May I have a WORD with you?

References:  Historical setting Where this book fits in the Old Testament What was going on with the people of Israel The Past Babylonian captivity - Prophetic hopes Return to Jerusalem - see Ezra & Nehemiah 100 years after the return Rather than the New Jerusalem We see poverty, injustice and corruption The “burden” of Malachi (a name which means messenger) The first argument between God and...

References: This podcast has been about words, specifically God’s words. As another season and year gets going I’d like to direct us to the connections between Old and New The past, present and future The Timeless Malachi to John the Baptist The burden (מַשָּׂא - mas-saw’) of the message The timeless vision Mal 1:11 (Holy ambiguity) Is or Shall be Can we be grateful for 400 years of silence? What...

Recorded remotely while traveling References:  My “One Word” for 2026 - Health 3 John 1:2 - “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 1:2 ESV What constitutes “good health?” Health - healthy:  ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no) to be sound, to be well, to be in good health Metaphorically: of Christians whose opinions ar...

References:  The 26th of December is Boxing Day!  In the UK and Canada.  Churches would fill alms boxes during Advent, which the clergy would then distribute to the poor on St. Stephen's Day, directly linking charity with this date. It became a day for servants to receive their Christmas gifts (boxes) and time off after working on Christmas Day. Good King Wenceslas Christmas Carole Good King...

References:  Comedian Bill Engval had as a part of his routine a joke about stupid questions. “Here’s your sign,” was an “I’m stupid” sign. The word for sign in Greek is σημεῖον (say-mi'-on) A common word used 77 times in 69 vss in NT It can be positive signs and wonders accompanying those sent by God (Acts 5:12). Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and was accepted by God...

References:  When the flu gets me down, I punt. My brain will not allow me to do a full episode. Enjoy. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “ For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” NLT season -  זְמָן - (zem-awn') - a set time, appointed time   Nehemiah 2:6 “ So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time .” ESV In Esther 9:27 & 31 - Purim - “ They declared...

References:  Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder. This is a plan for disciplining our minds to be like the mind of Christ - see Phil 2:2 ESV Philippans 4:8 SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about, fix your thoughts upon… Last episode - lovely, admirable The seventh focal point (two nouns) Excellence - ἀ...

References:  Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder. Mark 11:29-33 - you can invite others into the conversation Philippians 4:6-7 Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer) God will give peace you can’t wrap your head around That peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ Jesus Philippans 4:8 SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id&a...

References:  Fixing our thoughts - λογίζομαι - talk to yourself, meditate, ponder. Mark 11:29-33 - you can invite others into the conversation Philippians 4:6-7 Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer) God will give peace you can’t wrap your head around That peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ Jesus Philippans 4:8 SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id&a...

References:  Let’s fix our thoughts Philippians 4:6-7 Trade anxiety for intimate communication with God (prayer) God will give peace you can’t wrap your head around That peace will guard (protect, defend, keep) your heart and mind in Christ Jesus Philippans 4:8 SO, think [ λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) - middle voice verb from λόγος ] speak to yourself about… The first two of six adjectives Tr...

References:  What’s all this about six seven? CBS News online reported that dictionary.com chose 6-7 as the 2025 word of the year “a ‘nonsensical and playfully absurd’ slang term” The evolution and cultural impact Not “knowing” makes some people anxious 6-7 has been irritating teachers I’ve seen reports of 6-7 being banned from schools, etc. Can you imagine how trying to ban kids from saying “groo...

References:  Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivings … so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior Eph 5:8-10 “Once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord....

References:  Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivings εὐχαριστία (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) thankfulness, the giving of thanks (Remeber Phil 4:6 & Col 4:2) An attitude of gratitude - the blessing and benefits of thankfulness. Thankfulness is something...

References:  Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving ἔντευξις (ent'-yook-sis) noun - ἐντυγχάνω (en-toong-khan'-o) verb  Noun 2X - 1 Tim 2:1 & 4:5 1 Tim 4:1-10 - ἔντευξις = prayer in NLT and ESV “It” is made acceptable by The word of God and By i...

