Walk in the Light

March 23, 2026

March 23rd, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 12

Highlight Verse:

“Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I remember reading this when I was young and wondering What if I made a joke about the Holy Spirit, or disregarded something that the Holy Spirit said? Would that be blasphemy?

If you have ever thought that, let me put your mind at ease. If you had truly blasphemed the Holy Spirit, you would know it.

Basically, it would mean that you had totally and consistently rejected Jesus.

Enduring Word put it as a “settled disposition of life that rejects the testament of the Holy Spirit regarding Jesus.” (Enduringword dot com)

So, yes, if you have completely rejected Jesus, you will not be forgiven.

Some would say that repeated sin is a rejection of Jesus.

I would say that repeated sin can lead to a rejection of salvation as the human psyche will tend to justify that sin to the point where you no longer see the need for forgiveness.

If Jesus asks us to forgive others 70 times 7 times (which represents infinity),

you can be sure that He will extend the same amount of forgiveness to us.

Make no mistake, repeated sin is harmful to the sinner. All sin is harmful. That’s why God calls it sin. He knows the best way for us to live and when we trust Him and follow that way, that is when we live our best life.

When we follow our own ways, we suffer.

When people fall far from the truth, that’s when they tend to reject Jesus.

And that is fatal.

Have you ever come back from the edge of rejecting Jesus?
What can you do today to stay far from that point?
March 22, 2026

March 22nd, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 18

Highlight Verse:

“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was in Bible college, I wrote a whole sermon series around this and similar verses.

While a strong fortress (or tower as in some versions) is a safe place to take shelter,

that is just one of its functions.

It is also:
• A place to train for spiritual battle.
• A place to receive battle commands.
• A place to heal from battle wounds.
• And a place to celebrate victories.

Now substitute the word “church” for “fortress” and you get a glimpse of what a powerful local church body should look like.

• We should receive teaching that trains us for the spiritual battles of this world.
• We should hear the commands of God through Biblical preaching.
• We should share and accept support that helps us heal from the spiritual and emotional battle-scars of spiritual warfare.
• We should celebrate through praise and worship, the victories and lessons learned in battle, with constant thankfulness.

I am blessed to go to a church that lives out those attributes.

Thank you Pastor Alex and the whole Pillar team!

Are you part of a local church that functions as your “strong fortress”?
If not, what are you doing to change it?
March 21, 2026

March 21st, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 23

Highlight Verses:

“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am writing this on the first evening of my Spring vacation sitting in a comfortable chair on the porch of a vacation rental house

enjoying the warm air and birds singing.

It would be ideal if the birds weren’t accompanied by the sounds of someone grinding on a truck a couple of doors down and if I didn’t know there was a bunch of work to get done tomorrow and a bit more through the rest of the week.

Despite this being a bit of a working vacation, I will find time this week (like right now) to relax and rest in God’s creation.

In this country we are blessed with an abundance of natural areas we can retreat to.

While this week will be a little bit busy, I intend to take full advantage of my open schedule to get into nature and get some re-creation.

Like David, I believe God will renew my strength and make my paths clearer as I rest in Him.

What is your go-to place for rejuvenation?
When do you plan on getting rest?
March 20, 2026

March 20th, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I don’t like politics.

Yes, I know they are essential.

I dare say that there are some good people in politics.

I’ve known some of them.

Daniel was one.

He had risen to a very high position in Babylon.

There’s plenty of bad people in politics too.

Daniel’s political rivals weren’t very thrilled about his success.

They used their political pull to plot Daniel’s undoing.

It almost worked.

It would have worked, except for one little detail.

Daniel was faithful to God.

He could have put aside his prayer time for a month.

He could have run away.

He could have freaked out when he was caught.

But that wasn’t how Daniel operated.

He simply remained faithful.

It was scary and he was bold.

But he would not turn away from what was right.

And God responded to his faithfulness with protection and honor.

When has it been difficult for you to stay faithful to God?
How has God responded to your faithfulness?
Are you prepared to be faithful when it could cost you everything?
March 19, 2026

March 19th, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 11

Highlight Verse:

“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My “About” tagline reads “Author, Husband, Dad, Man of Faith and Fun.”

