Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Proverbs 12:18 where we are challenged to consider our words carefully and bring healing to others instead of hurt. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Word-damage can happen so quickly at any time; it’s happening right now, probably not far away.  Word bandages, on the other hand, meet the ears gently...

Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Deuteronomy 32:4 where Moses gives us a glimpse of the praiseworthy God and King of all. The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. If we want a picture of holiness, we’ve come to the right place.  God’s attributes are always to the perfect extreme, making Him completely...

Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering James 4:7 where we learn of the great blessing of being near to God in humble submission. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We like to think that we’re pretty strong–strong enough to walk in righteousness and abstain from wickedness.  And in this thinking we are entirely self-deceived.  You see, if you are a...

Welcome to Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations covering Zechariah 7:9-10 where we are brought back to some of those foundational practices that should characterize our lives in Christian community. Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your...

While this article is about the theology of the church the focus is on the practical side of the church.  I want to share a few emergent church warnings, looking more at some 5 emerging red flags in local churches dealing with 5 growing practices and not going beyond that at this point, perhaps for another article in the future. We need to first as an important question. What is the church? I confess that is a loaded question.  This is...

Welcome to Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations covering Proverbs 20:25 where we are instructed toward careful consideration when making promises. It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. When there are decisions to be made, when things pile up and beg for our attention, relief is found in getting things done, checking items off our list.  This reality works well for kids who have a...