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Podcast Introduction Today our reading is  1 Samuel 21-25.  I’m calling the episode “In the Fullness of Time.” Comments on 1 Samuel 23 and 24 In chapter 23, we saw that Saul was still after David, and he almost had him, but God intervened with the report of the Philistines attacking the land. And then in chapter 24, we saw that David had the perfect opportunity to take Saul out, but David spared Saul’s life because Saul was still God's anointed king. David had been anointed to *become* the king of Israel. God chose him, but He had not chosen to remove Saul just yet.  God’s timing is rarely our timing. Remember His promise to Abram that He would make him a great nation. Abraham waited twenty-five years for the birth of his first son. David knew that it was not his place to rush God. He knew that when God made a promise, He would fulfill it in His time. In our age of nearly instant gratification, we are not very good at waiting. We want it NOW. But waiting can be a good thing. Maybe we’re n

Podcast Introduction Today our reading is  Exodus 5-8.  I’m calling the episode “I Got Gnats.”  Comments on Exodus 7 & 8 Ever since I was about six years old, I have been a fan of magic tricks. The first time I remember seeing a magic trick was when I was with my parents somewhere, and an old guy on the street showed me a quarter in his hand, put the quarter in the pocket of his trousers, and then pulled the quarter out from the bottom of his pocket, right through the material of his pants, without making a hole. From that moment on, I have been fascinated with “magic”. I remember there used to be a mail order catalog from a guy named Vick Lawston, out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I used to look through that catalog cover-to-cover, wishing I could order all of these tricks to amaze and astound my friends. I actually did order a few of them.  And then when I was a little older, on a trip to Disneyland, I discovered that there were two magic shops in the park! One on Main Street, and one in Sleepi

Podcast Introduction Today our reading is 1 Corinthians 13-14.  I’m calling the episode “Love Is.”  Comments on 1 Corinthians 13 In the 13th chapter, which is often called the “Love Chapter”, Paul continues addressing the church in regards to division and gifts. What he tells them is that it doesn’t matter what gift you have, if you don’t have love. If there is love, you won’t have the problem fighting over who has what gift or which gift is better. And to make it clear, he delineates what love looks like. Love is not that mushy feeling of butterflies in your stomach you got with your first high school crush. Love is much more than that, and Paul is very specific about what it is. I hesitate to even begin to boil it down into just a few words, because his description is so dead on, but I’ll do it anyway. Love is not about what makes me feel good. Love is about what I can do for the benefit of the object of my love. Even when it’s difficult, or when that other person is unloveable. Love keeps going. 

Podcast Introduction Today our reading is Mark 9-10.  I’m calling the episode “There Was No Mistake.”  Comments on Mark 9 In verse one of chapter 9, Jesus said, “I can assure you that some of the people standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom come with power.” What do you suppose Jesus was talking about here? Was He talking about His second coming? Was he talking about the rapture? If so, then was He wrong? Is this one of those “difficult passages” that we hear about? Well let’s ask ourselves whether Jesus was ever wrong or if He was even capable of being wrong. What do we believe about Him? Jesus is God, isn’t He? If He is God, then one of the attributes of God is omniscience, which means “all-knowing”, so He can’t be wrong.  Well, if He wasn’t wrong, then what does that leave us with? After all, all the disciples died before Jesus’ second coming or the rapture. As always, it is important to look at context. We look at the verses before and after this verse.  At the e

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Adrian N on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is Jeremiah 12-16.  I’m calling the episode “A Temper Tantrum.”  Comments on Jeremiah 15 Have you ever done something that you know must have disappointed the Lord? Have you ever gotten angry at God and cried out, “It just isn’t fair! YOU aren’t fair, God!”  How do you think God reacts to us when we do that? Here in chapter 15, Jeremiah was complaining about how he had been mistreated by the people. They didn’t like his message, and they took it out on him. And Jeremiah said, in essence, “Hey God. I have served you and done what you said. I have loved you and I have loved your Word. I’ve lived right and kept my nose clean. So why am I going through all this junk? Why is my pain without end? You, God, have misled me! I cannot rely on you!” How’s that for a tantrum? Have you ever thrown a tantrum like that at God?  So let’s look at God’s response.  Look at chapter 15, verses 19-21. God says, “If y

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Steve Webb Podcast Introduction Today our reading is Job 29-30.  I’m calling the episode “Can You Blame Him?" Comments on Job 29-30 Doesn’t you heart just really go out to Job? My goodness. The poor guy remembers what life was like before his afflictions came, and He speaks of the horrible physical, emotional and spiritual pain he is in. How could anybody not feel bad for him? Speaking of his pain. I’ve never experienced anything near the physical pain that Job suffered, but I have gone through a few excruciating episodes. I have a back that every once in a while decides to lay me out. The pain can be so bad that I need help to stand up.  And I’ve had bouts of kidney stones. Oh my goodness. Talk about excruciating. The first time it happened to me, I didn’t know what was going on. I thought I was dying. I went to the ER and of course they knew right away what was going on, and they gave me a shot of morphine.  Now, I’m not a drug user, so you’d think that morph

