Jul 27
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ceschneider added a text contribution He is always right!King Neb learned through his stubborn refusal to abandon his earthly pride. He was humbled by God and after seven years he returns signing God's praises and acknowledging that "Everything He does is right and He does it the right way. He knows how to turn a proud person into a humble man or woman." What will I force God to do to make me a humble man??? Read more »
Jun 25
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ceschneider added a text contribution Eli Not to ImpressiveIf 1 Samuel were ever made into a TV mini-series, Eli would be the character nobody could like. He is ineffective, insecure, a weak father, etc. etc. He is given charge of Samuel and is so focused on being a good priest that he ignores his own relationship with God and his responsibility to his family. He and his two sons did their very best to blow it for Israel against the Philistines. In the end, blind and fat, he dies by simply falling over backwards from a stool where he learned of his s… Read more »
Jun 22
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ceschneider added a text contribution Do I make God sick???Revelation 3 will never be the same for me since Daniel Harper delivered his message at the NS Youth Ministry several weeks ago. I see far too many times when I have been luke warm....focusing my efforts on moving the temperature consistently hotter. Thanks Mr. Harper!!! Read more »
Jun 14
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ceschneider added a text contribution High Stakes Riddling???Talk about intrigue, plot twists, deceit and revenge, Judges 14 has it all. I know riddles are fun, but this one resulted with 30 men dead......ouch, that is serious riddling. Read more »
Jun 3
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ceschneider added a text contribution Parenting gone very bad...Eli vexed God in a major way because he was too busy with his work to raise his two sons to love and respect God. God calls him on his shortcomings saying basically, "I gave your family all this responsibility and the benefits that came with it and you can't be bothered to control your own sons?" God promised, and then delivered on that promise, to punish Eli's family forever because of Eli's failings as a parent. Eli was just to wrapped up in his ministry outside t… Read more »
Jun 2
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ceschneider added a text contribution Keep the faithThese verses remind me of how frustrating I must be to God when I ignore His Truth, yet offend Him through disobedience or simply taking for granted His gift. When I read about the Israelites I wonder 'how could these people be so foolish? God is right there with them, showing them signs, walking them through the wilderness. Yet they keep on ignoring and disobeying Him. How obvious is it that He wants to deliver on His promise to them, yet they make that impossible?'. But when I l… Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution Focused FaithDespite the fact that Naomi initially had nothing of material value to share with Ruth and was by her own admission "Bitter", Ruth was determined to be faithful and loving to Naomi. Ruth worked hard to provide for herself and Naomi. And she did so without promise of things getting any easier. She avoided becoming bitter herself, but focused on obedience, love, and working to improve their lives. Her diligent and faithful attitude was rewarded in the later chapters of this book. How… Read more »
May 24
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ceschneider added a text contribution Rich SimplicityPaul makes clear that those who are truly in love with Jesus are wealthy beyond any obtainable material goods. Our wealth through God is the rich simplicity of being ourselves before God. He states what our pastor has taught often, we come into the world and leave the world penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet that is enough. Everything we "have" is from God, it is not ours, but merely a gift and responsibility He allows us to manage during our mortal lives… Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution In your face BabylonIn Isaiah 14 God grants the people of Israel the go ahead for what amounts to being the first "End Zone Celebration"! It is crazy funny what God offers the victors as a chance to amuse themselves. In your face king of Babylon..... Read more »
May 23
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ceschneider added a text contribution Ooops...Just when Joshua's leadership and the people of Israel start to get back on track, Joshua and his staff take a left turn without checking the GPS. Joshua made a leadership decision without bothering to seek God's direction. And as happens when God is left out of the matter, they got burnt. Had Homer Simpson been on Joshua's staff a very loud "Doh!" would have echoed across the hills and foothills of Lebanon. Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution More Walk, Less Talk1 Timothy is just amazing as Paul's leadership instruction manual to a young, inexperienced Timothy who had been asked to lead a huge church. Paul basically tells Tim that he has to do more walking and less talking. That he can share leadership more by example than through teaching. And finally he says that the people he is leading need to observe a message more than they need to hear one. Amazing stuff!!! Read more »
May 22
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ceschneider added a text contribution Church LeadershipDoes Paul leave any room for discussion on church leadership requirements? I don't think so.... Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution Pray for our leadersI find it amazing that Paul specifically request prayer for our "rulers and government". But his rationale for this prayer is what is truly amazing. He does not request this pray so that the leaders will be wise, effective or obedient to God, but so that we will not be distracted by politics and remain in simple, humble contemplation. How can so many church leaders take on the fight in the political arena when Paul clearly request the exact opposite? Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution I can relatePaul gives me great hope in these verses. I can relate very well to Paul's life before he met Jesus. I wasn't out hunting down Christians and taking a stand against Jesus. What I was doing was probably worse. I was just plain ignoring God. Not standing for or against Jesus, actually standing for nothing other than myself. I foolishly believed that I was in charge of my life. But God has been oh so patient with me. And finally I have answered His call and accepted His Son as my… Read more »
May 19
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ceschneider added a text contribution World Changing DirectiveImagine the infinite and exponential improvement in our daily lives and the state of our neighborhood, town, state, region, country, continent, and world that would result from 100% compliance with 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22!!! I suspect 99% of the world's problems could be significantly reduced, if not eliminated, if all of us followed this request. Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution Wildfire DamageI love the analogy from this verse, sinful living equated to wildfires. When a fire gets out of control, whether the fire was started intentionally or by accident, it can quickly damage everything in its path, everything it touches. Like a damaging wildfire, sin can also begin intentionally or unintentionally and quickly turn into a destructive force ruining everything in its path. When we choose to sin or choose to let sin continue in our lives, we risk it becoming a wildfire that will damag… Read more »
May 17
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ceschneider added a text contribution Leading by ExampleI love the point Paul makes in Vs. 8 By our example of love and trust in Jesus Christ, we BECOME the Message! When God is working through your life it is evident to all who encounter you. Read more »
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ceschneider added a text contribution Mr. ObedienceWhen it comes to unquestioning obedience, is Joshua not the man? From the beginning of this book, God commands and Joshua obeys. Perhaps the best known example being the battle at Jericho. I wanna be more like Joshua. Read more »
May 14
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ceschneider added a text contribution The same as it ever was?The more things change, the more they stay the same. How sad is it that just as it was immediately before Moses' death, so it remains today. Despite the bountiful blessings and promises of our God, we take but do so knowing we will continue to embrace sinful behavior. And those who have little or no faith in God today ask "How can a loving God allow bad things to happen to His children? How can natural disasters or disease harm the people God professes to love?" We continue to… Read more »
May 13
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ceschneider added a text contribution Am I doing this for me or Jesus?How easy it is to get so wrapped up in doing godly work that I neglect God. Whether it is our vocation or serving as a volunteer we must guard ourselves from being so in love with the work that we forget our love of God. Read more »