Our friend Danny Evans is writing poems each week for a series of sermons on the seven days of creation based on Steve Wiens’ book Beginnings: The First Seven Days of the Rest of Your Life (2016). Enjoy! EXPAND by Danny Evans Now is your chance for expanse. It’s time to broaden where you are going to the God who … More POEM: “Expand” by Danny Evans
Our friend Danny Evans is writing poems each week for a series of sermons on the seven days of creation based on Steve Wiens’ book Beginnings: The First Seven Days of the Rest of Your Life (2016). Enjoy! DAY ONE: LIGHT by Danny Evans The dark made all afraid, But a spark came to its aid. Before … More POEM: “Light” by Danny Evans
I can only answer the question, “What am I to do?” if I can answer the prior question “Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?” – Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue My granddaughter loves to act out the stories she hears. She is the heroine of a seemingly endless stream of mysteries, … More What Story are you part of? (Mike Fox)
This post by Pastor Daniel Henderson struck a chord with me this week. I read it a couple days after confessing to my congregation a deep desire to lead them into the kind of discipleship that would lead to “abiding in Him”, connected to the vine, and really producing fruit. It seems like the main … More Just “Good Enough”? (by Daniel Henderson)
There was a young man who did his best to follow all of the laws of Moses. But he knew that it was impossible to do everything the law commanded and lived in fear of God’s punishment. Then one day a new rabbi came to his village. This rabbi preached a message unlike any he … More The Parable of the Butterfly (Mike Fox)
Enjoy this challenge from my friend Mike Fox whose writings have been featured here in the past. -JB 100 years ago there was no television, no internet. News traveled slowly. Because of this a drought in Africa, a tsunami in SE Asia, or an epidemic in India might go unnoticed by most Americans. It was the … More Blistered Feet & Bloody Hands (by Mike Fox)
Respected leader Bob Buford highlights diverse perspective on recent reports proclaiming the decline of Christianity Here’s the article from Exponential entitled Is It “The Big Drop”? Or Is the U.S. Church Becoming More Evangelical than Ever? I expect most of us have been seeing the media barrage reporting on the drop in the number of Christians in the United … More The Demise or Evangelicalization of the American Church?
“Actions into Place” by Danny Evans This new year leave the fear behind that is normally in your mind. It’s time start anew. Let this ring true. Let those thoughts go, for this is your opportunity to bless others and grow. Make amends to all. Break down that wall, but remember, this is all your … More A New Year’s Poem
“Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans Let us move toward The Lord as a reward this season as we choose to address our brothers by blessing our brothers. This time we dare to prepare for the birth of Maker of the earth. It’s a season we make the choice to hear His still, small voice. … More “Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans
“With Care” by Danny Evans This Christmas season, let us not commit holiday treason by excluding anyone from celebrating the real reason. It doesn’t matter how long someone has known God; give everyone the nod. Some people will enter under a steeple for the first time this December, so give them Him to remember. While … More “With Care” by Danny Evans
“Glee” by Danny Evans This time comes but once a year, but let me make it clear that everyday we should hold the real meaning dear. This is the time of Jesus’ birth, who would give us worth here on this earth. It’s okay to give gifts, but let us not drift from what it … More Glee by Danny Evans
We all come from a diverse background. Some may be sound. Others may be a roller coaster of lost and found. No matter where we originate, where we choose to navigate despite this will say a lot about our future state. Good or bad, your past is gone. Let’s leave a legacy in which the … More Legacy (by Danny Evans)
I recently preached a message from Psalm 126 which mentions “going out weeping” and “sowing in tears.” I used that message to encourage those of us who may be battling depression or facing difficult times to keep on “sowing” and “planting” even when you don’t feel like it, or when you don’t see immediate results. … More Sowing in Tears
“Go away. I don’t care what you have to say. Go take a quarter for your disorder, and see a shrink because I don’t care what you think.” That’s the mentality of our world, but Jesus changed that in a whirl. He wants to know everything going on in your life from good things to … More God Believes in You (By Danny Evans)
Co-dependency is my tendency. I worry what others think. I analyze every move considering if it was a wink or just a blink. Always apologizing even if I didn’t make a mistake is agonizing to take. I rely on the praise of people, but now I worship the One in the steeple. The Holy One … More Redefine Me (by Danny Evans)
Never Gone I’m in bad shape, So I want to escape. There’s so much stress. I feel depressed. I’ve tried sleeping, But I feel the stress creeping. I’ve tried drinking. What was I thinking? God, I wish I wouldn’t avoid. Only You can make me feel overjoyed. Help me to face what’s going on And … More Never Gone (by Danny Evans)
We should never be ashamed of our past, for those memories will be surpassed. We all make mistakes, but put on the brakes before you call yourself a snake. Whatever has happened, we will learn from. Every lesson plays a part adding up to a sum. So, take that next step to prep for the … More Contrast (by Danny Evans)
A guest post from my friend Danny Evans on this Father’s Day weekend. We hope to share more of Danny’s poetry in the future at Daily Illumination. Read more about his unique spoken word ministry here. Every young man asks will I be good at that thing known as fatherhood? They have to want to … More Godly Fathers (by Danny Evans)
Matt 11:2-3, 15 “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?…He who has ears, let him hear.” I suffer from what I call “The Yellow Brick Road Syndrome”. I want to be Dorothy … More Yellow Brick Road Syndrome (by Mike Fox)
The annual call for exercise has been issued. The new year sales flyers feature equipment of all kinds that will reduce our middle and tone our muscles. The “Y”, Snap Fitness and other workout businesses are offering their “first month free” deals. News shows are featuring the latest home workout gadgets and dietitians galore are … More Obese in Body, Mind and Spirit (by David Brown)
Peace that passes all understanding to you, today. Another shooting in an elementary school in Connecticut this morning. While it wasn’t their school, I shudder at the thought of my daughter-in-law and 5 year old grandson having to deal with the aftermath of something that horrific. One of my best friend’s 17 year old step … More Advent 2012 – Peace in the Pain (by David Brown)
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, … More Advent 2012 – Weariness (by David Brown)
As I was reading scripture the other day I made 2 observations – 1) strong, emotional words are often used in scripture and 2) that I have almost completely removed strong emotions from my practice of Christianity and made it an intellectual pursuit. For as long as I can remember, certainly back to HS, I’ve … More Emotional Faith (by Mike Fox)
1 Sam 3:1-10 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God … More Pursued by Grace (by Mike Fox)
Suzi shared this devotional at Keri’s baby shower a while back. Enjoy. Sometimes it would be nice to know the future. Some of the characters in the BIble were given a glimpse of it. In Genesis 15, God promises Abram a son. When none was forthcoming with his wife Sarai, he had a son with … More Raising Children, Honoring God (by Suzi Fox)
Kingdom Harbor 