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: John Royle on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is 1Psalms 42-44.  I’m calling the episode “Thirsty.” Comments on Psalms 42-44 Introduction to Psalm 42 This is the first psalm of Book Two of Psalms. There are certainly differences between books one and two. One difference is the Hebrew word for God. Commentator James Montgomery Boice wrote, “According to Franz Delitsch, in book one the name Jehovah occurs 272 times and Elohim only 15. But in book two, Elohim occurs 164 times and Jehovah only 30 times.”  In Book One, David is the author of all but four of the 41 psalms, with those four having no attributions. In Book Two, which contains 31 chapters, David wrote eighteen, Asaph and Solomon each wrote one, the sons of Korah authored seven or eight, and three have no attribution. The title of Psalm 42 is “To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah”. Who were the sons of Korah?They were Levites from the tribe of Kohath, and according t

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Esteban Giacobbe on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is 1 Samuel 16-20.  I’m calling the episode “That’s A Biggun”  Comments on 1 Samuel 17 First, let me say that this translation disagrees with most other translations in regards to Goliath’s height. In our translation today, the number given was “close to seven feet tall”. Most others say it was six cubits and a span. So what is a cubit, and what is a span?  Before mankind had agreed on standard lengths, they often used body parts to measure distances. Today, a foot is standardized at 12 inches. Back then, a foot was however long the measurer’s foot was. A cubit was the length of a forearm. The average was about 18 inches, but it could be a little longer or a little shorter. The span was the width from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger when the fingers are extended, or widened apart. That’s about 9 inches. So a span is about a half a cubit. So, doing the math, Goliath was 117 inches

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Valeria Zoncoll on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is Exodus 1-4.  I’m calling the episode "What Are You Waiting For? ”  Comments on Exodus 4 “At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.”Exodus 4:24 NET Why was God going to kill Moses? We are not told specifically why, but it is always good to look at the surrounding context. So let’s do that now. First, notice that in chapter 3, when God told Moses that He was going to send Moses to Pharaoh to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, Moses questioned God. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  Then Moses said, “Suppose (my emphasis) I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” In chapter 4, Moses says, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then he said, “Pa

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is 1 Corinthians 11-12.  I’m calling the episode "Vive la Différence." Comments on 1 Corinthians 11-12 Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 11 I think it’s most beneficial before we get into this discussion that we look at what Paul said near the end of his talk on the subject of men and women. In verse 11 he said, “…woman isn’t independent from man, and man isn’t independent from woman in the Lord. 12As woman came from man so also man comes from woman. But everything comes from God.” It looks to me as if Paul is giving equal respect to both sexes in this. Wouldn’t you agree? There are other places in his letters where that attitude comes through, as well. Some have made the charge that Paul didn’t like or respect women, but I don’t see that when I take the totality of his writings.  The difficulty lies in cultural bias. Today, the women’s equality movement that began in earnest in the 60s tries to make the

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Eduardo Goody on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today our reading is Mark 7-8. I’m calling the episode “Heart Condition." Comments on Mark 7 and 8 Have you ever heard the advice: “Follow your heart”, or when pondering a difficult decision, have you been asked, “What does your heart say?”. You probably have.  How does that jive with scripture? Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” What did Jesus say about the heart? Today in Mark chapter 7, verses 14 through 23, Jesus talked about what it is that defiles a person. Jesus was speaking to the crowd here, and what He said here was new information He said, “…there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” Most of the people in the crowd were Jews, and you can be sure that some who were listening were Jewish leaders, well versed in the Law. And from a v

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Conscious Design on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today  our reading is Jeremiah 7-11. I’m calling the episode “That’s Fair.” Comments onJeremiah 9 We read today a lot of God telling Jeremiah of the judgement He was going to bring on Israel because of their rebellion, didn’t we? God listed so many reasons He was angry with them. He said, I told your ancestors, whom I brought out of Egypt, that all they needed to do was follow my commands, and I will be your God, and you will live in a land flowing with milk and honey. But if you do not follow me, I will cast you out of the land and you will lose everything. And most of the chapters elaborated on this basic theme, right? But did you notice what God said in the ninth chapter? Starting at verse 23, 23The Lord says, “Do not let wise people brag about how wise they are. Do not let strong people boast about how strong they are. Do not let rich people brag about how rich they are. “24But here is what the one who brags shou

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today  Job 27-28. I’m calling the episode “Going My Way?” Comments on Job 27 and 28 In these two chapters Job begins quite a long soliloquy in response to what he has heard from his friends. It continues for five chapters, and he makes some excellent points.  As Job begins, in essence he says that no matter what, his friends’ accusations against him will not wear him down. As long as he lives, he will maintain that he has been a man of integrity. Have you ever been in an argument or debate with someone who just won’t give it up, and you finally just say, “Fine! Have it your way!” just to get them to let it go? Job is not prepared to do that in this case, because the argument is over his integrity. One’s integrity is worth defending, especially if the people attacking it are people who matter to you.  The last thing Job wants is to be thought of as unrighteous. In this translation, the word used is godless, bu

