2 Kings 2:13-25 Developing Godly Leadership In every stage of my life, I am being influenced by leaders. God placed people around me who challenge me, help me, teach me, and encourage me to the be the person I am called to be. At times, I learned other lessons from people I watched, whether on television or in real life. In either case, I took what I learned and I applied it to my life. The same is true... Read more
Isaiah 41:17-20 God Does the Impossible to Provide The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. (Isaiah 41:17, HCSB) The verse here describes the condition that many people find themselves in. We need something. Some need the basics like water. Others need help in other ways. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs... Read more
Prophecy Watch: Global Trade Agreements There are two very important trade agreements being negotiated right now – in secret. The Obama administration is trying to “fast track” international global trade agreements between countries on the other side of the Atlantic and the Pacific. The agreements being made with both the countries in Asia (Trans-Pacific Partnership – TPP) and the European Union (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – TTIP). You can click the infographic above from an article elsewhere to see... Read more
Five Reasons to Praise God April 22, 2015 Year B Psalm 150:1-6 shares the reasons and ways to praise God. It is the last psalm in the entire book and it ends this book on the right note (no pun intended). If the Book of Psalms is about worship, then Psalm 150 reveals to us that in the end of time, we will be praising God. This psalm gives us reasons to praise God. 1. Praise God because of Who... Read more
Iron Man 2 (2010) MOVIE SUMMARY: The sequel to the successful first movie in the Iron Man movie franchise kicked off the Marvel Comics Universe of movies which followed. The premise of this movie is simple: now that Iron Man has been revealed, what can he accomplish and what dangers follow him. MOVIE THEMES: Mortality The first theme continues from the original movie Iron Man, the challenge of living with a decaying power source (iron suit palladium core) in his... Read more
Iron Man (2008) MOVIE SUMMARY Iron Man (2008) is the first film in the Marvel Films approach to introduce the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this film, Tony Stark, a billionaire, genius, philanthropist, and playboy has inherited Stark Industries from his father Howard Stark. Stark Industries is a defense contractor. So Stark, along with his friend Colonel James Rhodes goes to Afghanistan to demonstrate the new “Jericho” missile. His convoy is attacked and Stark is critically injured by one of his... Read more
Lamentations 3:19-24 The Hope of Easter “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” ― Corrie ten Boom For many people, Easter is a holiday to get away from all the hopelessness they may feel. Easter eggs, bunnies, dresses, and dinners all are used to hide the deep feelings of hurt that many people feel. Perhaps you have come today because it is a... Read more
Living in Harmony April 9, 2015 Year B Psalm 133:1-3 David reflects here on how great it feels when people live together in harmony. It is a joy when people work and live together in harmony. David compares this harmony to the dew that flows down from the highest mountain to Jerusalem. He also compares it to the oil which flows from the anointing of the priest down his beard and onto his robe. The fragrance of both the dew... Read more
What I Learned From My Facebook Fast 2015 I recently took a fast from Facebook for forty days during Lent. I did this for two reasons. First, I wanted to spend more time in prayer for our church’s upcoming revival. Second, I felt that flipping through Facebook (mostly on my phone) was preventing me from doing some other important work. So I decided to fast during Lent from Facebook. Here are five things I learned from this experience: 1.... Read more
Jesus, His Prayers, and God’s Perfecting Process April 3, 2015 Year B (Good Friday of Holy Week) Hebrews 5:7-10 Sometimes my prayers don’t get the answered the way I want because God wants to teach me and change me through obedience. In this section, the writer of Hebrews recalls a time during the life of Jesus when He prayed for deliverance from the cross. This prayer was given three times in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested.... Read more
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