Staff Meeting Devotion Apr. 9, 2013
“Surely This Was…” You know those times when you read a familiar Scripture passage and something new jumps out at you? During Lent this year, that “something” for me was the centurion at the crucifixion. What might he have witnessed?
Staff Meeting Devotion Apr. 2, 2013
“Staring at the Sky” Acts was written by Luke, a “part #2” of his letter to Theophilus. In Acts 1:1-11, Jesus taught the disciples through the Spirit over the 40 days before he ascended to heaven. He planned to empower them as well through the Spirit, “the gift the Father had promised” (v. 4). Thinking […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Mar. 26, 2013
“Living Is Speaking” 60 Minutes recently did a segment on Brian Banks, a high schooler from a rough neighborhood who had secured a scholarship to play college football. He made out with a girl, going no further, who later that day falsely accused him of rape and kidnapping. Though DNA evidence exonerated him, his attorney […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Mar. 19, 2013
“God’s Foster Children” A foster child comes to a foster family. As an infant, his ability to communicate is limited. His foster parents find much joy in him, but they wonder, will he remember us when he moves on? What will he become? They pray for God’s grace and peace to follow him. The child […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Feb. 26, 2013
“The Work of Your Hands” Paul knew well the audiences of his letter-writing. So what was behind his exhortation to the Thessalonians to “…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Feb. 19, 2013
“Multiple Layers of Meaning” Have you noted the depth of the layers of meaning in Isaiah? Sometimes we get too reductionistic in looking for “the” meaning in a passage. This simplifying approach works better in the NT, but is still not satisfactory. When we approach the text this way, we assume that God only intended to communicate, […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Feb. 12, 2013
“Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize” The other day, my daughter and I were talking about something and she said “Well, I just want to go to heaven!” That really struck a chord with me. My 4-year-old knows pretty much nothing about heaven, except it will be even more awesome than the Disney castle; yet, […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Feb. 5, 2013
“A Cry of Dependence” Scripture has many characters. The author of 2 Chronicles tells us how to feel about some of these characters before telling us about their story: “He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord,” “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” We are able to discern […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Jan. 29, 2013
“100 Ways to Change Your Life” “100 Ways to Change Your Life”. This is a chapter title of a book I am currently studying. The author makes this statement about the 100 ways: “It fills your heart and your home with the best thoughts ever recorded. It saturates the personality, satiates the soul, and stockpiles […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Dec. 4, 2012
“Mary’s Song” Luke 1:46-56 Can you think of a time when you did something reluctantly because you didn’t feel you had what it takes to do it well? Mary, after being given the news by God that she would bear the Son of the Most High, rejoiced at this incredible task. Granted, at that point she may […]