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today  Psalms 39-41. I’m calling the episode “Our Only Hope .” Comments on Psalms 39-41 Introduction to Psalm 39 The title of this psalm is "To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David." It is thought by some that the Chief Musician is God. Others believe that it could be a leader of choirs when David wrote this. Perhaps Heman the singer, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:33, or Asaph, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:5-7. Jeduthun was one of the musicians appointed by David to lead the public worship of Israel. We read his name in 1 Chronicles 16:41 and 1 Chronicles 25:1-3. This psalm, as the title makes clear, was written by King David, but we do not know at what point in his life. Comments on Psalm 39 Verse 7 says, “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You." When, like David, we understand the frailty and how fleeting is our life, where else can we put our hope but in the Eternal God

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today we read 1 Sam 11-15. I’m calling the episode “  The Decision Has Been Made.” Associate Producer The Associate Producer for this episode is Kirsty Merlo. Thank you for your support, Kirsty! Kirsty is also our newsletter editor! Comments on 1 Samuel 12 Have you ever sinned in such a way that you felt that God would be so disappointed in you that He would turn His back on you? Have you felt that you just couldn’t come to Him for forgiveness, because you knew, going in, that what you were about to do was sin, but you did it anyway, and you were just too ashamed to ask God for forgiveness? I think probably most of us have.  Well, that’s what Israel did when they asked for a king. Samuel told them that this was a bad thing that they were doing, but they wanted it anyway. You know how it went. God told Samuel to go ahead and grant their request, because they were rejecting God, not Samuel. So in chapter 12 today,

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Дмитрий Хрусталев-Григорьев on Unsplash Associate Producer The Associate Producer for this episode is Ann Sarmiento. Thank you for your support, Ann! Podcast Introduction Today we’re going to complete the book of GENESIS 48-50..  Comments on Genesis 48-50 In chapters 48 and 49 we saw the last days of Jacob, and the first half of Chapter 50 deals with the days between Jacob's death and burial. The last half of the chapter tells us two things.  The first was that Joseph's brothers were afraid that, now that Jacob was dead Joseph would punish them for how they treated him. I'll get back to that in a moment. The close of chapter 50 tells us about Joseph's death at the age of 110 years. Now back to Joseph and his frightened brothers. Of course, from a human perspective Joseph had every reason to want to take revenge on his brothers. They sold him into slavery, after all. But he was able to look back over his life, how God had been with him through every hardsh

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Greg Rosenke on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today we’re going to read 1 Corinthians 9-10.  I’m calling the episode “This Way Out.” Comments on 1 Corinthians 9-10 In chapter nine, the apostle Paul wrote that those who preach the Gospel should get their living from it. In other words, those who are ministered to should support the one who ministers to them. He spent nearly the entire chapter on this point, making it in different ways, because some in the church in Corinth were unwilling to support him. Paul did not insist on claiming the right to be supported by them, but he gave them several reasons that he could. After all, as he wrote in verse 14, "..., the *Lord* has ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it." What do you think about that? Does it make sense? Does it seem right? What are you going to do about it? Chapter Ten We humans have an astonishing capability for rationalization. You know what rationalization is, right?

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today we’re going to read Mark 5-6.  I’m calling the episode “ Out For A Stroll." Comments on Mark 6 Let’s take a quick look at the end of chapter 6. Jesus sent His disciples across the sea of Galilee, while he wanted some time to himself to go up a mountain to pray.. By the way. I had never looked this up until now, but the Sea of Galilee is about 13 miles long and about 7 miles wide. It’s the largest lake in Israel. At its deepest point, it’s about 150 feet deep.  Notice, he sent them. And a storm came up when they were about halfway across, with the wind coming directly from the direction they were going. Don’t believe me? Our text says, “Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind.” And they must have been rowing most of the night, so all the light they might have had was the stars and the moon, if the moon was even out. Have you ever been on the water, awa

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Wesley Tingey on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today we’re going to read Jeremiah 1-6.  Commentator G. Campbell Morgan said, “Among all the prophets of the Hebrew people none was more heroic than Jeremiah.” Let’s see what led him to that statement. I’m calling the episode “ Who? Me?”  Link to Geoff Smith's Website Click the photo! Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-6 NIRV Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission, and you will earn our gratitude. Please rate or review the show by clicking the heart! Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God By Henry & Richard Blackaby, Claude V. King / B&H Books Experience the book that has restored, reoriented, and renewed millions of

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash Podcast Introduction Today we’re going to read Job 25-26, and I’m calling the episode “Tell me something I don’t know.”  Comments on Job 25-26 When, in chapter 25 Bildad speaks for a third time, he talks about how true and awesome God is, and that there is no man that can be considered righteous before God. And he thinks he is saying something that Job does not know and needs to hear. But in chapter 26, Job’s response is basically, “Duh! Tell me something I don’t know. Your words are no help to me.” And then he gives a much more eloquent description of who God is and the majesty of His power. At this point, Job is fed up with his friends that have spoken. They have done all they could to convince Job that he must have done something to deserve what has happened to him, but he has steadfastly held that he is innocent. There is one who has come to visit Job who has not yet spoken. We will soon hear from him.  And then Job will speak