PocketNeif Podcast

Every one of us, at some point, struggles to find words to express our needs, wants, desires, questions to God in prayer. In this episode, I explain how we can use God's revealed word to find words to pray to him. (David Platt's "Pray the Word" podcast inspired this episode. Find more about him at Radical.net .)

I wrote "Blessed Is the One", a song based on Psalm 1, as a reminder of the path to happiness in life and peace with God. My prayer is that it will bless you as you listen and that you will choose to follow God in all your ways. Blessed Is the One (Psalm 1) Verse 1: Blessed is the one Who does not walk in step with wicked men Blessed is the one Who does not stand in the path that sinners take Bles...

Yes and No signs all over town. That's what Kansans experienced recently. The issue: abortion. Now that the election's over and the No-voters outnumbered the Yes-voters, how do believers deal with those with whom they disagreed? How can Jesus-followers interact without creating more division? Jesus has something to say to his church about this. Several somethings to say.

I know most people don't find doors all that funny. I do. Sort of. In this episode, I'll tell you the story of why and then talk about how we can move away from doing weird stuff to deal with the troubles of our lives and find healing.

What does Jesus want for his church? What does he desire for the saved? The answer is found in his prayer in John 17. He prays for the things his followers need most. Reading his prayer a while back inspired me to write a simple prayer and worship song based on Jesus' prayer in hopes the church would join him in praying for what matters most. I pray you will be moved by it and encouraged in your f...

On August 13, 2021, I posted a first-of-its-kind episode in which I touted some of my favorite podcasts. I mentioned four which were especially encouraging to me and my spiritual growth at the time. Here I am a year later (still loving the Bible Recap and the Ten-Minute Bible Hour) with a new list of programs which spur me on to love and good works. Give this episode a listen and then see if one o...

My wife and I spend a lot of time wandering this way and that on trails. We love hiking. In this episode, I recount a time when we started in the wrong direction and what we did about it. A lesson is to be had.

Like shade on a sunny summer day, God is our refuge in times of struggle. In this episode, I honor God, our rescuer, with a few words and a song of praise. "In You, Lord, Have I Taken Refuge" is based on many words from David's 31st psalm. I pray it will encourage you. In You, Lord, Have I Taken Refuge (Psalm 31) Verse 1: In you, Lord, have I taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame; Deliver me...

You can't go back and fix the mistakes in your past. You can't go back and relive the good times. What are you to do then? In this episode, I talk about what I learned from God after the transmission on my van went out.

This episode was released one year to the day and hour after my dad died. My dad was a faithful follower of Jesus and I wanted to honor him on this occasion. I wanted to remember again how blessed my family and I are to have known and loved this godly man.

I'd like to pin the blame for the lyrical lunacy on Donny and Marie Osmond. I was listening to them shortly before The Waffle Song which I share on this episode burst forth from the womb of my imagination. I hope you are entertained by this syrupy sweet love song and that you'll sing it every single time you make or eat waffles for the rest of your life. The Waffle Song Verse 1: Makin’ waffles Mak...

A strange instruction given me by the manufacturer when I needed an under-warranty replacement coffee maker triggered thoughts about the costs of following Jesus. This episode tells the tale of woe concerning my brewer and the narrative of Jesus inviting would-be-disciples to give up important things to join the kingdom.

Human judgment, whatever its form, is ungodly. In this episode, you'll learn how God corrected me in a moment when I was not expecting a rebuke from him. Perhaps you'll learn from my mistake and grow in graciousness.

Psalm 139 is my favorite psalm. God is honored in its words as the one who is always there. In this episode, I share my second song adaptation of a section from this psalm. The first, Walk in Your Ways, which was featured in Episode 14 , focused on the prayer which ends the psalm. This episode's song, Where Could I Go?, brings to life the second section which asks the pertinent question every pers...

For more than a half year, I've been spending 20 to 30 minutes every morning taking in the Bible Recap's Bible reading plan on my YouVersion app and listening to Tara-Leigh Cobble's Bible Recap podcast. I've been encouraged by the good words from God and from Ms. Cobble. This episode takes on the 5 prayers the Bible Recap folks put together to encourage connection with God while reading his word....

A few months ago, our house was invaded. The story of this intrusion on our normal everyday life is epic...as you shall see (or hear). Background music: Car Chase by Paweł Feszczuk (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/pawel-feszczuk/single/car-chase)

Lamentations 3:40 says, "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord..." These words inspired the song I share on this episode, a song of invitation to all who want a close and unhindered relationship with God, free from the guilt and power of sin. The invitation is to examine heart and soul and mind and action so God can show the way out of sin and into the life of joy he...

I'm probably making a huge mistake in introducing you to the Worshicken. What is the Worshicken you ask? Listen to find out. The song which I play a snippet of in this episode can be heard (and seen) in its entirety on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ZjB0UOzOg

The Bible tells us to honor our moms and dads, so this week, I'm putting out a good word about my kind, generous, loving, cookie-making mom. Happy Mother's Day, mom! (And to all the other moms!)

Scripture says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15) I had to learn how to put this into practice when a friend's dog died years ago. The lesson I learned in the late 1980s is still with me today. It helps me empathize with others no matter the loss they're experiencing.

In our kitchen on the Saturday before Easter in 2013 a wacky moment occurred. As young women sat around our table dying eggs for a Sunday morning hunt. I grabbed my guitar and starting singing goofy stuff about dying eggs. Not dying as in coloring. Dying as in becoming dead! I offer the song to you today for your enjoyment. Dying Eggs Verse 1: Sterile and white, Not a chance for life, No rooster t...

This Good Friday episode is a somber reminder of what Jesus did for us. It is by his wounds we are healed.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17) In this episode, I recount how a new running partner rekindled a dream and how some of my believing friends (and family members) with the Holy Spirit's help keep me moving in the right direction - heavenward! Hope you'll be encouraged and that you'll find reason to thank God for the people in your life who spur you on.

A moment of peril in a local school cafeteria reminds me of an odd event in Israel's history. I tell the story of both in this episode and share the important lesson learned from a moment of grave danger for the people of God. (Oh, and, HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!)

The song I share in this episode was written as I contemplated Philippians 2:5-11 and sought to honor Jesus, the Son of God who humbled himself to save the world, and who God, the Father, exalted to the highest place. My prayer as you listen is that you will bend your knee to Jesus and humbly confess him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Humbled, Exalted Verse 1: Humbled, God became a man It...