Category Archives: Passage To Ponder

April 13, 2022 · 4:13 am

Luke 24:1-11

“Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion,” wrote John R. W. Stott. “The concept of resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.”

In his commentary on Luke, Colly Caldwell offers this observation regarding Jesus’ resurrection. “This singular event establishing His divinity forms the unique aspect of Christianity which rises about all other world religions.” The remains of all other religious founders remain buried. But the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth is empty. Continue reading →

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April 6, 2022 · 8:10 am

Joshua 24:15

“You are the possessor of a great and wonderful power,” wrote J. Martin Kohe.

“This power,” penned Kohe, “when properly applied, will bring confidence instead of timidity, calmness instead of confusion, poise instead of restlessness, and peace of mind instead of heartache.”

And what is this great power? Continue reading →

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March 30, 2022 · 6:38 am

Joshua 7:20-21

Through the years Preachers have devised some interesting titles for this text.

“An Achan Heart”

“What’s Achan You?”

“God’s Prescription for an Achan Home”

“The Sin of an Achan Heart.” Continue reading →

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March 23, 2022 · 6:14 am

Luke 8:4-15

I grew up on a small farm in central Indiana. My Dad worked in the factory and we farmed as a sideline means to feed a few pigs and cows. And sometimes for a cash crop.

Farming sure has changed since the 1950s and ’60s. We used a 2-row corn planter. Today corn planters can range in size from 6 rows to 48 rows. But imagine how farming has changed since Bible times?

In our passage today is another one of Jesus’ agricultural parables. It is often called ”The Parable of the Sower.” But it could be also be called “The Parable of the Soils.” Some commentators have called it “the parable of parables.” In one sense, it’s like four parables. in one. It is one of the few parables that Jesus explains the meaning. Continue reading →

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March 16, 2022 · 7:34 am

Psalm 35

Last night Norma Jean and I ate at the College of the Ozarks at the Keeter Center, the Dobyns Dining Room. If you ever come to Branson, MO, I highly recommend it.

The restaurant is staffed by all college students who are working their way through school. College of the Ozarks is known as Hard Work U, where their 1500 students work at more than 120 campus workstations to pay for their tuition.

We were served by a delightful young man, with a slight accent, who was polite, prompt, and very professional in serving us. At the end of the meal, I asked,” Where are you from?” Continue reading →

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March 9, 2022 · 3:09 am

Colossians 4:5-6

“Christians are to be the good news before they share the good news,” opined Jospeh Aldrich in his book Lifestyle Evangelism.

Aldrich’s observation reminds me of a quote credited to Francis of Assisi who said, “Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.”

Both ideas suggest that evangelism is more than just a Monday night event. More than joining an outreach group. More than giving away free Bibles at Starbucks. More than going door to door to find prospects. Continue reading →

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March 2, 2022 · 3:02 am

Proverbs 4:20-27

Andy Stanley says guardrails are, “a system designed to keep us from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas.”

Stanley reminds us that guardrails are beneficial when driving across a bridge, or on a curvy mountain road. The guardrails are constructed to keep us from getting too close to the edge. They both warn and protect.

My wife always feels a little safer when we’re driving up a mountain road and there are guardrails. If there aren’t any guardrails she gets a bit nervous. And suggests maybe we ought to take a different route. Continue reading →

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February 16, 2022 · 7:23 am

Hebrews 2:1-3

“The hardest thing about milking cows,” once quipped a farmer, “is that they never stay milked.”

Isn’t this true of so many areas of our lives? Doing something once is not enough. It must be repeated over and over again. Like… Continue reading →

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February 2, 2022 · 5:59 am

Ephesians 2:10

Wemmicks were a community of painted wooden people in the children’s book You Are Special by Max Lucado.

Some of the Wemmicks were new and shiny. Others were chipped and peeling. Every day in Wemmicksville, they all received stickers. Some got gold stars, while others were given gray dots.

Punchinello, the main character, suddenly realized that only the pretty, shiny Wemmicks received the gold stars. He, and the others, got gray dots. So he decided he must not be worth very much. Continue reading →

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January 26, 2022 · 7:28 am

Galatians 3:26-28

There’s an old story about a well-known, international preacher who was visiting some residents in a local nursing home in a city where he was conducting an evangelistic meeting.

As we went around greeting each one, they were all glad to meet him, expressing both surprise and appreciation for taking his time to visit them. At one point, he spoke to a lady, who didn’t seem to know who he was.

“Do you know who I am?” the preacher asked. Continue reading →

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