viewoutsidethepew

I work outside at night, usually.

Last night was quite chilly (below freezing). But there was almost no wind so the cold did not bite. The moon was bright (2 days till a full moon)  even through the thin clouds, which eventually drifted away. Read more…

The early followers of Jesus referred to their cause as The Way which we know from a legal argument Paul made in court: “These people cannot even prove their accusations to you. But I’ll admit to you that I’m a follower of the way {of Christ}, which they call a sect” (Acts 24:13-14 God’s Word). The Jewish leadership called it the “Nazarene sect”, certainly a pejorative term containing both ethnic and religious bigotry.

Today we use the term “Christianity” to refer to people who belong to that religion which has roots in Jesus Christ. Read more…

It may be my “duty” to do things that please my wife, but duty does not drive me. Love motivates me to be and do all I can to make her happy. I delight when I do something that she particularly likes. She blesses me with her reaction.

If you serve God as fire insurance to avoid hell, or because God is like a little pet that just brings you (notice the you here) pleasure or warm fuzzies or because you want to put up a show for those in your congregation, well, you’ve missed it. Read more…

Yesterday I was reminded again of the great and socially encouraged sin of the church – gossip.

I have never added a motive onto my definition of gossip; that I leave for slander or defamation. Loose tongues speaking negatively or suggestively about someone who is not present is gossip.

“If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26 God’s Word).

James 3:5-10 goes to great length to describe the horror of a loose tongue and gossip: Read more…

[Sometimes the old artists cannot be improved upon. May you be blessed by this devotional as I was.]

November 21
Morning Verse
“Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you.” Ephesians 4:30 (God’s Word) Read more…