Thanks, Spies! Forty More Years of Walking! “Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged! Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He …
I Can’t Even Walk… In Genesis 32, we find Isaac’s son Jacob fearful about his meeting up with his long-lost brother, Esau. It’s been 20 years since Jacob, the con man, cheated Esau out of both his birthright and his father’s blessing. Jacob by now was wealthy, had 11 sons, and was frantic with fear. Knowing …
Gospel Song – I Stood on the Banks of Jordan. Rev. James Cleveland (1931-1991) was a key figure in transitioning from traditional gospel to a more contemporary gospel, incorporating more soul, pop and jazz into his compositions and performances. Rev. Cleveland tended to write music for mass choirs, and was often producing records for the various …
Goofy Dad Story: Running on the Ice. My senior year at Wheaton College. Basketball season. Freezing temperatures on the morning of a game that night. I was running late to class. It was really cold, and there was ice on all the sidewalks. I had forgotten to wear my gloves, so as I ran I …
(9.) Soldier, Priest – Shoes for the Gospel of Peace. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For this struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against …
Physical Worship – Dancing. “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? With eyes wide open to His mercies, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: I encourage you, as an act of sensible, intelligent worship, to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice. Make a …
Physical Worship – Jumping. “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? With eyes wide open to His mercies, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: I encourage you, as an act of sensible, intelligent worship, to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice. Make a …
Physical Worship – Walking. “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? With eyes wide open to His mercies, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: I encourage you, as an act of sensible, intelligent worship, to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice. Make a …
Physical Worship – Standing. “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? With eyes wide open to His mercies, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: I encourage you, as an act of sensible, intelligent worship, to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice. Make …
The Narrow Gate. “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are they who go in by that way. Because narrow is the gate and narrow the way which leads to life, and few there are who find it.” (Matthew …
Marching Around Jericho. So the Israelites have finally reached the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering. Moses has died and his disciple Joshua has taken command of the Chosen People. “Joshua was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The people of Israel listened obediently to Joshua …
Walking on the Water. “Jesus called out to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! The I AM is here!’” (John 6:20). King? After the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, which may have been twice that number because only men were counted for groups, the people were so impressed by the miracle that they wanted to take Jesus and …