Tag: History

August 3, 2025

August 3rd, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 92-94

Highlight Verses:

“It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The instrument describe here was a kinnor.

It was a contemporary instrument adapted from the lyres of the surrounding cultures of the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.

A kinnor was not necessarily a religious instrument though it was used to compose and accompany many of the Psalms.

The closest modern equivalent is a guitar which has its design roots in lyres and is used in both traditional and contemporary religious and secular settings.

My takeaway from this little history lesson is that the Psalmists used whatever tools they had available to them.

They used those tools to create sincere and passionate music to worship God.

The world of worship today is very different from that of the psalmists, but the purpose is the same – to worship God with everything you’ve got.

Whether you go to a church with a traditional organ and piano or a full modern band,

bring the passion of worship to bring glory to God both with others and on your own.

What is your favorite type of worship music?
How do you keep the passion for worship alive?
July 30, 2025

July 30th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 21-22

Highlight Verses:

“David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They say the truth is stranger than fiction.

Quite frankly, I can’t imagine someone making this up. But I’ve written about the unflattering stories of the Bible being evidence of its veracity before.

The question that rises for for today is, is it okay to lie?

Some would point to this passage and say that if David lied, it must be okay to lie when it is expedient to.

Before we jump to that conclusion, I should point out that David was not God. His actions should not be used to define what is or isn’t sin.

Don’t forget there is a commandment against lying.

You could argue that the commandment speaks of “bearing witness” implying a legal context.

But then, there’s Proverbs 12:22 stating that lying lips are an “abomination” to God. That’s pretty strong language.

That begs the question, what would I have done in David’s place?

Hopefully, I would have the foresight to stay away from Achish.

But if David messed up like that, I probably would too.

In which case I would probably lie, knowing that to be a necessary compromise to ensure that I would be around to continue what God had called me to do.

Would it be sin? Maybe. If so, Jesus already paid the price for it.

Yes, we should not go willingly into sin, but I don’t think that qualifies as willful sin.

What do you think? Is lying always sin? Why or why not?
July 23, 2025

July 23rd, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 18-19

Highlight Verse:

“Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Michal’s willingness to throw her dad and his men off David’s trail shows that she was willing to go to great lengths to protect him.

But this verse makes it clear that she had an idol at the ready.

From what I’ve read, these idols weren’t like the ones found in pagan countries. They didn’t represent some fake God.

Even though they represented God, they turned the true faith of worshipping God into a religious construct.

Instead of receiving God’s grace, people tried to earn their way to heaven by the attention that they gave to the idols.

Michal’s faith required her to show herself worthy of relationship with God.

David’s faith was based on his true personal relationship with God.

He knew God!

He had no need for any idol.

He had a close relationship with the real thing.

Today, an idol is anything that draws your attention away from God.

If it distracts you from worshipping God, it’s an idol.

If it turns worship into work, it’s an idol.

What are the idols in your life?
How do you fight against something that would block you from worshipping God?
June 28, 2025

June 28th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 51

Highlight Verse:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The author of this song had messed up.

He stalked a beautiful lady.

It didn’t take long before he used his influence and position to bring her into his bed.

She got pregnant as a result.

To save his reputation, he did everything he could to cover it up, even to the point of having her husband killed and forcing her into marriage with him.

It wasn’t until an investigation brought the story to light that he repented.

Sound somewhat familiar today?

I’ve heard many say that Michael Tate’s (former lead singer for the News Boys) repentance wasn’t genuine since he waited until he was found out.

I won’t go into the details of his situation, mostly because I don’t know and don’t listen to the many crazy rumors going around.

Christian artists normally have a “purity clause” in their contracts that will end their careers if anything gets out that would harm their moral reputation.

That’s a good thing in that it holds them accountable for their message.

Unfortunately, it also drives them to cover up their failings, so they end up not getting the help and support that they need to get back on the right path.

That made me wonder if they should also have a “restoration clause” in their contracts that would kick in before the “purity clause.”

Ideally, that would lead them to seek help early and prevent irreparable damage to their message and their lives.

King David found restoration as seen here in this Psalm.

His repentance was genuine.

Despite the heinous nature of his sins, God restored him to a place where he became known as a “man after God’s own heart.”

There were consequences, but he got past them and back to a place of integrity.

I praying that Michael Tate would find that same kind of restoration.

Would you prefer public people who fail to be restored or cancelled? Please explain.
Have you been in that place where you needed restoration? How did you find it?
June 25, 2025

June 25th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

““Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!” replied the elders of Jabesh. “If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This was a strange method of warfare.

A city is attacked with overwhelming force and the city leaders say, “Whoa there. Give us a chance to get reinforcements.”

Who would agree to that – unless they were influenced by the Holy Spirit to agree to those terms?

My opinion is that God set up the situation so that Saul could intervene and unite Israel.

It worked.

It also provided an amusing story for the Bible. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

There are many times in our lives when situations don’t quite make sense. Unusual things happen – some scary, some amusing, some both.

I dare say, God is at work in those situations, working behind the scenes influencing people to bring His love and salvation to those who need it.

When have you seen God work in mysterious ways in your life?
In hindsight, are there times you can now identify that God was working behind the scenes in ways you couldn’t see at the time?
June 11, 2025

June 11th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My last two years of high school, I attended Ebenezer United Methodist Church way up in the back hills of Spring Valley, VA.

