PocketNeif Podcast

What if someone turned "You Are My Sunshine" into a minor-keyed song about avoiding your archnemesis? It happened. I share "You Are My Dark Cloud" in this episode. Hope it makes you smile a few times. Verse 1: On Monday night, dear, while I was walking, I thought I saw you from afar. I ducked and darted down a dark alley. And I hid till you had gone. Chorus: You are my dark cloud, my only dark clo...

Who am I supposed to be? Should I compare myself with others? Those are the questions I consider in this episode which recalls words of encouragement spoken to me over the years and the call of God on my life.

I ran across a meme which spoke shockingly of what those martyred by Paul did when he entered heaven. They didn't do what you think they might have. In the same way, I ponder how I should act toward those who've wronged me.

Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21) Jesus' reply must've startled the man. “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:22) Forgiveness is the duty of every kingdom citizen. In "How Many Times?", a song I wrote after reading this discussion, I remind myself (and others) of...

Listening to a perfectly in tune band or orchestra is satisfying. Listening to one which is out of tune...ugh! Watching believers who get along is bliss as well. Being in tune with Jesus and each other blesses others.

I love visiting the clearance aisle at our local grocery story. I find all sorts of good deals on things I might never encounter otherwise. Jesus also "shops" for the discounted, rejected, cast out.

What do you do when confronted about sin? Do you confess it or go into full-fledged denial? David, Israel's singing monarch, after hearing of his guilt from Nathan, God's prophet, repented and pled for mercy. And God granted his plea. Later on, the king penned Psalm 51, a song which pleads for mercy and grace in every verse. It also pleads for joy and gladness. It was these things which inspired,...

I've been an off and on crossword solver for many years. My wife, a year or so back, joined me in working these wordy things. In this episode, I'll tell you how we do things together and talk about how the many members of the church are to work similarly in tandem. (WARNING: There are bad crossword puns at the end.)

A challenging question from Kyle Idleman's book, One at a Time , prompted thoughts about how I do or do not feel compassion for the hurting people around me. In this episode, I answer the question, tell a story of a time when a complete stranger mattered a great deal to me, and let one of Jesus' parables prompt prayer for a more caring heart.

Jesus humbled himself and became a man. That's Christmas. He further humbled himself and died for mankind's sin. That's Good Friday. In this episode, I invite you to humble yourself and follow Jesus every day.

It's the night before the night before Christmas as this episode goes live. I'm sure a few listeners are frantically trying to get their last minute tasks done. I invite them (you) to pause for a minute and consider what the night before the night Jesus was born was like. My hope is the five minutes you spend considering that night and the next will lead you to worship, will lead you to celebrate...

In John 1, Jesus is named the Word. Verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." These words and others from the chapter along with a chorus I'd written years ago, became the song you'll hear today. I hope its lyrics will help you celebrate the coming of the Light of the World. The Light Breaks Forth Verse 1: The Word who was before the world The Word...

My fitness app, if I look in the right section, assures me I'm in great shape. I could take that bit of data and imagine myself immortal, but I know better. God's word urges me to number my days in order to gain wisdom.

Henry was 80 on the day I shared the gospel with him. That's pretty late in life to hear and believe. Listen to hear what happened after I talked with Henry, read Scripture to him, then let God do his work.

What if you read Psalm 100 and it's calls to praise and worship and give thanks every single day for the next week or so? How my your heart be changed? How might your mind be transformed?

This song almost didn't make it into this podcast. I tell you why in this episode. It's not because of the words, but because of a connection to a religious group I'm not in accord with. I am in full accord with the God who is with us, who will never leave us, never forsake us. It's to him this song is dedicated. I pray it will bless you. The Prayer for Protection Verse: The light of God surrounds...

I gained a new title this week: Grampa Mike! I'm pretty excited about this new name. The reason for the promotion is amazing! In this episode, I ponder God's goodness in making this new human and in seeing us through times of suffering.

Cataloging which of my original compositions I've shared in this podcast and which I haven't revealed a couple of surprises. The first shock came when I saw the actual number of songs I've penned. The second came when I realized how many of the tunes I'd forgotten. In this episode, I share the words to some of my lost worship songs in order to encourage you. Stay tuned to the end. There's a bit of...

There's a story from the prophet Elisha's life which involves bears mauling 42 youths after they'd mocked the man. In this episode, I kind of explain what might have caused God's wrath to fall so violently on those jeering his balding prophet and share a quirky song I wrote after reading the account of this incident from 2 Kings 2:23-25. I hope you learn something and enjoy the song. (I'm not shar...

Are you weighed down by the cares of this life, by the anxiety in your soul? Jesus invites you to come to him for what you need most: REST! Will you listen and receive what he offers?

Of all the ugly things we have to deal with in our inner being, selfishness is among the most common. We want what we want and we want it now. This tendency to shout MINE at the top of our lungs can keep us from following Jesus as it did for a man our master encountered in Mark 10.

Through Isaiah, God issues an invitation to soul-thirsty people. He offers something which is amazing beyond imagination to a nation in exile. He offers life. Listen in as I talk about God's summons and how you can respond to it.

Inspired by the words of Psalm 99, I offer the song, The Lord God Reigns, as a prompt to worship the great, awesome, just, right, and holy God over all nations. May you be encouraged to "fear not" as you listen and worship. The Lord God Reigns (Psalm 99) Verse: The Lord God reigns, let the nations tremble (at his voice) The Lord is great, exalted over all (the earth) The Lord is holy, just and rig...

A simple sticker on my YETI water bottle produced a question from a tween girl the other day. The sticker referred to Celebrate Recovery, a group I meet with every week to find support in overcoming addictions and living more healthily. How would I answer the young person before me? Having this discussion reminded me of a similar question Peter anticipates in his first letter to the church.

Choosing words carefully while playing the game "Dictionary" leads to great fun. Choosing words wisely in life is more important. Listen in as I talk about words in both contexts.