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

Thy Kingdom Come

During this Lenten season my congregation and I have been engaged in a “Back to Basics” process. We are looking at how to put our faith first and central in our day to day decisions and actions. Now, you might think that’s a “no-brainer” for a Christian pastor and the church he serves but it… Continue reading Thy Kingdom Come

Not Yet…

Well, if you have been following this blog since we began our most recent walk through the scriptures, you are probably expecting to read something about Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. After all, that is where we are in the cycle of readings – the Gospel of Mark, chapter 16, the resurrection of Jesus. But….not… Continue reading Not Yet…

Paid in Full – Mark 15:1-26

Jesus Before Pilate 15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him… Continue reading Paid in Full – Mark 15:1-26

Betrayed – Mark 14:53-65

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the… Continue reading Betrayed – Mark 14:53-65

“The Difficult Journey” – Mark 14:-26-30

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd,    and the sheep will be scattered.’[a] 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away,… Continue reading “The Difficult Journey” – Mark 14:-26-30

True Love – Mark 14:1-25

Jesus Anointed at Bethany 14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table… Continue reading True Love – Mark 14:1-25

False Prophets – Mark 13:14-22

14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’[a] standing where it[b] does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be… Continue reading False Prophets – Mark 13:14-22

Signs and Wonders – Mark 13:1-13

13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter,… Continue reading Signs and Wonders – Mark 13:1-13

Priorities – Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all… Continue reading Priorities – Mark 12:28-34