I realized I was reading the wrong passage. I could go with it and ask the Holy Spirit to just speak through me with this passage instead, or I could stop everything, tell them I was reading the wrong passage, and then gotten the right passage on my phone. I decided to go with the wrong passage and trust that those were the words the people in the crowd needed to hear. I think it went okay.

Father, I want to pray for the men and their families. This is day one their post-Christian Men’s Life Skills class experience. And they have decisions to make today. Their loved ones have decisions to make today. I pray that they will lean into their “floor,” do the work that is healthy for them to do, and find a way to draw closer to you today. I pray for forgiveness between them and their families. I guess I pray for repentance too. I pray for humility. I pray for a servant’s heart. I pray that they will find the narrow path and have the courage to walk it. I pray the same for myself. Help me to find the narrow path today. Help Megan to find it too. And help me to get exactly what you need me to have from this unconventional vacation I’m taking this next week.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 24, 2026 in Matthew

 

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Graduation Night

23 Jul

Dear God, we are going to try this again tonight. Last week, the flooding in South Texas prevented us from having the graduation for the men in this Christian Men’s Life Skills Class, so we are doing it one week later. I hope all of the men and their families can come.

And I have the opportunity to speak to them. I’ve prayed through what to say before, and I have a lot of ideas. Here they are in raw form:

  • I need to start with a story. I need an entry point for them. I’ll come back to this.
  • I want to integrate the organization’s foundational verse, Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. I think this is important. You saw early on, before the fall, that it was not good for humans to be alone. We need someone. Adam needed Eve, and Eve needed Adam. And they both needed you. We need positive peer pressure. We need influence. That makes me think about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes picture called “Influence.” I have a copy of it hanging on my office wall.
  • I want to talk about the influence our friends have on us. How I’ve heard it said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
  • One of the teachers who has been through the program suggested I really stress the importance of participating in the weekly alumni program and encouraging the families to positively reinforce the good changes they see in their husbands/boyfriends/fathers/sons.
  • And I want to lean into the parable of the wheat at the tares from Matthew 13. I spoke about this the other night at the alumni meeting. Jesus made a point that it would not be good to rip up the weeds because some of the good wheat would get ripped up too. No, wait until the harvest, take it all up together, and then sort it out. All of us, including me, were spared a good weed-pulling. You spared us and gave us a chance to change. We’ve been through pain. It’s time for us to make the pain count.

Father, given what I just typed above, I think a rough outline will be:

  • Opening story. I have some thoughts, but I still need a good one.
  • I think I want to do the parable of the wheat and the tares next.
  • Then I want to do “we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.”
  • Then the iron sharpens iron verse.
  • Then encouragement to not let this pain be wasted. Make it count.
    • Make it count for all of us to grow.
    • Get involved in alumni.
    • Encourage your loved one who completed the course.
    • Maybe learn from the material he learned from.
  • Finally, this was Christian Men’s Life Skills. All of the teachers and leaders did this because, ultimately, we want the men and their families to know the Jesus/God we know.
    • Love your enemies.
    • Serve the poor.
    • Die to yourself.
    • Find the narrow path.
  • With that said, tonight is everyone’s chance to commit themselves to Jesus and then spend the rest of your earthly life in relationship with you and becoming more and more like you.
  • Close with prayer.

Father, please help me tonight. Help me decrease as you increase. Prepare the hearts, minds, and souls of everyone in the room. Help the two men who have been arrested for previous crimes in the past two weeks.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 23, 2026 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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