Clean Inside and Out Today’s scripture selection: Mark 7-8 Key verses: Mark 7:6-7 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” It’s an old saying: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” I’m not sure when or where I… Continue reading Week 14 Sunday
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 13 Saturday
Doing What It Takes Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 9-10 Key verses: First Corinthians 9:22b “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” The apostle Paul knew his rights as an apostle of God. He could quote them, chapter and verse, to… Continue reading Week 13 Saturday
Week 13 Friday
Before You Were Even Born Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 1-6 Key verses: Jeremiah 1:5 He was a prophet, called to speak to a people who didn’t want to listen. Worse, as a nation they were moving toward destruction at a frightening pace. Eventually, a kingdom called Babylon would swallow them up. And the prophet who… Continue reading Week 13 Friday
Week 13 Friday
Before You Were Even Born Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 1-6 Key verses: Jeremiah He was a prophet, called to speak to a people who didn’t want to listen. Worse, as a nation they were moving toward destruction at a frightening pace. Eventually, a kingdom called Babylon would swallow them up. And the prophet… Continue reading Week 13 Friday
Week 13 Thursday
Fringe Today’s scripture selection: Job 25-26 Key verse: Job 26:14 You may have heard about a popular TV show named “Fringe”. It’s quite a roller coaster ride of show, deftly combining science fiction and fantasy, with a dash of theology thrown in too. Because of the special effects it’s not for the young or squeamish.… Continue reading Week 13 Thursday
Week 13 Wednesday
Sure Footing Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 36-38 Key verses: Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” I like the movie “Footloose.” If you’ve seen it, you… Continue reading Week 13 Wednesday
Week 13 Tuesday
Being Sure Today’s scripture selection: First Samuel 11-15 Key verse: First Samuel 15:29 “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” The prophet Samuel was not one to beat around the bush. He came… Continue reading Week 13 Tuesday
Week 13 Monday
A Father’s Blessing Today’s scripture selection: Genesis 48-50 Key verses: Genesis 49:22-24 At the very end of his life, Jacob spoke of what would become of his children. In short, he gave them both warning and blessing. When he came to Joseph, who had lived a turbulent life, but also been richly… Continue reading Week 13 Monday
Week 13 Sunday
For We Are Many Today’s scripture selection: Mark 5-6 Key verse: Mark 5:9 I find that one of the most haunting stories in the New Testament, no pun intended, is that of the man who was possessed by so many demons he called himself “Legion.” The legion was the largest unit in… Continue reading Week 13 Sunday
Week 12 Saturday
Popping the Balloon Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 7-8 Key verses: First Corinthians 8:1b When the apostle Paul set out to counsel some fellow believers on the Christian life he had his work cut out for him. Not only did he have to deal with all the cultural influences that might sway new believers from… Continue reading Week 12 Saturday