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BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 6:1-21.   11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  What does this passage mean to you? BLOG:  Stress is a fact of life.  If you have no stress at all, you might need to check your pulse.  There is good stress and bad stress.  (We’re not going to talk about that today.). But I do want to help you discover a few important steps that will help you destress. “for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from h

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 6: 6 - 10  6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. What does this passage mean to you?  BLOG: Too often, I see people give up. Some quit before they start. As a result, they miss out on whatever blessing their persistence and faith would have accomplished.  Philippians 3:14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Keep your eye on the prize. A running coach observed a young runner who c

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 6:3 - 5  3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. What does this passage mean to you today?  BLOG: Have you ever thought about your upcoming schedule and go, "Uhgggg!" Our lives are too busy, and our energy is too low. Our brains are in overdrive trying to make everything work, but our bodies are saying, "Nope, not today." Tomorrow is Sunday and the big temptation everyone faces is to skip church. What can you do to make tomorr

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 6:1 - 2   1 All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. What does this passage mean to you?  BLOG:  Here is the third and final installment to taking a great selfie. Did you ever have to take a picture of someone who didn't want their photo taken? I have, and I can tell you, it isn't fun.  They do not want to cooperate.  They do not want to seen by others.  They do not want it on the internet.  Now I can understand the impromptu photo that catches you off guard with bed head or some other less than flattering look.  But some people don't want their picture taken.  1 Corinthians 16:14  Let all that you do be done in love.  I learned this one from watchin

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 5: 22 - 25  22 Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. 24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. What does this passage mean to you?  Note: Verse 23: The wine Paul was instructing Timothy to drink isn't the same as the wine people drink today.  BLOG: So yesterday, I started sharing with you how to take a great selfie. If you don't get it by now, what is in your heart will show up on your face. When you walk into a room, do people run up and welcome you or duck for cover. You've got to watch your attitude because it is y

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim 5: 19 - 21  19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. 21 I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. What does this passage say to you today?  BLOG: What does taking a selfie do with your morning devotions? Well, have you ever taken a bad selfie or picture?  You know the one that after you see it, you scream, "You better delete that!" "That better not end up on Facebook!" We all have.  A good picture in all about timing: making sure our eyes are open, and our mouth is smiling. That we are looking at the camera and we've got good lighting.  But more times than not, our face tells the story of our heart.  I've seen ple

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 5: 16 - 18  16 If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone. 17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!" What does this passage mean to you today?  BLOG: Life has a way of overwhelming us. Anything from earthquakes to bathroom scales can push us over the edge.  Some followers of Jesus think that something has gone wrong if life is overwhelming them. That either God doesn't love them or they did something to deserve this. I've heard people misquote 1 Cor 10:13. They say something like, "The Bible says that nothing will ove

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 5: 11 - 15 11 The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. 12 Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13 And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. 14 So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 15 For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. What does this passage mean to you?   BLOG: What is God doing right now?  Most people will say, I don't know.  Really?   HE IS IN CHARGE.  Heb. 8: 1 - 2 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 5: 8 - 10 8 But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. 9 A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. 10 She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? What does this passage say to you today?  BLOG: Tomorrow is Sunday, or if you're reading this via email - today is.  Sunday means "day of the sun." No surprise there. Russian воскресение (Sunday) means "resurrection (of Jesus)". Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday. Most cultures observe it as a day off from the workweek. In Roman culture, Sunday was the day of

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 5: 3 - 7  3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. 5 Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. 6 But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. 7 Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. What does this passage mean to you today?  BLOG: So my daughters birthday was last month, and someone got her some helium balloons that say, "Happy Birthday" on them. One of them made it home, but the other one got away, in my wife's office. It floated to the top of the 12-foot ceiling, nestled itself in the corner there to be out of sight.  Well, a few days ago, I kept hearing this

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 5: 1 - 2 1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. Take a moment and reflect on 1 Timothy 5: 1 - 2.  What does this mean to you? BLOG: I learned to drive a manuel stick shift on a dump truck.  Much like the one that is pictured above.  While I learned to use the low gears for pulling large loads and how to "double clutch" these skills didn't apply to a Honda Hatchback or Volkswagon Beatle.  If I tried to drive those small cars, I would almost burn the clutch up. My point?  The shifts that God is leading you through are nothting like the ones He's leading me through.  I can look back on my life now and see things that God allowed me to go through that were for today.  I would guess that you can see some

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 4: 14 - 16  14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. BLOG: I have been speaking to how God "shifts" our lives. Much like you shift a standard transmission, God will shift your life to the next level He has planned for you.  Romans 12:1-2   I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acc

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 4: 11 - 13 11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. BLOG: There is talk of a recession. Iran allegedly bombed Saudi oil facilities driving our gas prices up. We are entering another mud-slinging election cycle — trade wars with China and more. Times are uncertain.  Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? When we hear bad news, we react. But should we? I'm not saying that one should deny the reality of their situation. But rather than retreat or lash out in anger, what else could we do?  Praise God that He i

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 4:6 - 10  6 If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed. 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. BLOG: I have always enjoyed a good cup of coffee. I'm not as snobbish as some are, but I have to say I've don't like bad, weak, swill (I mean coffee.) Now I don't drink it like I used to, thank you kidney stones, but I still have a few cups every day. Each cup means somethi

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer. NLT BLOG: I've said it, I've heard others say it, I suspect that you've said it. "What is God up to?"  The range of emotions that comes with that question can run the gambit. I've said it out of frustration, and I have said it out of curiosity. But the answer to the question isn't as elusive as you might think.  All one has to do is look at th

BIBLE READING 1 Tim. 3: 14 - 16  14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. BLOG: Yesterday we dug ditches. Today we dig wells.  So the story goes like this, you can read it in Genesis 26. There was a famine in the land that forces Issac to relocate in the land of the Philistines. All was well, and God blessed Isaac. But the king, Abimelech, asked him to leave. Isaac was getting too rich and powerful for his liking. So we read in Genesis 26  17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of G

BIBLE READING: 1 Ti. 3: 11 - 13 11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. BLOG: There is a story in 2 Kings where King Jorham and King Jehoshaphat march their armies into the desert of Edom. The neighboring kingdom of Moab was rebelling, and it needed to be dealt with. But after being in the desert for seven days, they ran out of water. What were they do to? So the kings consulted with the prophet Elisha. He said in 2 Kings 3:16 . . . Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. (KJV) In the morning, they got up, and the ditches were full of water. They refreshed themselves and went on to defeat Moab. But there is a less

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 3: 6 - 10  6 A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil's trap. 8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. BLOG: 18 years ago today. My blood still runs cold as the day I saw the second plane hit the second tower.  Standing in my living room, I was ready to go to work. About to walk out the door, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. A burning building on TV. Not just any burning building, but the World Trade Center. I listened as the newscasters

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 3: 1 - 5  1 This is a trustworthy saying: "If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position." 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? BLOG: I listened to a vlog this morning that talked about how we have to train our brain not to be afraid. I know, seems like an impossible task. But when you think about the military, how the military takes a young teenager and in a few weeks mold them into warriors, you have to reconsider that thought. Before basic trainin