Table Scraps – Mark‬ ‭7:24-30‬, Holman Slang

"When Jesus left for Tyre he tried to go into a house unnoticed but his popularity made it impossible to go anywhere without pomp. In fact, one of the locals who had a little ninò overcome by a demon collapsed at his feet in desperation. She was of the Syrian Greek folk and begged Jesus …

Wisdom from a Fool’s Distance – Job‬ ‭20:18-21‬, Holman Slang

“He will try to choke down and bring to full enjoyment what he labored for but it will come straight back up because he oppressed the poor folk and took a neighbor's house by violence. His greedy over-desires stirred up his soul’s quiet nature and every delight worth saving vanished into thin air. All has …

John Maxwell’s Thoughts on Leading People Without Building Relationships

"If you're a high achiever who has neglected relationships in your leadership, you may be saying to yourself, "I haven't needed to develop relationships to be a good leader..." Here is my answer to that: as long as you're winning, people are willing to follow even if you are hard on them. However, when you …

“… AND with free will offerings …” – Thoughts on Ezra 1:4 and Luke 7

“And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:4, NIV)." “... and with free will offerings ...” Rebuilding the temple was something Israel had wanted to do …

One Mark of New Birth in Christ

There are certain evidences of the validity of a Christian's faith but none more obvious than a heart, once was cold and self-serving, now beats warm with tenderness. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a …

Watch your Watch – thoughts on Ezekiel 33:6

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people ... I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ Ezekiel 33:6 NIV The part I left out was a promise of the warned dying for their sin but I wanted to focus on the watchman. Who …

What does 666 mean? Thoughts on Revelation 13:18

“This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Rev 13:18‬, ESV‬‬) The “number of a man” is 6 (unholy) and the number of God is 7 (holy). While God is holy, holy, holy (777), …

The Land Gets a Nap – thoughts on 2 Chronicles 36:20-21

[...After being taken captive by Babylon until Persia came to power...] The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah (2 Chron 36:[20‭]-‬21, NIV). The land, not the people, enjoyed a holy Sabbath …

Frank and Amie

Today, I got to play some music with my grandpa and spend some much needed time with he and my grandmother. Words cannot express my love and gratitude for them both. After playing a handful of songs for them, he grabbed my hand and prayed and thanked God for me. I had to walk away …

No Birthright, No Blessing

Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV) "See to it ... that no one is ... unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears." The blessing is reserved …