Devotion on Proverbs 25:2

Intro: Today's devotion looks at a passage from Proverbs: searching for hidden treasure.

Catching Up

Mountains and Valley Landscape - from MaxPixel

      I haven't written much over the past several months since life, as it frequently does, got in the way. My most recent post about fear may provide you some insight into how life "got in the way," but at this time, I don't feel like sharing the details. Nevertheless, my personal quest still continues.

Fear: Why are We Afraid?

Hope sign from Max Pixel

      Sometimes, when I'm afraid, it feels like I'm all alone. Fear feels like I'm standing watch on the wall of the Alamo, overlooking the Mexican camp of enemy soldiers.

     Or the last Spartan standing before thousands of oncoming Greek soldiers.

     Or a lone defender standing the wall at Helms Deep waiting for the hordes of Orcs.

An AuSSM Year!

Image from Pixabay

        I just wanted to share with you a bit about this past year and as the Grateful Dead once said, "what a long, strange trip it's been!" ;-)

Church Metaphors

Image from Pixabay

        Lately, I've heard fellow Christians echoing different metaphors, whether in social media or in person. Some of these metaphors are comforting (at least initially) but I think still not quite the whole story. I'd like to review several of these sayings and provide my thoughts on why I think they're incomplete.

Bible Apps That I Use

Image from PXHere

        One of my readers asked me what apps I use to read, study, and listen to the Bible. In this post, I share my thoughts on four different apps that I have used.

My Christian Reading 2017-2018

Image from Pixnio

        See what I've been reading about my spiritual and charismatic quest since January of 2017.

Back to the Basics

Image from Pixabay

       Over the last 15 months, I've done a lot of reading and research. Since January 2017, I've read 36 books on Christian spirituality and church growth alone, some twice. I also read four different translations of the Bible. Since I've been on a quest to learn more about the Charismatic, many of these books deal specifically with that experience. However, several of the books that I've read, were about the basics of Christian belief. It sounds odd, even though I've been active in my faith life over the past 8 or 9 years, that I would go read a book of basics, but that's what I did. Actually, I read several, and they came at the recommendation of friends.

Hearing for the First Time

"CBS Listening Post" - Image from Wikipedia

       I find it interesting that the God of the universe speaks through a "still small voice". You'd think it would be easier for Him to just come out and talk to us like we talk to one another. But then, maybe, that's the point. How often do we go through our busy days, talking but not being listened to? Or even worse, others are speaking to us and we're the ones not listening. The few places in the bible where God does speak audibly to the masses, the masses freak out. But I believe that God is speaking, even today. And I want to recount the first time I heard His voice.

Dripping Fire: A Vision of Revival

Dripping Fire

       Wow, it's been a long time since I've written anything. Probably because I let the habit slip, but more likely because I was getting to a part of my personal story that I thought people might have a challenge believing or accepting. So let me catch you up.

Where's Ken?

        You're probably wondering what happened to me and why I haven't written anything for almost two weeks. I promise that I will return to my regularly scheduled programming soon, but I wanted to tell you a bit about where I was last week and what I experienced.

"The Supernatural Thread in Methodism" by Dr. Frank H. Billman

Newly Revised Edition now available from Amazon

        I first learned of "The Supernatural Thread in Methodism" while listening to a lecture by Dr. Billman. In his lecture, he spoke about early Methodist history and the supernatural events experienced by Methodist believers.

My Charismatic Quest

"Soria Moria Slott" by Theodor Kittelsen  - Image from Wikipedia

       In my last post, I told you about my heartwarming experience. Because of this experience, I was able to realize other Holy Spirit moments in my life. Unlike those previous experiences, this time I had an insatiable hunger to know more. I made a connection between the Charismatic and my own Methodist tradition. And the first stage of my quest was to learn about my "family tree".

Devotion on Psalm 1:1-3

Intro: Today's devotion looks at joy and how we root ourselves in the source of all joy, God.

My Heart Strangely Warmed

        In the fall of 2016, my wife asked me to attend a parenting conference at her church. She seemed to think this would help us with our rambunctious 9-year old granddaughter. I said yes to make my wife happy. But, as you can guess, I really didn't want to go.

"Building a Discipling Culture" by Mike Breen

Available from Amazon (an affiliate link)

       My pastor first asked me to read Mike Breen's "Building a Discipling Culture" back in the summer of 2016. I read the first two or three chapters and then put the book on my nightstand, not to be picked up again for almost a year. It wasn't that I found the book uninteresting, I just had a lot of other "reading" on my plate, and this book was a lower priority for me.

Them Wesley Boys

John (left) and Charles Wesley - Images from Wikipedia

        Four years separate these brothers in age, yet age couldn't keep them apart in their ministry. John, the elder, already a college professor at Oxford and an Anglican Priest when his younger brother, Charles, started at university. Charles, an eager young Christian, formed a prayer and study group known as the "Holy Club". John soon joined the "Holy Club", and this band of brothers was mockingly called, "Methodists", because of their methodical means of prayer, study, and action. However, it would be something far more than their devoted acts of piety that would make them early leaders in a spiritual explosion later known as "The Great Awakening".

Devotion on Romans 8:14-17

Intro: Today's devotion looks at a passage from Paul's letter to the Romans. An introduction to being children of God.

Trouble in River City!

Image from  Wikipedia

        Remember the movie "The Music Man"? Remember how the main character, Howard Hill comes into town and gets folks riled up about their kids playing pool? Remember how he uses this technique to scare up sales for his phony band instrument business? Do we do that same kind of thing today? Do we listen to half-truths or even full-on lies and in the end, miss something really important?

"The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel

Available from Amazon (an Affiliate Link)

       I first read "The Case for Christ" during my coming home period, yet in retrospect, I should have read it during my desert wandering, it might have brought me "home" sooner. I tend to be a scientific, logical, rational, left-brained person, probably more so than I should. If something doesn't make sense to me on an intellectual level, I rarely allow it to reach my emotional or heart level.