I I’m looking for a devotional book for daily reading for 2023. In 2022 I worked through the book life under God the kingdom agenda by Tony Evans. It has been excellent.
One possibility is Devoted to God by Sinclair Ferguson.
Mar 24
Cory Booker is being inspirational and we need that.
Cory Booker gives an inspirational speech to supreme court justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson (see here*) and here.
Cory Booker is being:
- hopeful
- respectful
- historical
- poetic
- realistic (for all have sinned and fall short)
- forward thinking
- inspirational
- encouraging.
We need this sometimes (actually, we need this more often than not). I applaud him.
He is not providing practical steps to build a business, solve a problem, or raise our children. He is being inspirational and we need that.
* The full Langston Hughes poem is here. (It is a poem. In a similar manner to Cory Booker’s words, I believe it is designed to be inspirational. It too is not providing statistics or practical steps.)
Mar 05
Notes for March 2022
March 6 is the first Sunday of Lent.
Easter is April 17. It’s a good time to invite people to church, for Easter, or any Sunday. Invite cards for Point Pleasant. Invite cards for New Philadelphia.
Today I’m preaching on the letter of Paul to the Colossians. This is the first of numerous sermons on Paul: the Man, the Missions, and the Message. More information on the Apostle Paul here.
This post is from Jim Olsen’s website: faith.drjimo.net.
Jan 08
Notes for January 2022
Happy New Year! Here are a few links related to our worship services and sermons in January.
The Valley of Vision
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, is a book published in 1975. Includes the prayer for the New Year.
Blessed to be a Blessing
We are all blessed in many ways. It is our call to turn our blessings around to bless other people. We can do this in many small and large ways. The Bible says:
- As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
- A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water. Proverbs 11:25
- Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Here is an ambigram.
Midwest Distribution Center
Located just south of Springfield, IL
Since opening for ministry in 2000, Midwest Mission has been showing God’s Love in practical ways through the distribution of education, health, micro-business, and disaster relief supplies meeting basic human needs around the world and around the corner.
Individuals and groups can sign up to volunteer. See https://www.midwestmission.org/
Hours: M-F 8 AM to 4 PM (weekends by appointment) 1001 Mission Drive, Pawnee, IL 62558 (217)483-7911 office@midwestmission.org
Human Relations Day 
January 16 is Human Relations Day. It is one of the 6 Special Sundays for the UMC.
I Understand, Let’s Go
In the Joseph, King of Dreams movie there is a great scene. Joseph is in prison. Potiphar comes to get him out of prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Potiphar starts to try to appologize for his wife’s behavior that landed Joseph unjustly in prison. Joseph interrupts and says, “I Understand, Let’s Go,” and they walk out of the prison together. The rest is the history of the Hebrews. Here is the clip:
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
This wonderful hymn was written by John Greenleaf Whittier (1872). I like to use the first verse as a Call to Worship. Lyrics and information here. Video below.
Jan 01
2021 Daily Devotionals
2021
In 2021, I started, and was able to complete, two daily Christian devotionals. I think this is the first time I’ve ever been able to actually do all 365 days.
These were excellent.
- The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge is written by Tony Dungy. This was a gift to me Christmas 2020 from my daughter and husband, Diane and Luke Delgehausen.
- Grace for the Moment is by Max Lucado. I picked this one myself. Marilyn and I read this nightly after dinner.
Here are what I see as the strengths and the reasons why I was actually able to complete these books.
- Only one page for each day. This makes it pretty easy to catch up if you miss a day or two.
- Lucado gets right to the point and is an excellent author.
- Tony Dungy uses lots of good examples. He was a successful player and coach so I enjoyed his sports examples.
Without the grace of God, I would not have been able to complete these. With God’s continues grace, I hope to continue the tradition/habit.
I’ve learned much. Thanks you Jesus.
2022
In 2022, I hope to keep it up reading:
- Life Under God by Tony Evans. Daily devotional.
- Made for this Moment by Max Lucado. A book, not a true daily devotional.
Dec 05
Notes for Advent 2021
The Other Wise Man
The Other Wise Man, by Henry van Dyke, is an all-time favorite. The story was burned in my memory, as an elementary-age child, when our church put it on as a play at Christmastime. Our family has read the story for many years.
Here is a webpage I put together with links to the online book, audio reading, history, and information about Henry van Dyke, a very interesting and inspiring man.
Good King Wenceslas
Oct 16
Notes for the 4 G’s of God
In October 2021, I have the pleasure of preaching a sermon on, what I am calling, The 4 G’s of God.
Here are a few notes and links.
Glory of God
5 Solae – the 5 Alone statements
The 5 Solae (Greek for alone) of Protestantism are five foundational Biblical principles upon which our (Protestant) beliefs and salvation are based. (While Luther and Calvin taught, wrote, and preached on these, I believe that, as a listing of five, the Five Solae were not articulated until the 20th Century.)
We are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, according to scripture alone, for the Glory of God alone.
Other orderings of the 5 statements can be found here.
Grace of God
John Wesley’s understanding of grace found here*.
Growth in God
*John Wesley’s third level of grace is Sanctifying grace, Grace perfecting us.
God says Go.
Isaiah’s vision has God in His Glory (Isaiah 6:1-8), but quickly turns to the commissioning of the prophet. Whom shall I send? – Here, I am Lord, send me.
Aug 15
Notes for August 14, 2021
A few notes related to today’s sermon, The Joy of POP (privilege, opportunity, priority).
Tony Dungy
Books by Tony Dungy here. They include Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life and The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge.
Super Bowl Breakfast Speech
- Tony Dungy Super Bowl Breakfast 2006 Part 1
- Tony Dungy Super Bowl Breakfast 2006 Part 2
- Tony Dungy :: Good came out of his son’s death
Children’s Sermon
Jun 08
Ah-ha, when I walk up to a situation
Phillipians 2:3-5 says:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Forgive me Lord. When I approach a situation (e.g., buying a donut at the donut shop) I often approach it with the focus on completing the task (correctly, Type-A tendency). According to the Bible, this is the incorrect way to approach the situation. I should be first valuing others and looking to fulfill the interests of them. Lord, help me to remember this and put it into practice. Help me to become a person that does this.
The insight of the passage: (1) Notice how it begins. It begins squarely with our selfish ambition (which is our animal tendency). (2) Notice that it refers to everything. If it would have said, look after the interests of others and value others, it would imply these are good things to do from time to time (like mowing the yard, eating, taking a shower, taking a hike), but not something to consider all the time.