's Blog

Seems like i am always attracted to the calm and serenity of being around water. This is my favorite trail. About 90% of it is in the shade, which makes it nice on hot days like today. I went about 5 miles. I ran for the first 27 minutes and then ran/walked the rest. I have made very slow...

For many years, I have gone to church even though I really didn't want to because I felt obligated to go. I would go and hop from church to church and never did settle on one church to join. I wish I felt differently about it. I would like to be a part of something bigger than myself and...

Revelations 6 Vs.1- it was by the Lamb’s authority that the seal was broken and the different horses come forward. Jesus himself is riding a white horse. This is also pictured in Revelations 19:11 where Jesus is pictured on a white horse when heaven opens and it says the one who sat on it...

Mark 2:14-28 Levi is called, questions about fasting and the Sabbath Vs.14-17- Jesus calls Matthew or Levi to follow him. This is also in Matthew 9:9-13 and Luke 5:27-32. The word "follow" is akoloutheo means to follow one who precedes or it can mean to accompany to join as a disciple. This...

In Mark 2:1-13 it talks about how Jesus healed a man who was a paralytic. He had four men bring him on a mat to Jesus. When they couldn't get inside (one of the few times it records Jesus teaching inside) they went to the roof and lowered him down. It says that Jesus saw their faith verse 5...

Jesus calls his first disciples Mark 1:14-20 After Jesus had completed his time of temptation in the wilderness, he was ready to start his public ministry. His preaching ministry begins with these words in Mark 1:15 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and...

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Phil 3:8a The more I read Philippians the more I am taken aback by the devotion and the resolve of Paul to live for Christ and to put him first. Paul...

31 Again, leaving the region of Tyre, the region of the Decapolis. (that is, “Be opened!”). 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and he began to speak clearly. This story above is in Mark 7:31-36. It tells the story of a man who was deaf and also had a speech impediment. I was thinking...

In looking at this part of Romans 9:14-33, it seems to me that the emphasis is on the sovereignty and mercy of God. Paul uses the example of Pharaoh and how it says in Exodus that he hardened his heart. God allows Pharaoh's heart to be hardened because he is going to use Pharaoh as a way of...

Romans 5:10-11 "For if, when we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."...

Paul makes a comment in Romans 9:3 that he wishes that he were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his brother, those who are Israelites. I think this shows the tremendous heart of Paul. That he had such a strong heart for his people that he could wish himself accursed for them...

These verses mention three things that are or will be groaning: creation, the believer and the Spirit. The creation groans because of the affect of sin. Creation was created by God and was originally called "good" by God. But, now has experienced the groans and pains of childbirth, waiting...

In my study today in Romans 8, I found that there is an emphasis on the Spirit of God verses the flesh. Paul was talking about this in Romans 7 when he talked about the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. But, now he tells us that as believers we are under no obligation verse 12 to the...

I've been studying Romans the last couple of weeks. It seems some common themes about grace and justification keep coming up. It keeps reminding me that I can't do this on my own. That focus on the law only leads to defeat. That I cannot be good enough and that my flesh does not even want to...

John begins his theme of the last hour or days when the antichrist will appear. His theme seems to be to warn the believers to continue to abide in Christ and the teachings of the Holy Spirit and remain firm against the lies they may hear. John says they are in the last hour, as opposed to...

What I get from this is the principle that our devotion and love is not meant to be both for the world and for God. Matthew 6:24 is where Jesus said that we cannot love both God and money. He doesn't want our devotion to be divided because the world is hostile to the things of God and they are...

John tells those who he is writing to that he is writing to them a command. It is not new in the sense that they have never heard it before, but it is new in the way that Jesus emphasized it. Jesus said both in John 13:34 and 15:12 to love one another. In the verse in chapter 15 he adds to...

I have never developed a rash, so I don't have shingles. My neck and back are feeling a lot better, but right arm still having spasms. Pain seems to be coming from right shoulder. I am going to see a specialist this week to try and find out what to do about this. I think we have decided for...

Doctor thinks I might have shingles, but no rash at this time. I am having enormous amounts of pain in my shoulder, back and right arm. Feels like someone tried to tear it off me. Praying that God would heal me soon. Thank God for melatonin or I probably would not have gotten any sleep at...

Paul goes on in chapter two to remind the Corinthians that he came to them in weakness and trembling relying on the message of the cross of Christ alone. I thought it was interesting that the word trembling (tromos) is one who distrusts his ability to complete the requirements. In other words...