The Simple Not Shallow Podcast

What do you do when those you thought you could rely on disappear? Or worse yet, when you find out that instead of being a friend, they were a smooth-talking, double-dealing snake? The Psalmist in this episode sure did. His response offers a ray of hope in this otherwise very bleak situation.    Now…. Well, let’s first hear the psalm. Then we’ll chat about it.   Also, before beginning, I am proud...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the evil that is in the world? Do you ever feel like packing it all in and just giving up?  In this episode, the Psalmist tells us how he overcomes these thoughts. Hello. My name is Charles, Charles Yerkes and this is Psalm Tuesday here on the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. A podcast for those who want a deeper faith and not an aggressively mediocre one. Psalm Tu...

In this episode, the Psalmist asks, “Why, my Lord, do you stay so distant? Why do you shut your eyes to times of need?” One of the beautiful things about the Bible is that it doesn’t candy-coat things. It is always brutally honest and candid. Join the Psalmist as he works his way through these questions, as he shares valid reasons for needing an answer, and then as he calls on God to act and fix t...

In this episode, we hear how God is a loving judge. A loving judge? Yes. We must never forget that God is all-loving AND he is an all-righteous judge. He is both. What does this even look like? The psalmist shares insight into this in Psalm 9.  "He will judge the inhabitants of the world. Because he is loyal to them, He executes judgment towards the people in fairness. And the Lord is also a...

In this episode, we hear one of the most beautiful expressions of God’s love that I have found. And this is in the first verses of this psalm, Psalm 8. Check this out.  You, Who have displayed your majesty in the heavens. You, Who have destined your defenses to be made Through the mouths of children and nursing babes; For the sake of your enemies. In order to remove those who are hostile and Those...

Personal choices, personal consequences, and fairness. Do you see how these go together? In our last episode, we mentioned the fairness of God in dealing with folks. In this one, the psalmist fleshes this out a little bit. In this psalm, Psalm 7, we see the weapons of God being equated with a person’s own choices; with the traps they lay for others. Isn’t that intriguing? And the Psalmist is conte...

Honesty. Simple, bold honesty. Do you remember how wonderful it feels to be able to be completely honest with someone? To let them know how you are truly doing? To let them know your failings and still have them love you? In this episode, we hear one being this type of honest with God. An honesty that does not fear to admit failings, weaknesses, and fears. Being honest enough to be real with God;...

Here’s a question. Should we, as Christians, ask God to stop evil? If so, how are we to pray when asking? In this episode, I find the answer to be yes, we should ask and we are given a beautiful example of how to ask in this Psalm, Psalm 5. That example being, to ask in simple honesty. And not with a vengeful motive. That is, to be asking that it be done in fairness, in a way that is truly warrant...

Have you ever read a Psalm and wondered how it all fits together? For instance, in this Psalm, Psalm 4, the psalmist goes from asking God for help to encouraging others to scream and work things out in private. I’ve wondered how does all this tie together, especially for use in a worship service? But then, but then… I read verses 6-7 in light of what we heard in Psalm 3 last time. Specifically the...

One of the most profound expressions of trusting God that I have ever found occurs in Psalm 3. “I lie down, sleep, and awaken because the Lord gives me the strength to do so.” Isn’t this amazing? In this episode, the psalmist shares how his enemies were increasing in number, he even calls them a vast horde. Yet, he will fear them not; instead, he is getting a good night’s sleep and awakens refresh...

Do you find that, when given a choice between 2 life-altering decisions, it is of great importance to know which choice will have a positive result and which will have a negative one? In this episode, the Psalmist shares the results for a truly life-altering decision; to accept or reject God. Through the psalmist, God is sharing the result of each choice. He is making sure our choice to relate to...

What’s the secret of living life in the abundance that Jesus came to give? In this episode, the psalmist spells this out quite plainly. There is but one way. One amazingly simple and very straightforward way. Ready?      My name is Charles, Charles Yerkes and this is Psalm Tuesday here on the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. This is a podcast for those who want a deeper faith and not an aggressively me...

