PocketNeif Podcast

I've been training for my fifth marathon. Sometimes I feel like there's no way I can keep going. I do my workouts day after day anyway. I know I will never get to the end of a 26.2-mile race unless I keep running. The same is true in our walk with Jesus. We have to keep going even when we feel like a failure.

When hardly anyone was hearing from God, Samuel was called upon to be God's man. While reading the story from 1 Samuel 3 almost ten years ago, I was inspired to write a prayer song based on the simple phrase Eli gave young Samuel to say when he realized God was addressing his protégé. I hope the song will lead you to listen to God's word to you. Speak, Lord Verse 1: Speak, Lord, for your s...

Sometimes when God speaks, we miss what he says or we choose to ignore his commands. What do we do when we realize we're out of alignment with him? That's what I talk about in this episode.

What's in that red Solo cup? You know what everyone suspects. What's in a person? You judge that based on what you see. What's in you? Others are making assumptions about you too.

A few weeks back I preached from Luke 2, the Christmas story. I had a bit of "Christmas in July" fun with it as I did so. Recognizing the importance of Jesus' arrival on the scene, I talked about the privilege we have as believers to become more than we would be without the birth of God's Son.

God is my rock! How many times does David say that in his songs of praise? Lots of times, it turns out. The first time is in Psalm 18, the psalm upon which "You Are My Rock" is based. May God be your rock and your salvation! May you praise his name for his rescue and deliverance. You Are My Rock (Psalm 18) Verse 1 You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my strength from day to day...

I used to wear plain socks all the time. No more! Give me variety and fun over utility every time! That's not to say my socks always look exciting. Sometimes, the unusual stuff is hidden in my shoes. Believers look ordinary enough. Are they as normal as they appear? Perhaps not. Listen in as I talk about what's less than usual in a believer's life.

Who you know matters when it comes to access. On a recent visit to Vegas, my wife and I had free access to lots of stuff which would normally have cost an arm and a leg. In this episode, I'll tell you about that and talk about something Jesus has granted us access to. (What Jesus gives is better than all the free stuff in Vegas.)

Ever run into someone you know in a place far, far from home? It's happened to me more than once. On a recent road trip, just such an unexpected encounter happened. Reflecting on this "chance" meeting reminded me that God is at work all around me. I need to pay attention to what he's doing and notice who he puts in my pat.

I love reading the praises of God's people from thousands of years ago. It reminds me that God has been faithful to generations upon generations. He is a God who is worthy of worship! The song I share today is based on the words Isaiah used in Isaiah 25 to honor the God he had found to be trustworthy. My prayer is you will grow in confidence as you listen and take the words of this prophet to...

My friend Tom's favorite verse, Philippians 2:14, challenges me. It'll challenge you too. Listen to see what implications there are for your life as a believer in Jesus.

I'm guessing you've never seen Satan. I haven't. Even so, we both know his voice. We know it because he tempts us and lies to us and accuses us often. In Genesis 3, in mankind's first encounter with the Enemy, we learn of one of his go-to schemes as we listen in on his conversation with Eve.

Psalm 86, upon which the lyrics of my song, Forgiving and Good , is based, speaks of God's abounding love. I hope this piece I wrote for ukulele in praise of God's grace and goodness will stir up joy in your heart. Forgiving and Good (Psalm 86) Verse 1: You, Lord, are forgiving and good, Abounding in love to all who call on your name. Verse 2: You, Lord, are a great and marv’lous God, Guar...

I was recently invited to test Google's artificial intelligence app, Bard. I played around with it, prompting it to produce a podcast episode script for me. Some of what you'll hear in this edition of the PocketNeif Podcast was Bard-produced. The rest is me thinking about the experience.

In this episode, I ponder the lessons I learned in my first ever bike race. Not all went well, but I discovered something along the way.

In Galatians 5:24-25, Paul says believers, because they belong to Christ, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires and have, instead, chosen to walk in step with the Spirit. "Since We Belong to Christ" is a song of prayer, asking God to help us in doing as Paul suggests, crucifying our sinful nature and keeping in step with God. Since We Belong to Christ Verse 1: Since we belong to C...

Do you know God better when you know him in the presence of others who know him? That's the question I explore in this episode. My prayer is you'll find reason to tell others what you know of God and that you'll listen as they say what they know of him.

Last month, I banned one of the most asked questions in our culture. I tried asking better questions, queries which would help me connect with people on a deeper level. In this episode, I report on how my experiment went and talk about how Jesus inquired more deeply so as to get closer to the men and women he encountered.

Because Daniel remained faithful despite threats to his life, King Darius of Persia, praised God. Back in 2014, after reading the king's words, I sat down and penned, "You Rescue! You Save!" as a song of worship to God. You Rescue! You Save! Verse: You are the living God. You are forever more. Your kingdom cannot be destroyed. Your dominion will never ever end. Chorus: You rescue! You save! Your p...

We don't like to think about why Jesus had to die on the cross because it convicts us. We'd rather him be a good teacher or a do-gooder. But he was a savior. He had to die. Don't take him off the cross. Without the cross there's no hope for any of us.

Are you ever critical of the way your preacher or a guest speaker is giving forth God's word? I've been judgey more than once or twice. But God confronted me (years ago) and called me to a new way of thinking and listening. I'm more open to what he has for me now when I sit in a pew and a fellow minister begins his message.

Enough. I'm not good at doing that. I tend to do too much. God promises enough if we trust him. That's the message of this week's episode.

Every morning the Bible Gateway website (and app) posts a "Verse of the Day" prominently. It's front and center just below the search bar. The seemingly random verse of the day posted on a particular day a while back inspired the song I share with you today. It's based loosely on the first six verses of Psalm 63. Psalm 63:1 was the "Verse of the Day" which got the ball rolling. Praise God! He sati...

Questions are powerful. They get you inside another person's head. You understand them better after they've answered. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a British pastor, used to ask a probing question when counseling with people in his office. In this episode, we'll hear his question, ponder it, and talk about what your answer may say about your relationship with God.

WWJD? Back in the 1990s Christians all across the U.S. were wearing bracelets with this acronym on them. They were a reminder to think about what Jesus might do in any given situation. They were an invitation to follow in his steps. But might there be a better question to ask than "What would Jesus do?" My wife and I talked about this a few weeks back. The question she suggested seemed a better on...