A Time Of Sounding Trumpets Today’s scripture selection: Numbers 29-32 Key verse: Numbers 29:1 “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work; it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.” God has no problem calling people to… Continue reading Week 40 Monday
Author: Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Week 40 Sunday
What We Have Today’s scripture selection: Acts 3-4 Key Verse: Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” What do you have that’s really worth something? Many of us, if asked that question, quickly… Continue reading Week 40 Sunday
Week 39 Saturday
Holy Partnership Today’s scripture selection: Hebrews 1-4 Key verse: Hebrews 3:1-2 People make all sorts of alliances, for all sorts of reasons. There are those made in personal relationships; business endeavors; political associations; treaties – you name it – we keep the lawyers busy drawing up the paperwork. And when the lawyers can’t get it… Continue reading Week 39 Saturday
Week 39 Friday
No Small Message Today’s scripture selection: Obadiah Key verse: Obadiah 15 It is the smallest book in the Old Testament – but within it we find a large and important message: God cares. God is not distant; detached; unaware. Instead, just as ancient Israel could, we can take comfort in God’s loving protection. That’s why… Continue reading Week 39 Friday
Week 39 Thursday
The Heart’s Reflection Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 26-27 Key verse: Proverbs 27:19 “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” It reminds me of those old Kung Fu movies on television – the ones where a wise, sage old master tells his young protégé’ some great secret of life. But it’s not… Continue reading Week 39 Thursday
Week 39 Wednesday
Resting Easy Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 114-116 Key verse: Psalm 116:7 “Return, O my soul, to your rest for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” There’s nothing quite like resting easy. Of course, all sorts of people have different definitions of what rest is. Some think it is a long awaited vacation in some… Continue reading Week 39 Wednesday
Week 39 Tuesday
No God Like God Today’s scripture selection: Second Chronicles 6-10 Key verse: Second Chronicles 6:14 Solomon said, “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth – you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.” People love to make comparisons.… Continue reading Week 39 Tuesday
Week 39 Monday
Wandering Today’s scripture selection: Numbers 25-29 Key verses: Numbers 27:15-23 Read the Old Testament – especially the passages about the “wilderness wanderings” of the Israelites – and one thing becomes very clear. They knew all about wandering; not just physically, but spiritually as well. They frequently wandered off course – turning to other gods; other… Continue reading Week 39 Monday
Week 39 Sunday
A Simple Church Today’s scripture selection: Acts 1-2 Key Verses: Acts 2:42-44 We live in a world where the word “church” can evoke many images: A great, ancient cathedral filled with the sound of a mighty pipe organ A small missionary hut in the middle of some jungle A “mega-church” where rock and roll and… Continue reading Week 39 Sunday
Week 38 Saturday
The Gift of Welcome Today’s scripture selection: Philemon Key verse: Philemon 1:17 The apostle Paul is known for his great theological treatises. But there is a small New Testament letter for which he is lesser known. Nevertheless, it earns its right to be in the New Testament canon. It’s a letter appealing to a slave… Continue reading Week 38 Saturday