Worth Dancing About Today’s scripture selection: Second Samuel 5-9 Key verse: Second Samuel 6:16 I’m not much for dancing – I seem to always, sooner or later, get one foot tangled up with another. It’s not pretty. I suppose that’s why during high school years, if I went to a dance at all, I tended… Continue reading Week 18 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 18 Monday
By Stages Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 17-20 Key verse: Exodus 17:1 “From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded.” Long journeys are best traveled in stages. But, people also get very impatient on the journey, especially if their perceived needs aren’t met. Just ask Moses… Continue reading Week 18 Monday
Week 18 Sunday
The Torn Curtain Today’s scripture selection: Mark 15-16 Key Verses: Mark 15:37-38 “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the… Continue reading Week 18 Sunday
Week 17 Saturday
Comforted So We Can Comfort Today’s scripture selection: Second Corinthians 1-3 Key verse: Second Corinthians 1:3-4 Most people like to be “comfortable.” In fact, I think Americans are famous for loving their recliners, T.V. Trays, and home delivery pizza – all the “comforts” of home. But the scripture reminds us of something very… Continue reading Week 17 Saturday
Week 17 Friday
The Days Are Coming Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 22-26 Key verses: Jeremiah 23:5-6 “’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land…..This is the name by which he will be called:… Continue reading Week 17 Friday
Week 17 Thursday
When Deep Sleep Falls Today’s scripture selection: Job 33-34 Key verses: Job 33:15-16 Have you had an interesting, or disturbing dream lately? It could be God is trying to tell you something. When one of Job’s “counselors” tried to advise him, one called Elihu had something intriguing to say. Though his words were heavy with… Continue reading Week 17 Thursday
Week 17 Wednesday
No Need Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 48-50 Key verses: Psalm 50:9-12 Every now and then it’s good to remind ourselves that God doesn’t need us. Now, before you think I am suggesting God doesn’t care about us – let me explain. I simply mean that we need to keep things in… Continue reading Week 17 Wednesday
Week 17 Tuesday
Stand Your Ground Today’s scripture selection: Second Samuel 1-4 Key verse: Second Samuel 1:12 If you read very much of the Old Testament it doesn’t take long before you can feel battle fatigue. The long, relentless conflicts; the bloody battles; the constant back and forth of power struggles – these fill the pages… Continue reading Week 17 Tuesday
Week 17 Monday
Day or Night Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 13-16 Key verses: Exodus 13:21-22 One of the dramatic elements of the exodus story that I have always loved is that of the “pillar of cloud” and “pillar of fire”. In this way the people who were being freed from slavery could travel with guidance by day –… Continue reading Week 17 Monday
Week 17 Sunday
Something Permanent Today’s scripture selection: Mark 13-14 Key Verses: Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” We live in a throw-away society. That’s no great revelation; we all experience it every day. Paper plates and forks so that we can eat A fast food… Continue reading Week 17 Sunday