I call myself a man of faith, but the people listed in this chapter have faith that makes mine look puny.

But then, Jesus talked about faith like a mustard seed moving mountains (Matthew 17:20).

Okay, I can let God take this puny faith and do some landscaping.

Forty-nine years ago, I struggled with whether or not to believe all this religious stuff my parents and church tried to force on me.

Because of some people who truly believed what they said and lived it out; I found faith despite all the religion around me.

Now when people ask if I’m religious, I tell them

“No, but I have a deep faith.”

I’m not saying that church is bad. I am saying church should be a place where people come together to express and encourage faith.

From that place of faith our words and deeds can have lasting effects that we may not see this side of Heaven.

But we can trust that God will honor every act of faith.

Has religion helped or hindered your faith (or like me – both)?
What is your favorite story of faith in the Bible?
What is your favorite story of faith from your life?
March 18, 2026

March 18th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 18-20

Highlight Verse:

““What did they see in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.””
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord.

But that doesn’t mean he was perfect.

We can learn both from the good examples he set and the bad.

It is so easy, especially for us men, to fall into the trap of one-upmanship.

I can be as guilty of it as anyone. I love showing off my workshop or the remodeled kitchen.

That’s basically what Hezekiah did.

Granted, the friends I’ve shown aren’t likely to come rob me of all my wealth. They wouldn’t get much if they did.

I’d say it’s fine to show stuff with the intention of helping people make decisions of what they are going to do (for example, the remodeled kitchen) or to work together for good.

The problem is that showing off possessions gives those possessions power over our lives. We begin to work for them instead for the Lord and for family and friends.

Isaiah didn’t fault Hezekiah for having those possessions. He faulted him for showing them off.

It’s not bad for us to have nice things.

But it’s best when we can use those possessions to help others or to bring attention to God instead of our own egos.

How do you tell the difference between showing off and sharing to help others?
How do you know when you are getting something that will be helpful or just grow your ego?
March 17, 2026

March 17th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 14-15

Highlight Verses:

““The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest, who will examine them at a place outside the camp. If the priest finds that someone has been healed of a serious skin disease, he will perform a purification ceremony, using two live birds that are ceremonially clean, a stick of cedar, some scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The priests had to go outside the camp to where the lepers were to begin the cleansing process.

It was likely not a highly sought-after job among the priests.

Still, there were those compassionate souls among them who brought the restoration of God to those who were outcast.

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day and that 11% of Irish heritage in me is rising up again.

Patrick was a slave in Ireland in his younger days.

After he escaped and became a Catholic priest, he could have stayed in safer areas and settled in a comfortable Parrish.

Instead, like the priests who ministered to the lepers, he chose to go where he knew he was needed.

He used his knowledge of Irish culture and of God and brought the Gospel to Ireland.

With a little Holy Spirit intervention, the conversion of the Emerald Island from paganism to Christianity was comprehensive.

Even today, over 76% of residents of Ireland identify as Christian (though to many it is merely cultural).

How affectively are we reaching those who are rejected by the rest of society?
What can you and I do to make a difference?
March 16, 2026

March 16th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 11

Highlight Verse:

“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love that term, “shameless persistence.”

It begs the question, why wouldn’t God just answer our prayers instantly?

I can think of a number of reasons, not least of which is that God is not a genie here to grant our every wish.

God is a Father and always wants what’s best for us.

Prayer is not primarily for God. If course, he desires to hear from us.

But prayer is primarily for us.

Persistence in prayer exercises our faith.

Just as the athlete needs persistent exercise and training,

prayer gives us spiritual exercise and training to develop our faith.

Persistence in prayer also gives us the time to be certain of what we are asking for. We may be asking from misguided or selfish motives.

Regardless of why, Jesus taught us to be shamelessly persistent in prayer.

How about we start right now. And never stop until the answer comes.

What have you been praying for the longest?
Have you seen prayers answered after long delays? Tell us about them.

(As always, respect the privacy of those you pray for).
March 15, 2026

March 15th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 17

Highlight Verse:

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And sometimes the Lord uses fire to test the heart.

The photo today is of last night’s beautiful sunset in North Platte, NE.

Unfortunately, it was beautiful because of major wildfires in Nebraska.

