Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Does God care about what I wear?  How about cross-dressing in either apparel or behavior? Of note, our image bearing of God Himself is reflected even in our clothing.          God loves maleness. God loves femaleness.  Your maleness or your femaleness are inseperable to your image bearing. To confuse this is to disorder that which was originally designed to be ordered . So, carry your maleness or...

If you want to learn about LOVE, you'd best look to the OX. Like a stray OX, Love is inconvenient, Love is intrusive and you will be tempted to ignore it.  Similarly, a decision to love is inconvenient, intrusive and you’ll be tempted ignore engaging in the whole business. What is love like? If it involves a wandering  OX, then run to the OX. https://youtu.be/wrwqGxGLMrk

Crucifixion is a nasty business. It involves the torture and killing of a condemned person. But it also can tarnish the whole land that it occurs in, if the deceased is not buried on the same day. Their bodies "shall not remain all night on the tree". The reason that Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Jewish authorities acted expeditiously to kill and care for the three on the crosse...

So how many wives is best?  The answer is ONE, but it is a little more complicated than that.  Polygamy is mentioned and acknowledged in the Bible, but it is never endorsed. What about the women who are spared from the destruction of their cities in war? What about the children and their inheritance for those with two wives.  It is complicated, but join me for 7 minutes while we don't ignore...

We all sit in the shade of trees we did not plant.   We Stand on shoulders that are not our own. Spiritually, we too stand upon inherited blessings that we did not earn. Some of course are from God, and some are from actual humans. For 7 minutes, Consider such "spiritual trees" under whose shade you sit today.  https://youtu.be/KYWGm2PmMsU

Today, Be READY for a fight.—perhaps temptation; evil, sickness, or even a grief. But, be ready to have the Lord go with you into battle. It is not “let go and let God”, more like, LET'S GET GOING WITH GOD. The battle is the Lord’s, but the fight is yours. Or at least ½ yours. He fights with you. He let's you fight. The battle is the Lord’s, AND the fight is yours. AND the fight is His....

 Welcome to the original SANCTUARY CITY! Where the punishments proportionate to the crimes.  Where the innocent are protected.   Where the guilty are not spared but brought to justice Where false accusers become truly accused Because of Deuteronomy, you likely sit in such a city today. Listen 7 minutes to see why.  https://youtu.be/FKkh2NIkvrg

Deuteronomy is practical and applicable as it sheds light on two topics: should there be capital punishment? what is the purpose of a sanctuary city? Listen 7 minutes to hear what the Bible has to say about it. https://youtu.be/Xg0ro2aKJW0

If God does not "write the Bible", then we are of no obligation to read it or follow it. But let's say that God really does Author the book. Then, we are beholden to read it, treasure it and follow it. Follow this Chain of Revelation with me today: 1.   God 2.   Revelation                 God make himself known 3.   Inspiration                Prophets who faithfully write with veste...

Join me in squirming as we hear of a couple of cultures who "put out" their own children.  That is, those in charge of certain infants, put them out into the elements to deliberately kill their own children.   The Israelites encountered it when they arrived at the promised land. I encountered it on a recent tour of Iceland.  And what shall we say of our current culture? Would we stand bl...

There are pitfalls in the concept of leadership. First, the leaders can be wrong.  They can steer off course because of pride, power and pleasure. It does not stop there, because the followers can also do this wrong.  They can be looking for the wrong type of king.  Our real King should be in heaven.  Our allegiance is truly there. Let's not get this wrong, whether you are a king or a followe...

Justice, and the justice system derives from the very character of God.  As much as possible, the practical exercise of justice here on earth should reflect the Just character of God in heaven. We stand before God in what we say and do and how we judge. If we are involved in any part of a justice system at home, in relationships, at work or in the public sector we are to represent God faithfully....

Some of the so called "OLD" Testament principles are practiced TODAY. Specifically: how to respond to the generosity of God.  Out of a defined calendar of national Jewish holidays, we can glean some practices that are great for 2025.  Everything comes from the Lord. He loves a cheerful giver, and a cheerful rejoicer, who generouslyresponds personally and communally to all the genersosity...

