Walk in the Light

April 9, 2026

April 9th, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – James 1

Highlight Verse:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just ask.

Why didn’t I think about that?

But then, read it in context.

That wisdom may come with the price of suffering.

None of us really wants to pay that price.

But we can’t argue with the results.

I wish I could have perfect wisdom without pain, but that’s not the way it works.

Knowledge helps, especially when it’s from the Bible.

But nothing gets a lesson through our thick skulls as effectively as suffering.

I’m not saying you should run toward suffering, but if you are in the midst of it, stop and look at what lesson God is allowing you to learn from it.

Then reach beyond that suffering and thank God for that lesson.

What lessons have you learned through suffering?
What advice can you give those who are in the midst of suffering?
April 8, 2026

April 8th, 2026
Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 4-6

Highlight Verse:

“David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the biggest reasons I love going to church is worship.

Yes, I can worship on my own.

But there’s nothing like joining voices with fellow believers.

Over the decades, I’ve experienced worship in so many ways and places.
- In a traditional church with a pipe organ.
- On the beach around a fire with friends with guitars.
- With 35,000 other men at a NASCAR track.
- In a tiny country church with a poorly tuned piano and 20 some folks half of whom were off-key but still swung wide the gates of heaven with their worship.
- In awesome concerts with some of the best worship leaders in the world.
When I look back at thousands of worship situations and try to figure out which was the best, I can only identify one consistent trend.

When the worship leader spent more time preparing in prayer than in rehearsal, that’s when the worship connected, bridging the gap between worshipper and God.

That has proven true in that tiny country church, in a midsized church with a dedicated worship leader, in that huge men’s event, and in our current church each week.

Ironically, that same men’s organization had another large event with a popular worship leader with an incredible voice. Worship fell flat as the leader seemed to concentrate more on showing off his voice than entering God’s presence.

The bottom line is that worship is about connecting as a group with God.

God has called some very special people to lead worship.

Like David, we should do what we can to make sure those people are put in places where they can accomplish that mission.

What worship experience(s) stand(s) out in your memory?
What made them special?
April 6, 2026

April 7th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 20-21

Highlight Verse:

““I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have known quite a few people who were into “New Age” practices, even while they claim to be Christian.

The irony is that those same practices are actually some of the oldest and most evil practices of all time.

Consulting mediums and attempting to contact the souls of the departed (in reality contacting demons in disguise) was practiced right alongside the sacrifice of children to Molech and other pagan “gods”.

God detests such practices.

They lead people away from truth and into lies of the most evil kind.

Yes, it is true that God forgives all sin, even such as these.

But there are probably no other sins that lead people away from God and into death more rapidly than consulting the lies of the devil.

If you are dabbling in “new age” meditation that seeks to contact spirit guides, I challenge you to explore what the Bible says about it and pray for direction in the right way to go.

Have you been into “new age” practices in the past and found your way to faith in Jesus?
Please share your story.
What other scriptures do you know of that deal with these types of practices?
April 6, 2026

April 6th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 14

Highlight Verse:

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

That’s not the point.

Jesus comes out against the narcissist who would elevate themselves above everyone else.

Inevitably, that person will be brought down, if not in this life, certainly in the next.

The falsely humble person who chooses humility to gain recognition may get that recognition in this world, but God, who sees through to the heart, will only recognize true humility in the next life.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

While trust in Jesus and repentance is what opens the door to eternal life, humility will earn the humble a place of honor and trust.

What is your take on humility?
Do you think that the truly humble can seek a reward of honor? Or is that reward simply a consequence of humility?
Sunday – Poetry

April 5th, 2026

Reading – Proverbs 20

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did Jesus know everything that was going to happen to Him?

His prayer in the garden the night of His arrest suggests that He knew some but not all.

What He knew was not going to be easy.

But He chose to trust His Father.

Today (Easter) we celebrate the results of that trust.

He chose to walk in the steps directed by God.

They led to death on a cross.

Without that death there would be no resurrection for Him or for us.

Because of His death on the cross, we have new life.

Sometimes the steps before us are painful and uncertain.

But if they are directed by the Lord, they will always lead to life.

As we celebrate the resurrection, remember the difficult steps that Jesus took to get there.

Then go forth in the steps God has placed before us.

Have you taken some difficult steps that led to new life? Share your stories.
What next steps has God placed before you? Are they tough?
April 4, 2026

April 4th, 2026
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 27:45-28:15

Highlight Verses:

“The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭62‬-‭63‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you ever notice how surprised Jesus’ disciples were when He rose from the dead?

You know who wasn’t surprised?

The leading priests and Pharisees. They wanted the tomb sealed and guards posted to keep Him in there.

I can’t say that I ever noticed that little irony.

To be honest, I didn’t this time either but the Sunday school curriculum I’m about to teach from tomorrow pointed it out.

Allow me to boggle your mind a little further.

The one who believes in God more than anyone else this side of heaven…

Is Satan.

He believes so strongly in God’s ability to send him to the lake of fire that he is pulling out all the stops to try to keep people from believing.

We who believe are not impervious to his attacks. He’ll do everything he can to sow doubt into our minds.

He has a whole army assigned to discourage us.

We are powerless to stop him …

Without Jesus.
- With Jesus, that punk doesn’t have a prayer – literally.
- With Jesus, we can defeat all the plans of the evil one.
- With Jesus, we can roll away the stones that hold us down.
- With Jesus, the curtain that separated us from God is torn aside and we can walk right in.
- With Jesus we can walk in true resurrection life!
If you don’t fully understand the significance of Resurrection Sunday, come to church tomorrow (Easter).

If you’re not sure where to go, message me and I’ll help you find a good church.

