Recorded remotely while traveling References: My “One Word” for 2026 - Health3 John 1:2 - “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 1:2 ESVWhat constitutes “good health?”Health - healthy: ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no)to be sound, to be well, to be in good healthMetaphorically:of Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of errorof one who keeps the graces and is strongHealthy vs sick people - ...

References: The 26th of December is Boxing Day! In the UK and Canada. Churches would fill alms boxes during Advent, which the clergy would then distribute to the poor on St. Stephen's Day, directly linking charity with this date.It became a day for servants to receive their Christmas gifts (boxes) and time off after working on Christmas Day.Good King Wenceslas Christmas CaroleGood King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp ...

References: Comedian Bill Engval had as a part of his routine a joke about stupid questions. “Here’s your sign,” was an “I’m stupid” sign.The word for sign in Greek is σημεῖον (say-mi'-on)A common word used 77 times in 69 vss in NTIt can be positivesigns and wonders accompanying those sent by God (Acts 5:12).Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and was accepted by God (Rom 4:11)It can be negativeJudas gave a sign for his betrayal of Jesus (Mt 26:48)The religious leader...

References: When the flu gets me down, I punt. My brain will not allow me to do a full episode. Enjoy.Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” NLTseason - זְמָן - (zem-awn') - a set time, appointed time Nehemiah 2:6 “So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.” ESVIn Esther 9:27 & 31 - Purim - “They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year.”...

References: Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder.This is a plan for disciplining our minds to be like the mind of Christ - see Phil 2:2 ESVPhilippans 4:8SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about, fix your thoughts upon…Last episode - lovely, admirableThe seventh focal point (two nouns)Excellence - ἀρετή (ar-et-ay) moral excellence, courageous goodness, or virtue.A quality of God and God’s work that l...

References: Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder.Mark 11:29-33 - you can invite others into the conversationPhilippians 4:6-7Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer)God will give peace you can’t wrap your head aroundThat peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ JesusPhilippans 4:8SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about, fix your thoughts upon…Last epi...

References: Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder.Mark 11:29-33 - you can invite others into the conversationPhilippians 4:6-7Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer)God will give peace you can’t wrap your head aroundThat peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ JesusPhilippans 4:8SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about, fix your thoughts upon…Last epi...

References: Let’s fix our thoughtsPhilippians 4:6-7Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer)God will give peace you can’t wrap your head aroundThat peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ JesusPhilippans 4:8SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about…The first two of six adjectivesTrueἀληθής (alēthēs) things that conform to reality, that is what’s REALLY real. It is not just about ...

References: What’s all this about six seven?CBS News online reported that dictionary.com chose 6-7 as the 2025 word of the year“a ‘nonsensical and playfully absurd’ slang term”The evolution and cultural impactNot “knowing” makes some people anxious6-7 has been irritating teachersI’ve seen reports of 6-7 being banned from schools, etc. Can you imagine how trying to ban kids from saying “groovy” in the 60s would have gone over?Do I want to stop worrying?Philippians 4:6-7 (haha) is about s...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivings… so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.This is good and pleases God our SaviorEph 5:8-10 “Once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivingsεὐχαριστία (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) thankfulness, the giving of thanks (Remeber Phil 4:6 & Col 4:2)An attitude of gratitude - the blessing and benefits of thankfulness.Thankfulness is something even unbelievers value and practice.Most common prayer entry pointCan you think of a time someone did...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgivingἔντευξις (ent'-yook-sis) noun - ἐντυγχάνω (en-toong-khan'-o) verb Noun 2X - 1 Tim 2:1 & 4:51 Tim 4:1-10 - ἔντευξις = prayer in NLT and ESV“It” is made acceptable byThe word of God andBy intercessionVerb 5X - two negatively, three positivelyActs 25:24 & Rom 11:2The Jews “interceding” aga...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, ThanksgivingPrayer - προσευχή (pros-yoo-khay') noun & προσεύχομαι (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) verb is the most common, generic word for prayer. Consider MSG translation of 1 Tim 2:1 “Pray every way you know how…” In some NT passages δέησις is used synonomously for prayer.Hebrews 5:7 “Jesus offered...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, ThanksgivingMatthew 7:7-11 - αἰτέω aiteo - askConsider Jesus’ illustrationsRecall Solomon and BartemaeusMark 10:35 - James and John: give us what we want (desire) aiteoJohn 4:9-10 - Jesus asks aiteo first, then tells the woman that if she only knew, she would be asking aiteo. Supplication (deēsis)For one’s...

References: The alarming rise in conflict within churches at current eventsThe Body of Christ - (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:27; Eph 4:12, 5:23; Col 1:24; Heb 13:3)Oneness and Peace in Christ - Eph 2:11-22Enmity - ἔχθρα (ekh'-thrah) vs 15 & 16Carefully joined together - συναρμολογέω (soon-ar-mol-og-eh'-o) (see v 21 in MSG)Ways we fracture the oneness of the Body (see Gal 5:20)Impatience and self-centeredness Jas 4:1-2 - guarding against (Eph 4:1-3) Unresolved issues and impo...

References: John 15:7 - ask whatever you WANT - theloTo will, have in mind, intend, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to take delight inTo bring my thelo to the Lord is a form of prayer.So, just ask in prayer for a job paying 7-8-9 figures, for a Lamborghini, for a vacation home at the beachCompare James 4:1-3With James 1:5-8 John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you…The “ask” form of prayer is called supplication.Amazingly, God knows that our asks won’t always align...

References: 100th Episode - This is a laughing matter.laugh - צָחַק (tsaw-khak'); שָׂחַק (saw-khak')Abraham and Sarah give birth to יִצְחָק (yits-khawk')Psalm 2:1-4 - God laughs at those who plot to get free of GodZechariah and Elizabeth name John (Lk 1:57-66)To me this scene makes me laugh more than any other Bible scene (so Monty Python like) To celebrate a milestone, recalling God’s faithfulness and honoring God’s goodness?Joshua 3-4 - crossing the Jordan and the m...

References: 98 episodes ago - “Remembering to Forget”Revelation 21:1-5Deuteronomy 26:1-11Isaiah 43:14-19On the brink of the 100th episode milestone.Spiritual Blessing - Ephesians 1:3-11“Before He made the world…”πρὸ καταβολῆς - “before the foundation…”“bring everything together…”ἀνακεφαλαιόω (an-ak-ef-al-ah'-ee-om-ahee)to sum up (again), to repeat summarily, to condense into a summarycan be literally translated as "recapitulate". Christ "recapitulates"—or sums up—all things in Hims...

References: The significance of the town gate.That justice may be done, though not in an arbitrary wayRemember from Ruth: Part 1 - Deut 25:7-10Consider the Magna Carta of 1215 & a jury of peersThe family redeemer - rights and responsibilitiesRights - v 4: he wants the landResponsibilities - v 6: he doesn’t want the risk of responsibility - SO“In those days…” (in former times, in the olden times…)The author’s parenthetical explanation of a practice no longer observed.The ...

References: We can arrange, but God brings to fruition. Naomi’s conviction/responsibilityBoaz will be winnowing זָרָה (zaw-raw') … as God winnows the righteous from the unrighteousHow do we fair in God’s winnowing process?Boaz was in good spirits, his heart was merry, he felt great. (see Ecc 3:13)v 9 - “spread your wings over your servant.”Recall last episode and 2:12Ruth 3:11 - “a virtuous woman”think of the “Eshet Chayil”, recited before the Shabbat meal on Friday evenings....