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Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Isaiah 34-39, and I’m calling the episode “The Self Made Man”.  Comments on Isaiah 37 and 38 Thoughts on Isaiah 37  You know that there’s no such thing as a self made man, right? Whatever heights a person ascends to, God enabled. Nothing comes into our lives but that He either allows them or causes them. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that God causes every calamity that happens to people. We do live in a world cursed by the effects of sin. But when an apparently evil person accumulates great wealth or power, it is because God allowed it. He would be a pretty weak God if that were not so.  In the case of Sennacherib, who boasted that he had routed every other king, God said, ““Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.” Sometimes those who seem to have the most power really have the least. This Assyrian king thought ther

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Job 13-14, and I’m calling the episode “You’ve Got Some Nerve”.  Comments on Job 13 and 14 In chapter 13, Job speaks to God. His prayer begins humbly. “Listen carefully. Hear what I have to say. I’ve thought about my case, and I think I’ll be found righteous.” He asks God to stop oppressing him, and he asks Him not to frighten him. The next thing he says is a bit bold. He says to God, “Call and I’ll answer. But if you don’t, I’ll speak and you’ll answer me.” I’m not sure I would make that challenge to the One who holds the universe in His hand! But he proceeds to make his case to God, whom he is convinced has unjustly brought all these mishaps upon him. He thinks God is being unfair, and he wants an answer. When we are in the midst of suffering, our thinking can really get confused. It’s had to think clearly when we’re in pain, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. That’s one of the reasons God gave us His Word. It is meant to be the compass that

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Psalms 18-20, and I’m calling the episode “Who Can We Trust?”.  We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, we have several comments, prayer requests and a praise! Covid Lawyer Website Link Coffee & Covid If your employer might make vaccines mandatory, go to this link NOW! Comments on Our Reading I would like to quickly focus on three different verses that stood out to me today. The first was Psalm 19:14. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."  What we say and what we spend our time thinking about is very important. It is a reflection of what's in our heart. And so, if our goal when we stand before the Lord is that He look at us and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," we need to look at what we say and what we think about while we're here on earth. The next verse that stood out to me today was chapter 20:1. "May the Lord answer you when you are in tro

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Judges 1-6, and I’m calling the episode “The Twins-Stubbornness and Foolishness”.  Comments on Chapter 1 My comments today are short because the reading was long. Well today we saw in chapter 1 that the children of Israel did not do as God commanded them. They did not entirely eradicate the people of the lands that God gave them. And in leaving a remnant of these people, they invited untold heartache upon themselves, and as we read on in the Bible we shall see that that is exactly what happened. There’s a good article at gotquestions.org that expands on this. Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-3 ESV, Ch. 4-5 NCV, Ch. 6 ERV 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 r

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Genesis 20-23, and I’m calling the episode “God Will Provide”.  We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and I have a somewhat urgent prayer request at the end of the show. Comments on Thoughts on Genesis 22 God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, but it took twenty-five long years for that promise to be fulfilled. Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Sarah ninety or ninety-one. After such a long wait, it is hard to imagine how happy they must have been to finally hold their baby, and how much they must have loved him.  The text tells us in verse one that God tested Abraham. It was a test of faith. As we have seen as we have been reading through Genesis, Abraham's faith was not always strong. But every failure is an opportunity to grow.  And now, with the birth of Isaac, Abraham has seen evidence that God fulfills his promises, even the most unlikely ones. Because of God's faithfulness in this and many other ins

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Romans 11-12, and I’m calling the episode “God’s Open Door Policy”. Thoughts on Romans 11 Paul ended the last chapter by saying that Israel had rejected the Messiah, and he begins this chapter by asking if God then, has rejected them.  Not surprisingly the answer is, "Of course not!". God kept a remnant, a few out of the nation of Israel, who did believe, because of His divine grace.  And then Paul goes on to say that it is because of the unbelief of Israel that God extended grace to non-Jews, or Gentiles. Because of this, they were grafted into the vine. Another way of saying that is that God adopted them into His family.  You know, it's a wonderful and awesome thing to be born into a family, but how much more special is it when a mom and a dad choose to adopt a child into their family? Children are usually born into a family in the natural course of events, right? But it takes a special effort and will to adopt a child. This is what God has done fo

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Matthew 14-16, and I’m calling the episode “The Long Detour."  Thoughts on Matthew 15 When the chapter begins, Jesus is in Gennesaret, by the Sea of Galilee.  But in verse 21 Jesus travels to the area around Tyre and Sidon, about 50 miles away. And the area is in the opposite direction of Jerusalem. For reference, Galilee is roughly due north of Jerusalem, about 75 miles away. As the crow flies, Tyre is about 105 miles from Jerusalem.  Remember, Jesus walked everywhere. He didn't own any animals. So it probably took him two to three days, depending on his speed, to walk from Gennesaret to the area around Tyre and Sidon.  Why am I telling you this? Because when Jesus went there, this was not on the way to any of the places he usually frequented. He was there on a mission. He had an appointment to keep with a Canaanite woman. A Gentile. There was a lot of hatred between the Jews and the Canaanites. Yet this woman cries out to Jesus, "Have mercy on me,

