The Unlovables

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) Read: Numbers 4:1 – 5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26 Relate: Some people are easy to like. They just exude charm. It…

Iconoclasm

Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1) Read: Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22   Relate: Emperor Leo III overthrew his predecessor to save the Kingdom. Byzantium had been severely mismanaged and was…

Put Down Your Sword

I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; (Psalm 44:6-7) Relate: Like pretty much every day this week, Wednesday’s paper had an article about the conflict between Russia, Ukraine and the separatists that are little more than Russia’s…

Mark 9:24 (Help My Unbelief)

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) Read: Leviticus 20:22-27, Leviticus 21, Leviticus 22:1-16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalms 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18 Relate: I have always known that I serve a powerful and capable God, but understanding has not always translated to a belief that God will be…

The Whisper

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. (Psalm 36:1) Read: Leviticus 4:1 – 5:19, Mark 2:13 – 3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 10:1-2 Relate: Another translation has this verse read: “I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no…

Before Dawn Breaks

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. (Mark 1:35) Read: Leviticus 1:1 – 3:17, Mark 1:29 – 2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18 Relate: By nature I am a night owl. I often feel like my best, most productive moments don’t come until that sun sets. In…

The Ten C’s

I’ve read recently that those claiming to be “spiritual but not religious” are actually performing an act of linguistic terrorism. They are placing themselves in a position where they can snipe and criticize others while avoiding any stand of their own. In the desire to feel good about themselves, they are also avoiding any attempt at truth.

INI, UNTUKMU…

Originally posted on Beautiful Words:
TUHAN ITU DEKAT KEPADA ORANG-ORANG YANG PATAH HATI, DAN IA MENYELAMATKAN ORANG-ORANG YANG REMUK JIWANYA (Mazmur 34 : 19)   Ini untukku… Ini untukmu… Untuk yang kesepian, letih, sendiri…… Untuk seorang gadis yang terhimpit di kelam malam…. sambil berharap agar ayahnya tidak akan pulang dalam keadaan mabuk dan mencabik harga…