It seems like every few years we hear of a new scandal involving some Christian leader. Have you ever wondered why these folks stumble and fall? Though, if we want to be really honest about this, we need to look no further than ourselves to know that we Christian folks do stumble. That’s right, you, I, and every other person who follows Christ. Because we are human beings, none of us are guarantee...

In our last episode, there were a couple of things we just weren’t able to get to. In particular, the question of why God doesn’t just fix things. If he is the caring friend who is always with us, then why doesn’t he simply remove what is causing us pain? What if it is a result of his caring so much about us? And what if our going through the pain, with him by our side, is actually better for us t...

Have you ever asked yourself, where is God when you are hurting? Why is God hiding, why can’t you feel his presence? If you are like most of us, you have at least once or twice. Would it surprise you that Jesus knew this was an unfair world and that he gave us a heads up that we would experience trouble, be hurt, and even come to doubt him and our relationship with him? My name is Charles. Grab yo...

In this episode, we consider the questions: Does having faith in Christ mean that you stop thinking? Does my emphasis on God’s love and our love for him mean that I agree with this? The answer is, not so much; to both questions. For to love authentically involves thinking. Thinking involved in learning about God, what he teaches and how those teachings apply to my daily life. If you are not thinki...

Christianity isn’t merely a religion. How can I say it isn’t? That is not what I said. I said it is not merely one. For authentic Christianity is a relationship that leads to religious practice. While Christianity works itself out in religious practices, these are not all that is to be found in Christianity. These are not even primary to the Christian faith. For, Christianity is primarily a relati...

One of the most amazing things I find in the Bible is just how messed up, how ordinarily human, the people in it truly are. Why do I find it amazing and even comforting? The last thing I’d expect in the holy book of any religion is for it to be full of those who, considered to be heroes of the faith, are as flawed as the Bible’s are. No matter where you turn, those, listed as the paragons of faith...

When is it best to avoid asking the question, “Is ‘this’ a sin?”  Did you know that by asking it, you can actually keep you from growing in Christ? Why do I say this and what is a better alternative? Grab your coffee and let’s talk about it. I find the answer to be when it’s taken you as far in growth as it can. Kind of like riding a bicycle; for training wheels can only take you so far. They are...

Can we have Christianity without Christ? Now, before you say, “You have been in quarantine way too long!”  Listen to why I ask. How I find that some Christians seem to love their religion much more than they love Jesus. We discuss how this actually prevents them from experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to give. This is not a criticism of any particular group of Christians, it is a sharing of...

In this episode, we talk about the tenderness Jesus shows his disciples in John 16:12. Here he says that he cannot share more things with them because they are not ready to hear them. Knowing and acting on the difference between teaching and dumping information is the mark of humble tenderness and compassion. Jesus cares enough about you to take you right up to that line and he cares enough to nev...

In this episode, I share a profound connection I made with Jesus while reading my devotional. This from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I do not talk about what Chambers wrote, but I do talk about what profoundly affected me during the reading. Something that made Jesus even more personal to me and made me question whether I was living in such a way that would cause Jesus to ask me,...

Does being a good person count for anything with God? Doesn't it matter to God whether or not we are good people? God wouldn't turn a good person away from heaven, would he? These are important questions to talk about. Is being a good person all that matters to God or is there something else, something deeper that truly matters? So, what is the deal with God and good people? That is what...

So, here is a question for you, is your God big enough? No, seriously, is your God big enough? Big enough for what? And why is that important? That is what we are going to explore here in episode 17. Here is why I ask. I have found that people only ever practice their religion based on who they understand God to be. Which is to say, how they allow themselves to relate to God and how they put that...

So, how do we not worry?  I have always found worry to be a very great nuisance; a highly troublesome companion that is rather hard to get rid of. And, how is that even done? I mean not worrying about things?  That is what we are going to explore here in this episode, number 16. We will explore how this is not done through having a good job, attaining some lofty goal, or by anything that we can do...