References:  Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving Prayer - προσευχή (pros-yoo-khay') noun  & προσεύχομαι (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) verb is the most common, generic word for prayer.  Consider MSG translation of 1 Tim 2:1 “ Pray every way you know...

References:  Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving Matthew 7:7-11 - αἰτέω aiteo - ask Consider Jesus’ illustrations Recall Solomon and Bartemaeus Mark 10:35 - James and John: give us what we want (desire) aiteo John 4:9-10 - Jesus asks aiteo first, then tel...

References:  The alarming rise in conflict within churches at current events The Body of Christ - (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:27; Eph 4:12, 5:23; Col 1:24; Heb 13:3) Oneness and Peace in Christ - Eph 2:11-22 Enmity - ἔχθρα (ekh'-thrah) vs 15 & 16 Carefully joined together - συναρμολογέω (soon-ar-mol-og-eh'-o) (see v 21 in MSG) Ways we fracture the oneness of the Body (see Gal 5:20) Im...

References:  John 15:7 - ask whatever you WANT - thelo To will, have in mind, intend, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to take delight in To bring my thelo to the Lord is a form of prayer. So, just ask in prayer for a job paying 7-8-9 figures, for a Lamborghini, for a vacation home at the beach Compare James 4:1-3 With James 1:5-8  John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you… The “as...

References:  100th Episode - This is a laughing matter. laugh - צָחַק (tsaw-khak'); שָׂחַק (saw-khak') Abraham and Sarah give birth to יִצְחָק (yits-khawk') Psalm 2:1-4 - God laughs at those who plot to get free of God Zechariah and Elizabeth name John (Lk 1:57-66) To me this scene makes me laugh more than any other Bible scene (so Monty Python like)      To celebrate a milestone, r...

References:  98 episodes ago - “Remembering to Forget” Revelation 21:1-5 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Isaiah 43:14-19 On the brink of the 100th episode milestone. Spiritual Blessing - Ephesians 1:3-11 “Before He made the world…” πρὸ καταβολῆς - “before the foundation…” “bring everything together…” ἀνακεφαλαιόω (an-ak-ef-al-ah'-ee-om-ahee) to sum up (again), to repeat summarily, to condense into a summ...

References:  The significance of the town gate. That justice may be done, though not in an arbitrary way Remember from Ruth: Part 1 - Deut 25:7-10 Consider the Magna Carta of 1215 & a jury of peers The family redeemer - rights and responsibilities Rights - v 4: he wants the land Responsibilities - v 6: he doesn’t want the risk of responsibility  -  SO “In those days…” (in former times, in the...

References:  We can arrange, but God brings to fruition.  Naomi’s conviction/responsibility Boaz will be winnowing זָרָה (zaw-raw')  … as God winnows the righteous from the unrighteous How do we fair in God’s winnowing process? Boaz was in good spirits, his heart was merry, he felt great. (see Ecc 3:13) v 9 - “spread your wings over your servant.” Recall last episode and 2:12 Ruth 3:11 - “a v...

References:  Wisdom: Proverbs 7:4 - מוֹדָע - (mo-dah') - kins-man(woman), relative Boaz - he was prominent, wealthy, powerful: related to Naomi’s deceased husband Ruth works Boaz’s field by “chance?” - וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ  - (kaw-raw' mik-reh') - unforeseen meeting or event, accident, happening, chance, fortune -   used 10X in OT, 7 in Ecc. ! - Wisdom When God is involved, there is no...

References:  Helpful context for getting into Ruth The time of the Judges - see Judges 2:6-19 Judges 10:6 - 12:7 - Jephthah (Ammon & Moab)  "Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes" - Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25 Ruth is an amazing story of God’s salvation for Israel. From no king (last sentence of Judges) to David, the great king whose Son, Jesus, beca...

References:  Back from visiting 5 NPs and many other wonders Experienced joy in the discovery, awe, marvel, etc. Isa 55:12 NLT - You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Ps 16:11b - in your presence there is fullness of joy But can we give God joy? We can grieve the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:29-32 ESV Luke 15 - the los...