Doing What It Takes Today’s scripture selection: Second Kings 1-5 Key verses: Second Kings 5:14 Naaman wasn’t just anybody. The scripture says he was “the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD… Continue reading Week 27 Tuesday
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 27 Monday
Holiness: A Serious Business Today’s scripture selection: Leviticus 10-12 Key verses: Leviticus 10:1-3 One thing that the book of Leviticus makes very clear is that God’s holiness is not to be taken lightly. It is very serious business indeed. A great example of this is the record of how Aaron’s sons were killed because they… Continue reading Week 27 Monday
Week 27 Sunday
Mustard and Mulberry Trees Today’s scripture selection: Luke 17-18 Key Verses: Luke 17:6 I’ve always liked the reference in the New Testament about the tiny mustard seed. In fact, I liked it so much I named a blog about it. It’s just that the idea of the tiniest of seeds being the symbol… Continue reading Week 27 Sunday
Week 26 Saturday
No Complaints Allowed Today’s scripture selection: Philippians 1-2 Key verses: Philippians 2:14-15 The apostle Paul was gifted at balancing deep theologically profound teaching with down-to-earth practical counsel. A good example is his writing to the believers in Philippi. Smack dab in the middle of eloquent preaching about Christ’s humble life of servanthood… Continue reading Week 26 Saturday
Week 26 Friday
Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones Today’s scripture selection: Ezekiel 13-18 Key verse: Ezekiel 14:3 The ancient prophets were always providing their audience with choices. Those choices were about happiness or sorrow; growth or stagnation; faithfulness or idolatry; life or death. Sometimes the people chose correctly – too often they ignored the prophets’ pleading and chose… Continue reading Week 26 Friday
Week 26 Thursday
A Good Sister Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 7 Key verse: Proverbs 7:4 I have one older brother. Growing up, there were times when we were very close to one another. And there were other times when we wanted to kill each other – at least metaphorically speaking. I don’t suppose we were much different than… Continue reading Week 26 Thursday
Week 26 Wednesday
Footprints Not Seen Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 75-77 Key verses: Psalm 77:19 “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” A number of years ago a poem entitled FOOTPRINTS captured the hearts and imaginations of many. In it a follower of God… Continue reading Week 26 Wednesday
Week 26 Tuesday
The Whisper of God Today’s scripture selection: First Kings 19-22 Key verses: First Kings 19:12 Elijah was on the run. Ahab and Jezebel had their sights on him – and that was anything but good. So, fearing for his life, he took off. While on the run – some amazing things happened.… Continue reading Week 26 Tuesday
Week 26 Monday
Urim and Thummin Today’s scripture selection: Leviticus 7-9 Key verses: Leviticus 8:8 There’s a bit of ancient Israelite history that has always fascinated me. It has to do with the mysterious object or objects known as the Urim and Thummin. Scholars have various opinions about the Urim and Thummin – but most of… Continue reading Week 26 Monday
Week 26 Sunday
The One and the Ninety-Nine Today’s scripture selection: Luke 15-16 Key Verses: Luke 15:4-7 It was only one little sheep. For some, it was no big deal. Let it wander off – there are still ninety-nine left. Such was the attitude of the lazy shepherd in Jesus’ day. But then there was the… Continue reading Week 26 Sunday