Blog

Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.

Pearls of Wisdom: from our mothers

Pearls of Wisdom: from our mothers

Apr 27, 2016

Many years ago, we asked the matriarchs in our church to share “pearls of wisdom” they learned over the course of their walk with the Lord. We collected their stories in a booklet which we distributed through the women’s ministries. My copy of the booklet is now tattered and faded, and many of the women quoted are home with the Lord. To keep their words alive and honor their wisdom, I am sharing their pearls here before my booklet turns to dust. I hope these words inspire you to share a cup of tea with an older woman in your church and listen to her pearls of wisdom.

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10 Praying Without Losing Heart (Colossians 4:2-18)

10 Praying Without Losing Heart (Colossians 4:2-18)

Apr 20, 2016

How are we to understand these various Scripture verses that encourage us to persevere in prayer, continue to pray, pray without ceasing, and pray at all times. Can we fulfill them by setting an app on our smart phones to remind us to pray 15 minutes of every hour? If not number of minutes, what are the authors asking us to do?

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09 What It Means to Do Everything in the Name of the Lord (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

09 What It Means to Do Everything in the Name of the Lord (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

Apr 13, 2016

In this series of exhortations, Paul explains how belief in the gospel changes how you act in three pairs of relationships: wives/husbands, children/parents and slaves/masters. The overarching theme in this section is to live all our relationships as bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing ultimately we serve him. The challenge is to resist the tendency to “win.” Instead we are to recognize God has a higher prior claim on our lives and seek to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ — in whatever situation we find ourselves.

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06 When Religious Rules Replace Christ (Colossians 2:16-23)

06 When Religious Rules Replace Christ (Colossians 2:16-23)

Mar 16, 2016

Paul contrasts faith in Christ with keeping a set of religious disciplines. He claims limiting what you eat or practicing specific rituals as an effort to prove yourself a spiritual person or show yourself worthy to God is foolishness. It misses what Christ came to do for you.

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The Easiest Way to Make a Lot of Coffee

The Easiest Way to Make a Lot of Coffee

Mar 9, 2016

As a ministry leader you probably make a lot of coffee. I’ve found using the Toddy Coffee system is the easiest way to make the most coffee with the least amount of mess, fuss and clean up. Here’s how.

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03 Why You Can’t Seek God and Avoid Christ (Colossians 1:13-23)

03 Why You Can’t Seek God and Avoid Christ (Colossians 1:13-23)

Feb 17, 2016

In perhaps the most explicit teaching on the Christ in the New Testament, Paul says: 1) all that we can know of God is seen in Jesus because the visible man Jesus reveals the invisible God to us, and 2) Jesus has priority in every way as the Father has given authority over all creation to Jesus. Written to a community in danger of leaving the gospel, Paul emphasizes that Christ and the cross are essential to getting the gospel right.

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02 Where Hope Begins (Colossians 1:3-12)

02 Where Hope Begins (Colossians 1:3-12)

Feb 10, 2016

Paul is thankful for what God has done in the Colossian church to bring about their faith and salvation through Jesus Christ which has resulted in their faith and love of their fellow believers. What has transformed their thinking and who they identify as their people is the hope which results from understanding and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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01 Introduction to Colossians (Colossians 1:1-2)

01 Introduction to Colossians (Colossians 1:1-2)

Feb 3, 2016

The first two verses of Colossians follow the typical greeting for a New Testament letter: the author(s), the recipient(s), greetings. Paul identifies what his readers should understand about him. Then he explains who he considers his readers to be, particularly in relationship to God.

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06 1 Peter 3:8-17 Who is there to harm you?

Jan 20, 2016

Peter's main concern in this section is how we treat others, both inside and outside the family of God. But his point is a fuller richer picture than 'be nice.' His advice is fix your hope completely on the grace that is coming to you. And then be humble. Be...

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10 Tips for cleaning your closet

10 Tips for cleaning your closet

Dec 27, 2015

I finally tackled the task of cleaning my clothes closet.  In case you're also struggling with how to lighten your possessions, here are some of the criteria I used to decide what to keep and what to donate. I tossed clothes that met the following criteria: I bought...

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Today is the fleeting moment

Today is the fleeting moment

Oct 13, 2015

Have you ever seen those maps of the stars of the universe? The ones taken from space where there is no man-made light, so you can actually see the billions of stars? First, these photos impress you with the vastness of the universe and the number of stars is beyond...

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Flying through impostor syndrome

Flying through impostor syndrome

Sep 24, 2015

Three "random" events this week converged into one life lesson. 1) I listened to my pastor's last sermon. We met when I was a college freshman and he was an intern at our church.  Now he's retiring after 43 years as its pastor.  I don't think I was present for his...

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Hebrew Calendar explained

Hebrew Calendar explained

Jul 1, 2015

When studying the Old Testament, dates can be a source of confusion, especially when they switch between the Jewish name and the Babylonian name in the same story. Here are my reference tables.

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Bible Maps, Charts & Tools List

Bible Maps, Charts & Tools List

Jun 24, 2015

Without the proper tools, your ability to do great Bible study is limited. On this one page, you’ll find links to websites, maps, charts, overviews, outlines, timelines encyclopedias, concordances and tips on how to use them.

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3 Retreat Sample Schedules

3 Retreat Sample Schedules

Jun 15, 2015

Planning a retreat means managing lots of details from logistics to decorations. Often the schedule gets overlooked or slapped together at the last minute. As a speaker, here are some sample schedules that I’ve seen work well for weekend retreats.

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