Already over half a million acres have burnt. Fortunately, the fires are in sparsely populated areas, but they are spreading quickly, and winds are expected to be very high today.

When people are faced with disaster, that is when true character comes out.

Some will do whatever it takes to protect themselves and assure their own survival.

Others will protect their loved ones at all costs.

Finally, a third group will help as many people as they can with the resources that they have.

I have not been in a major disaster, but the minor ones have mostly fallen in the second category. I definitely check on my own first.

But when the situation allows, I will turn to help others once my family is taken care of.

Case in point was a music festival years ago on a farm in western New Jersey. The remnants of a hurricane blew through that day, but the show went on (at least for those who braved the elements).

When they finally called it quits halfway through the afternoon, many cars were stuck in the muddy fields.

I joined a group of people pushing cars out of the mud.

When I finally got home, I discovered how completely covered in mud I was.

But I looked back at realized that was one of the best times I have had at a concert.

Now if they could just get some of that rain on the fires in Nebraska!

How do you react in the aftermath of disaster?
What have been some of your experiences?

Note: if you are reading this in the middle of March 2026, please pray that the fires in Nebraska and elsewhere are quickly extinguished and that victims experience love in the form of people living out their faith by helping.
March 14, 2026

March 14th, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

Highlight Verse:

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s between Friday the 13th and Saint Patrick’s Day – between an unlucky day and a lucky one.

The 11% of Irish blood in me wants to celebrate the luck o’ the Irish.

I could even make a (very weak) case for luck by referring to the Urim and Thummin from the Old Testament.

But the idea of luck ignores the providence of God.

Worse, the Bible warns us against what we usually seek luck for – wealth.

I must confess, I sometimes enter contests for million-dollar homes or nice cars. I’ve even been known to buy the occasional lottery ticket.

Is that wrong?

Maybe.

It certainly isn’t wise.

Sometimes they are drawings that go to support good causes.

But if I want to support those causes, I could just donate and they wouldn’t have to share the proceeds with companies that run the drawings.

Sometimes I try to rationalize it with visions of supporting many ministries with the winnings.

But if I spend too much time dwelling on the possibility of winning, that can be considered idolatry.

To my credit, I don’t spend much time thinking about winning. I often forget to check for winning tickets for weeks or more. The realist in me knows the odds are far against me.

The biggest problem with gambling is that some people get sucked into obsession with winning.

Gambling addiction can be just as strong as drug or alcohol addiction.

While it has not been a temptation for me, I want to set a good example.

So, here’s my challenge of the day, if even one of you messages me or comments with a commitment to not gamble any money (through lotteries, gaming, etc), I will make the same commitment with you for however long you want.

If you have recovered from a gambling addiction, how did you do it?
If you are in the midst of such an addiction, will you be brave enough to put it behind you?

Basically, it would mean that you had totally and consistently rejected Jesus.

you can be sure that He will extend the same amount of forgiveness to us.

When we follow our own ways, we suffer.

that is just one of its functions.

I am blessed to go to a church that lives out those attributes.

enjoying the warm air and birds singing.

In this country we are blessed with an abundance of natural areas we can retreat to.

Like David, I believe God will renew my strength and make my paths clearer as I rest in Him.

I don’t like politics.

Daniel was faithful to God.

And God responded to his faithfulness with protection and honor.

I call myself a man of faith, but the people listed in this chapter have faith that makes mine look puny.

“No, but I have a deep faith.”

But we can trust that God will honor every act of faith.

But that doesn’t mean he was perfect.

It is so easy, especially for us men, to fall into the trap of one-upmanship.

But it’s best when we can use those possessions to help others or to bring attention to God instead of our own egos.

Still, there were those compassionate souls among them who brought the restoration of God to those who were outcast.

With a little Holy Spirit intervention, the conversion of the Emerald Island from paganism to Christianity was comprehensive.

I love that term, “shameless persistence.”

But prayer is primarily for us.

prayer gives us spiritual exercise and training to develop our faith.

The 11% of Irish blood in me wants to celebrate the luck o’ the Irish.

It certainly isn’t wise.

Gambling addiction can be just as strong as drug or alcohol addiction.