I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness….I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely. Their children will be a blessing. (Psalm 25:10, 37:25-26) Whale Riders and Psalm 37 The Māori …
Secure in Christ
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken….He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 16:8. 40:2) An Insecure Star Paul Newman (1925-2008) was an American actor, …
Graduation and Celebration at Prison
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:3) Authentic Manhood Class Last month, we had a party at Jester III Prison in Richmond, TX to wrap up a class that ran 36 weeks. It teaches biblical masculinity as modeled by …
Pastoral Counseling (Part 3)
Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18-19 NLT) More Pearls …
Pastoral Counseling (Part 2)
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me….God says: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you….You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory….Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 16:7, 32:8, 73:24, 119:24) This builds …
Pastoral Counseling (Part 1)
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him….We have this hope in Christ as an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure….Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Acts 10:38; Hebrews 6:19, 13:8) …
My Jesus (Part 2)
As Jesus was praying, God the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And God the Father’s voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to full and …
My Jesus (Part 1)
God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Here are some expanded notes from a chapel message that I delivered at Karios Prison Ministry at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond, TX. I continue to use this message in evangelism, …
Meekness is Not Weakness (Psalm 37)
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) God is Beautifying Us Pastor Scott Sauls says that many of the world’s most accomplished people became their best selves because of their distress, not in spite …
Encouragement in Christ’s Ascension
God the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Eph 1:20-21) We Need Help from God As of 2015, there were roughly …