surrender ⁽²³⁾

Luke 14:7–14 When I was young, my father insisted on making sure I was appropriately experienced in “high” culture. We went to ballet and opera. My dad said that we were sitting in the Grand Tier (still sounds a bit grandiose). This was the tier…

Rusted Jalopy 3 September 2020 Judges 2:11–23; Ezekiel 24:1–14 Prior to the discovery of titanium (and development of ways to use it), steel was the material of choice for strength, durability, and being shapable. Even now it remains the primary tool material as it is…

Luke 23:32–43; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 A criminal is saved on the cross. Talk about a “bedside” or “execution” salvation! He was on the cross when he was saved. Look at the words the criminal stated. Look at the words that Jesus spoke. We often have…

Psalm 94; Luke 6:27–36; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13 Bless your enemies. Except “bless” means something more than just be nice or even help them. “Bless” means to ask for God’s divine favor to come on them. We all want blessings, but we are being called to…

Matthew 16:21–28; Mark 14:32–42 (read online ⧉) Peter was concerned about the kingdom here on earth, not the kingdom that Jesus was ushering in. Jesus would have nothing to do with that thinking. Jesus chose the will of God the Father over his earthly will.