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Isaiah 29-33, and I’m calling the episode "Tell Us Nice Things.” Thoughts on Isaiah 30  Sometimes prophecy reads like today’s news, doesn’t it? 8Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness 9 that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the lord’s instructions. 10They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. 11 Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’”Isaiah 30:8-11 NLT Is this not what much of the world is saying today to those of us who believe in God’s Word? When we speak about God’s teaching on, oh…shall we say…homosexuality or abortion or the fact that God created just two sexes…they come down on us like a ton of bricks. They spew hate and call us homophobes. They tell us we are bigots, misogynistic, intolerant...you know

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Job 11-12, and I’m calling the episode "Nothin’ Like A Good Friend." Thoughts on Job 11-12 In chapter eleven, Zophar has had enough of what he considers to be just a rash of wordy nonsense. In essence he accuses Job of running off at the mouth. He asks, “Just because you like to hear yourself talk, are we supposed to shut up?” Well gosh, Zophar thank you for being a friend. I don’t expect this reaction from Job. Zophar accuses Job of saying things he didn’t say, like “My teaching is morally correct,” and “As you can see, I am innocent”, neither of which was true. He did say that “I am not wicked”, but he also said, “I have sinned.” I think that Zophar misunderstood Job, in part because of Job’s somewhat and understandably emotional charge that God was cruel in his treatment of him. What about you? Did he misunderstand Job, or is he just being judgmental? From verse seven on, Zophar’s words are pretty much accurate. God is beyond understanding.

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Psalms 15-17, and I’m calling the episode “Who Can Come Into God’s Presence?”.  Thoughts on Psalms 15 David begins this Psalm with two questions: Lord, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill? These questions show the desire of David's heart. He longed to be in God's presence. The Temple (or actually in the original language the word "Temple" in our translation today, is tent, or Tabernacle) represented the place of God's presence.   He answers his own questions, and it is important for us to remember that he wrote from the perspective of the Old Testament, or Old Covenant. Obedience, or the lack thereof, determined the blessings or curses that a person could expect. The person who was not in obedience to God could not expect the blessing of God's presence. The New Testament gives us a different basis for receiving God's blessing and being able to be in His presence, doesn't it? Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Joshua 21-24, and I’m calling the episode “Words To Remember”. We’ll be reading about Joshua’s last days. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and we have another praise report. Thoughts on Joshua 23 and 24 In these two closing chapters of the book of Joshua, we see two different times that the aging leader called the entire nation to hear him, because he knew that his life was drawing to a close and he wanted to leave them with a final message. The first gathering is recorded in chapter 23. He reminds them of all that God had done for them, and that it was the Lord that fought for them and delivered the land that they now held and enjoyed, as He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He told them to be very careful to love the Lord and continue to obey his commands so that His blessing would continue to be on them, and if they failed to do that, grave consequences would come to them.  Notice that he started the warning with the word

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Genesis 16-19, and I’m calling the episode “The God Who Sees Me”. We’ll be reading about_what can happen when we decide to help God, Sodom and Gomorrah, and some other very important happenings. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and we have another praise report. Thoughts on Genesis 16 Years earlier, God had promised to Abram that he would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. But now, Sarai has begun to doubt God's promise. She does what comes so easily to human beings. She rationalizes. She decides that God must need some help, so she tells Abram to have a child with her servant, Hagar. Of course, Abram, being a great man of faith, says to her, "No Sarai. God knows what He is doing. You are my wife, and it would be wrong of me to do this with Hagar. Let's wait on the Lord." Except that is not what he did, is it? Once again, Abram also doubts God. He too is weary of waiting on God.  So Abram does what Sarai sugg

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is ROMANS 9-10, and I’m calling the episode “Beautiful Feet."  We’ll be reading about God’s grace, God’s selection, righteousness, the importance of being a preacher, and how that directly relates to you. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and we have another praise report. Thoughts on Romans 9  Chapter 9 has some language in it that causes difficulty for some people. Did it get your attention? Here it is again. Paul was quoting Malachi 1:2-3. He said, “As the Scriptures say, ‘I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.’” What? God hated Esau? What’s up with that? Well, as it turns out, this type of language in the Hebrew was used more in the comparative sense. God was comparing his affection of the two boys, Jacob and Esau. When God said he hated Esau, the meaning was that He loved Jacob more. It was not an active hate.  There are other examples of this language in the scriptures. You’ve heard, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Matthew 11-13, and I’m calling the episode “Jesus Is No Pushover."  We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and a boostagram/comment about a recent episode. Thoughts on Matthew 11  Some people have the idea that when Jesus was here, he was a milquetoast kind of guy. A pushover. Always soft in word and deed. Weak even. These are people who have never read the Bible. At the end of this chapter, verses 28-30 Jesus said, "“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.” Let's look at these verses, shall we?  I can't tell you how many times I've moved or helped friends move in my life. Dozens of times. I've moved from the L.A. area 350 miles to Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra and back. Twice. I've liv