If I’m honest, there’s a lot that the UM denomination teaches now that I cannot fully agree with.

But that little church out in the country helped lay a firm foundation of faith for me.

• They helped me understand the power of worship.
• They helped me find the power of the Holy Spirit.
• They helped cultivate in me a thirst for God’s Word.
• My Sunday school teacher helped me know how to be a man after God’s own heart.

While we should not dwell on the past, it is good to have those monuments in our lives that continue to encourage us in our relationships with Jesus.

Ebenezer Church is one of those “stones of help” in my life.

What “stones of help” can you look back on?
How do they affect your life today?
June 4, 2025

June 4th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse had to make me think, “How did he know?”

I’m sure the author wasn’t a Philistine so he must have heard a rumor of the superstitions of those who worshipped Dagon.

He knew better.

That empty idol had no power.

But he might not have realized that the ark had no power either.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

He brought the plagues on the towns that hosted the ark for two reasons:
• To make the Philistines realize that their idols were powerless and
• To bring the ark back to Israel keep the Israelites from backsliding further.

God may have used the ark to encourage His people, but God is not found in any object no matter how beautiful.

The ark carried reminders of God’s Commandments and His faithfulness, but God is found in the hearts of His people.

Have you ever been tempted to put your faith in things that you can see and touch rather than the God who touches hearts?
What keeps your faith strong in those times that nothing you see or touch seems to point to God?
May 28, 2025

May 28th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’d like to say I’ve heard the audible voice of the Lord.

Nope, though I do believe that is possible.

I have learned to understand His leading most of the time.

It’s not easy to distinguish between God’s actual guidance and what our minds and emotions want to interpret as God’s leading.

But it can be done.

How?

Samuel taught us a few things about how to hear God.

• By getting close to God.

Samuel actually slept in the temple.

We can foster a close relationship with God by staying consistent in prayer and worship and digging into God’s Word.

• By seeking wise counsel.

Samuel went to Eli for guidance. Eli pointed him the right way.

• By asking God for guidance.

Samuel made himself available to listen and directly asked God to speak to him.

These steps might not open our ears to hear the audible voice of God, but they will help us be sensitive to God’s guidance in our lives.

When have you witnessed the guidance of God in your life?
Have you ever misinterpreted God’s guidance in your life? How did you find out you were wrong?
May 25, 2025

May 25th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 62-65

Highlight Verse:

“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

David was a poet.

David was a King.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

His battles were fought for the Lord alone.

He accepted honor from God alone.

Yet we do well to honor him still as he laid the groundwork for our Messiah to come and bring us spiritual freedom.

This weekend we honor those who gave their lives for us in the US military.

Many, if not most fought for God.

All fought to win and maintain our freedom.

We do well to honor them!

As you enjoy the weekend with your family, traveling or relaxing at home, take some time to honor those who gave everything that we may be a free nation under God.

If there is someone you know of that gave their life in military service for our country, feel free to name them here.

I’ll start with Staff Sargent Howell Thompson, USMC, my great uncle (Grandma Clarey’s brother). Lost over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945 along with 26 other Marines and Navy airmen.
May 20, 2025

May 20th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 33-34

Highlight Verse:

“Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to their proposal.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ll give you a minute to go read the rest of this chapter.

Did you read it?

Pretty messed up, huh?

Rape, political maneuvering, deceit, genocide, looting.

It’s almost like one sin led to another.

Oh wait! It’s exactly like one sin led to another.

The sins in this chapter were heinous but the same principle applies to all sin.

Sin unchecked always leads to more sin.

Very often, sin compounds into greater sin with worse effects.

Eventually, it can break down faith and lead to the rejection of Jesus.

Instead of compounding sin, what if we confessed to each other and to God; sought accountability; and prioritized fellowship with each other and the Holy Spirit?

In other words, what if we got involved in a good local church?

If you haven’t already, I suggest you give it a try.

What does your local church do to help you escape from the grasp of sin?
How do you help others do the same?

Tag: History

They used those tools to create sincere and passionate music to worship God.

The world of worship today is very different from that of the psalmists, but the purpose is the same – to worship God with everything you’ve got.

bring the passion of worship to bring glory to God both with others and on your own.

They say the truth is stranger than fiction.

Before we jump to that conclusion, I should point out that David was not God. His actions should not be used to define what is or isn’t sin.

But if David messed up like that, I probably would too.

But this verse makes it clear that she had an idol at the ready.

Even though they represented God, they turned the true faith of worshipping God into a religious construct.

If it turns worship into work, it’s an idol.

Sound somewhat familiar today?

Unfortunately, it also drives them to cover up their failings, so they end up not getting the help and support that they need to get back on the right path.

Despite the heinous nature of his sins, God restored him to a place where he became known as a “man after God’s own heart.”

This was a strange method of warfare.

Who would agree to that – unless they were influenced by the Holy Spirit to agree to those terms?

I dare say, God is at work in those situations, working behind the scenes influencing people to bring His love and salvation to those who need it.

But that little church out in the country helped lay a firm foundation of faith for me.

While we should not dwell on the past, it is good to have those monuments in our lives that continue to encourage us in our relationships with Jesus.

He knew better.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

But it can be done.

• By getting close to God.

• By seeking wise counsel.

• By asking God for guidance.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

We do well to honor them!

Pretty messed up, huh?

Sin unchecked always leads to more sin.

In other words, what if we got involved in a good local church?