If you’re in the Denver metro area, join me at Pillar Church, 88th and Telluride (Capstone Academy) in Commerce City at 10 am.

Is your faith stronger than Satan’s?
How do you enlist God’s help to defeat Satan?
April 3, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

His faithfulness in the face of opposition puts my meager faith to shame.

But when it comes to pleading for mercy for his nation, he lumps himself right in with the worst sinners in Israel.

Was his self image really that low?

I don’t think so.

I believe he recognized that, if he was to plead for the nation, he had to identify with the nation.

He so closely identified with the nation of Israel that he took on the shame of Israel as he laid his nation’s soul bare before the Lord.

And God listened.

From the moment he started praying, he started the wheels in motion to restore the nation of Israel.

As people seeking to live righteous lives before God, it is easy to become judgmental of those who bring down the level of purity in our nation.

I daresay that is one of the reasons our nation is so sharply divided right now.

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

Can you join me today in praying for the restoration of our nation (or your nation if you are outside the US)?
April 2, 2026

April 2nd, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 13

Highlight Verses:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The denomination I spent most of my adult life in had Hebrews 13:8 posted in every church.

That’s a very good thing.

We should be reminded that the Gospel is unchanging, that Jesus is just as powerful today as 2000 years ago.

But it doesn’t stop there.

In context, the writer of Hebrews is countering a trend to follow a kosher diet to remain in good standing with God.

That was never part of the Gospel.

While that specific issue is not much of a current topic today, the concept remains the same.

Verse 8 goes hand in hand with verse 9.

Culture changes.

The Gospel does not.

While the way we perceive the Gospel may change, the Truth remains – Salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus alone.

No special rules.

Just acknowledge your sin, and trust in Jesus by accepting His sacrifice to pay for that sin.

If you think more is required for salvation, think again.

No special diet, no ceremonies, no priests, just faith.

Are there any traditions or new ideas that you have felt were essential to salvation?
Are there any popular new ideas that you see as a threat to the message of salvation? Please explain.
April 1, 2026

April 1st, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“These were the sons of David, not including his sons born to his concubines. Their sister was named Tamar.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every family tree has some interesting branches.

My own grandmother was a servant in my grandfather’s parents’ household when they ran off to America together.

In the Bible there were many interesting characters and incidents.

Did you know that two of them were named Tamar?

They are both mentioned in today’s reading.

One was the widowed daughter-in-law of Judah.

Then there was David’s daughter who was a victim of her half brother Amnon.

I had to wonder if there was any significance to the name “Tamar.” Nope.

I looked it up. It means “date palm.”

While it was not a common name, it was not completely uncommon.

Its variants can still be found throughout the western world (Tamara, Tammy, etc.).

Then I wondered how similar their stories were.

Both were victims, but of very different wrongs.

David’s daughter lived out her life in presumed righteousness in another brother’s household.

Judah’s daughter-in-law fought back in a rather questionable way, tricking Judah into fathering her twin sons.

One of Tamar’s twins was an ancestor to King David and eventually Jesus.

God took that crazy messed up situation and turned it around for good.

He does that.

A lot.

Just look up the stories of Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba and many others.

If your family tree has some cracked branches or you feel like you are a sagging branch on your family tree, know that God has a habit of repairing branches, even grafting them into His own branch.

Will you let him repair your branches?

What is your favorite story of redemption in the Bible?
What is your story of redemption?
March 31, 2026

March 31st, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 18-19

Highlight Verse:

“So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s be honest, I don’t like to write about sin all the time.

But that’s what today’s reading is about.

And nestled in the middle of it is another reason not to sin.

This one is not about pleasing God or not offending God, though those are good reasons not to sin.

This is about not defiling the land.

How would sinning defile the land?

The commentaries I read talk about bringing so much sin to a land that God brings His judgement and kicks the people out to bring in new people.

Others speak of making the land unworthy of God’s temple.

Those are valid ideas, but I think it goes further than that.

God designed us.

He created humankind and knew how human beings function best, physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

He even wrote the manual to help us understand ourselves and take care of ourselves and those around us the best possible way.

When we ignore those instructions, life doesn’t run very well.

When we ignore the instructions as a society, the whole community falls apart.

Take it far enough and the land falls into strife, war, poverty, and blight.

Let it go even further and God will bring in new governance, wiping away the old.

What is your take on what is meant by defiling the land?
What can we do to prevent defilement?

Why didn’t I think about that?

But nothing gets a lesson through our thick skulls as effectively as suffering.

Then reach beyond that suffering and thank God for that lesson.

One of the biggest reasons I love going to church is worship.

Over the decades, I’ve experienced worship in so many ways and places.

The bottom line is that worship is about connecting as a group with God.

The irony is that those same practices are actually some of the oldest and most evil practices of all time.

God detests such practices.

If you are dabbling in “new age” meditation that seeks to contact spirit guides, I challenge you to explore what the Bible says about it and pray for direction in the right way to go.

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

Did Jesus know everything that was going to happen to Him?

Because of His death on the cross, we have new life.

Then go forth in the steps God has placed before us.

You know who wasn’t surprised?

Allow me to boggle your mind a little further.

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

Was his self image really that low?

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

We should be reminded that the Gospel is unchanging, that Jesus is just as powerful today as 2000 years ago.

Culture changes.

The Gospel does not.

Just acknowledge your sin, and trust in Jesus by accepting His sacrifice to pay for that sin.

Every family tree has some interesting branches.

Did you know that two of them were named Tamar?

He does that.

A lot.

But that’s what today’s reading is about.

How would sinning defile the land?

When we ignore those instructions, life doesn’t run very well.