May I have a WORD with you?

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 2nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17 Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11 The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far') The Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalom Descriptions of the judgement forces We’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (...

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 2nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17 Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11 The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far') Meant to trigger an immediate physiological response: fear (awe) and readiness.  Military Alert : It signaled that an invadin...

References: Setting and background/context of Joel Who was Joel? When did Joel work as God’s Prophet? Some suggestions from the text Temple - Jerusalem No kings - ? Most likely post-exhile in the time of Ezra/Nehemiah Joel shows familiarity with many other prophets Joel never identifies any specific sin on Israel’s part He announces God’s judgment, but doesn’t say why. Perhaps he assumes that the...

References: 40 Days of Lent A season of introspection, devotion and journeying to the cross and the empty tomb Consider Biblical 40 day/night periods Noah and the flood - Gen 7 (purifying) Moses on Mt Sinai - Ex 24 (law-giving) Elijah’s journey to Mt Sinai - 1 Kings 19 (preparing) Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness - Mt 4; Lk 4 (fighting for us) Sackcloth, dust and Ashes A sign of mourning - Esth...

References:  The Day of the Lord - v 1 Burning בָּעַר (bāʿar) - see Ex 3:2 Joel 2:28-32 Acts 2:16-21 The זֵד (zade') arrogant and the רִשְׁעָה (rish-aw') wicked Same words as in 3:15 - the reversal making evil good and good evil From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.  For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm. Not only consuming the arog...

References:  The sixth argument - 3:13-15 God says “You’ve been hard on me” v 13 The peoples’ typical response, “what are you talking about? How?” Vss 14-15 - “Why do the evil prosper and the righteous suffer?” A prominent question being wrestled out in Job The theory of “temporal retribution.” See John 9 - “Who sinned that this man was born blind?” The Scroll of Rememberance - 3:16-18 The remnant...

References:  The fifth argument - 3:6-12 Immutability of God - vs 6 See Hebrews 6:16-20 Also Hebrews 13:8 Therefore…  People referred to as children of, or descendents of Jacob Another point back to Genesis; Jacob as deceiver, cheater, robber. An unanswered question of the people? Vs 7 Consider God’s question to Adam “Where are you?” Gen 3:9 To Cain “Where is Abel?” Gen 4:9 Is it unanswered? God g...

References:  Review Malachi 1:1-2:9 Love vs hate Love = God’s covenant faithfulness Hate = God’s disdain for prideful self reliance Honor vs contempt Correcting from Part 1 - Mal 1:14 The “cheat” נָכַל (naw-kal') - to be deceitful, be crafty, be knavish Curse - Septuagint ἐπικατάρατος Jesus becomes the curse (Gal 3:10-13) NOT the “cheat” The third argument - Mal 2:10-16 Vss 10-12 Vs 10: Image...

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...