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Isaiah 23-28, and I’m calling the episode “The Cornerstone.”  We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and a boostagram/comment about a recent episode. And  we have a very special prayer request. Thoughts on Isaiah 24-27 Chapter 23 is the final chapter of the judgements against the nations. It began in chapter 13 with the judgement against Babylon, and ends here in chapter 23 with the judgement against Tyre. Chapters 24-27 talk about when Jesus finally establishes His Kingdom on earth. Chapter 24 is primarily about the Great Tribulation which will occur just before Jesus' second coming. Chapter 25 is a song of joy in the midst of the Great Tribulation. There will be those who finally accept Jesus during that terrible time, and they will will rejoice in God despite what is happening all around them. Chapter 26 is the rejoicing of the land of Judah at the Messiah's reign over Israel at His second coming. Chapter 27 is a celebratio

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Job 9-10, and I’m calling the episode “Job’s Response”.  And that’s going to be all for today. I’m asking your forgiveness, because this has been one of those days. Nothing bad, but just a ton of stuff, and I’m just too exhausted to produce a full show for you today. I hope that’s ok with you. I’ll be back tomorrow with a normal show. Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 9-10 GWT 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! Steve Webb 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

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Psalms 12-14, and I’m calling the episode “I Will Sing To the Lord”. We’ll be reading about_David’s Prayers for help and how he overcame depression and feeling as if he had been abandoned by God_. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and a boostagram from someone who got a kick out of yesterday’s episode. And I have a praise in our prayer time. Thoughts on Psalms 12-13 Chapter 12 In this Psalm, which is truly a prayer, David is crying out to God. Those who had been faithful to him have become gossipers and liars, and being unable to stop the lies, he asks God to cut them off...to stop them in their tracks as it were. And these liars even bragged that they could not be stopped. They said, “We are great speakers.No one else has a chance.” Sounds a bit like today, doesn't it? We hear lies from politicians, from the media (both main stream and social), even from sources that at one time were seemingly bulwarks of truth: the medical and s

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Joshua 16-20, and I’m calling the episode “Somewhere To Run”. We’ll be reading about_God’s plan for making sure justice was properly carried out_. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, and we’ll hear a comment on last Saturday’s episode. Thoughts on Joshua 20 In chapter 20 we read about the cities of refuge, or what I’m calling “Somewhere To Run”. Kind of a callback to the 1965 tune “Nowhere To Run” by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. What a great song. I told you I was old. If you like Motown music, look it up. But I digress. These cities of refuge were places that someone who had unintentionally or accidentally killed a person could flee and be protected from "the avenger of blood". As the commentator Matthew Henry put it, these were people who were guilty by hand, but not of heart.  What is "the avenger of blood"? In Israel at that time, each family had a designated person who had the responsibility to be sure that if someone in

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Genesis 12-15, and I’m calling the episode “Arrested Obedience”. We’ll be reading about Abram and the promise God made to him. We’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment. Thoughts on Genesis 12 Joshua 24:2 tells us that Abram came from a family that lived on the other side of the Euphrates river and worshipped other gods.  This place is identified as Ur of the Chalees in Genesis 11:28 and 31, Genesis 15:7 and Nehemiah 9:7. Acts 7:4 calls it the "land of the Chaldeans". This is in the area of modern day Iraq. It was in the lower region of what was called the Fertile Crescent. It was a land of prosperity with a thriving civilization, and Abram's father, Terah (TAIR-uh) seems to have been wealthy. While Abram was still living in this land of prosperity, Acts 7:3 tells us that "God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.'" We have to sort of piece the story together. In Genesis 11:31 we

Podcast Introduction Our reading today is Romans 7-8. Two of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. I’ll share some comments, and we’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment. Thoughts on Romans 7 and 8  Do you like baseball? I love baseball. Probably because my grandpa loved it. I remember sitting on my grandpa’s lap as he sat in his recliner, watching the Dodgers shortly after they moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Of course, I was too young to know that they were new to LA, and to me the Dodgers had always been here. Grandma and Grandpa lived just a little over 15 miles from the LA Coliseum, where the Dodgers played before Dodger Stadium was built, and the Dodgers were the home team. So my grandpa loved the Dodgers, and I loved my Grandpa, so I loved the Dodgers, and baseball. Why am I talking about baseball? Because Major League Baseball has a Hall of Fame. In that Hall of Fame are some of the best players the game has ever known. Players who exemplified excellence.  If there w