More Than Candles Today’s scripture selection: Isaiah 7-11 Key verses: Isaiah 9:2 Each year at our church there is one evening to which I look forward like none other – Christmas Eve. Nestled out in the countryside, on that magical night, our little white church shines brightly. Why? Because like so many other congregations we… Continue reading Week 2 Friday
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 2 Thursday
A Life Hedged In Today’s scripture selection: Job 3-4 Key verses: Job 3:23 When I first got my beloved dog Dash from the rescue foundation I found out he had been given that name for good reason. Open a door, turn your back, and that little dog was gone – flying down the street… Continue reading Week 2 Thursday
Week 2 Wednesday
Rest in Peace Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 3-5 Key verses: Psalm 3-5 Anyone who has ever seen a horror movie depicting a spooky old graveyard knows what the letters “R.I.P.” mean. The phrase “Rest in peace” evokes an image of the funeral home parlor, not a good night’s sleep. But today’s scripture passage suggests… Continue reading Week 2 Wednesday
Week 2 Tuesday
No Child’s Play Today’s scripture selection: Joshua 6-10 Key verses: Joshua 10:14 When I was a kid, like many young boys, I liked to play at war. I went through the classic “Cowboys and Indians” phase; the “Batman verses the Joker” phase; the “Spaceman verses the dreaded alien from Mars” phase. I remember being… Continue reading Week 2 Tuesday
Week 2 Monday
Waiting Out The Storm Today’s scripture selection: Genesis 4-7 Key verse: Genesis 6:8, 22 The Bible is filled with stories – stories of failure and victory; terrible sin and amazing redemption; death and life. On almost every page we meet characters of all type and persuasion, some beautiful, some not. But read those stories… Continue reading Week 2 Monday
Week 2 Sunday
How far is heaven? Today’s scripture selection: Matthew 3-4 Key verse: Matthew 4:17 Some years ago a song hit the airwaves that asked an important question, “Tell me, Lord, how far is heaven?” That’s a good question. And I was a little surprised to find it being asked on pop radio. Maybe I shouldn’t… Continue reading Week 2 Sunday
Week 1 Saturday
“Have A Little Faith” Today’s scripture selection: Romans 1-2 Key verses: Romans 1:16-17 Life these days requires more than a little faith. Just to get up in the morning and get out on a typical morning commute requires that. Sometimes I get the feeling I could switch off the engine of my car and… Continue reading Week 1 Saturday
Week 1 Friday
“Information Overload” Today’s scripture selection: Isaiah 1-6 Key verses: Isaiah 5:20-21 Never before has it been so easy, for so many, to collect opinion and fact about virtually any subject. And entertainment – some good, some bad, is just a swipe away. It’s all available at the touch of a button. Not long ago… Continue reading Week 1 Friday
Week 1 Thursday
“Why?” Today’s scripture selection: Job 1-2 Key verses: Job 2:10 At times, it’s one of the most profound questions that can be asked: “Why?” A terrible storm rips through a small, sleepy town reducing it to rubble; a freak car accident claims the life of a young driver, an honor student at the local… Continue reading Week 1 Thursday
Week 1 Wednesday
A Well Watered Garden Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 1-2 Key verses: Psalm 1:2-3 I’m not much of a gardener. I still remember how once, years ago when I was a student living away from home, I went to a florist asking for some sort of plant I could put in my room. I wanted… Continue reading Week 1 Wednesday