Y ou are going to need the truths of this event to understand your coming SAVIOR. You remember this PREVIOUS EVENT to help you be ready for a FUTURE PERSON WITHOUT THE PASSOVER lamb, The wrath of God does not passover With Jesus, The PRACTICE of the Passover gives way to a PERSON. The Lamb makes friendship with God, adoption by God, intimacy with God, even worship of God POSSIBLE. Behold the  PASS...

When a "bondservant" is referred to in the Bible, it means a voluntary, on going, permanent, mutually agreed upon, mutually  beneficial,  employer/employee relationship. It is an important concept to get right, because Jesus asks every one of His followers to become a bondservant to Himself.  Us bondservants are to voluntarily enter into an on going, permanent, mutually agreed upon, mutu...

If God was only just , you, me, and the people of God would only be in big trouble. The Israelites are just past a little event known as the golden calf, where most of the golden rules were trampled on. Yet, because "the Lord's release has been proclaimed", it means that you're not getting what you deserve.  Then practically He a sks for a heart toward the poor that is similar...

First let's a sk selfishly: If you knew that YOU were benefitting from YOUR giving, would you give more? Here's the Crazy thing that makes this worth 7 minutes of your time: the generous GIVER is also the generous RECEIVER. You give it to the Lord who gives it back to you. Hmmmm. If the  main profit is accrued to ME...  Maybe I should give more. And subscribe: https://youtu.be/liiwsYu8hl...

I f we did a forensic accounting of your finances, would the generosity of God be reflected in the results? In today's passage, God is claiming Lordship over not just your ABILITY to gain wealth, but over the wealth itself. Today is all about MONEY.  I am Lord of the wallet, King of the checkbook. Lord of Venmo. Prince of Paypal and the Paycheck.  Is He Lord of your wallet? Subscribe and like...

D oing  distinctive diets self-righteously before God does not CALL FOR or EARN His favor.   It is the unearned favor of God that calls for these distinctive, at least in the Old Testament. It constantly reminded, by everything you put or don't put in your mouth, that you are a peculiar people.  Today, things are different.  Listen and subscribe and comment: https://youtu.be/ugE7y01Q9iw

God wants followers that appropriately love and worship Him.  Our problem is foundational and functional rebellion on a world-wide scale.  The appropriate response is the wrathful justice of God.  Yet, He also makes a way of mercy; a way for your big Santa-bag full of your sin penalty to be carried by Someone who isn't you.  Unholiness has a terrible price to be paid.  Fortunately, Jesus come...

You gotta love the practicality and applicability of Deuteronomy. In chapter 12 alone it has many reminders, that if exercised will be of benefit to you. We're tempted to inhabit the "Island of Misfit Toys." That is, to live in our islands of moral relativism. Deuteronomy has lots to help us with here. It calls us to love the eyes of the Lord.  It wants us to see things as God sees...

The Lord loves a good party.  He invents the concept of having a celebration about Him.  In fact, He invites people to rejoice and feast in honor of Himself. Of note, He asks them to have this party in a particular LOCATION.  Just any old place will not do. He wants the place of the party to be that of His HABITATION.  Where He is, IS THE PARTY.  Join me for 7 minutes to start the party today. htt...

         The Christian’s relationship with the Bible is like saving PEACHES On s ome days, there will be no sunshine, no warmth, and no harvest.         On some days, there will be no peaches. But i f we do this correctly, it will not be a day without peaches. How? Those are the days that we can enjoy peaches that were laid aside, and "put up" for a future day. Listen 7 minutes for a pea...

If I sliced your heart open, would I find an inclination to LOVE the Lord? Consider your LOVE. If it is poor, then CONSIDER the discipline of the Lord. Seriously, if our AFFECTION is poor, then consider His DISCIPLINES. Then, Let this consideration of His disciplines inform the conduct of our LOVE. Subscribe, for we can only do this when it is today. https://youtu.be/2QLWzxzA_CQ

Our passage today will have a lot to say about how to move off our obstinate stubbornness. I call it Knuckleheadedness.  It is a real, persistent problem with people of all ages. There is No such thing as a fruitful functioning, fellowshipping Christian, who thinks wrongly; walks in error, fears not the Lord, is commandment-optional, serves poorly, & doesn’t love. Join me for 7 minutes each da...