6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t… Continue reading All We Need – Mark 6:1-32
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
Defeating A Legion – Mark 5:1-20
The man’s words always chill my soul a little: “My name is Legion, for we are many.” The demon-possessed man, tormented, prone to self-harm, both afraid and fearsome to others, this man encountered Jesus among the tombs. Jesus cast the demons out, sending them into a herd of pigs, which further terrified those who witnessed… Continue reading Defeating A Legion – Mark 5:1-20
No Such Power Mark 4:21-41
They knew his teaching was profound and had a certain authority about it that none of the other teachers had. They knew, or at least heard, that he was able to perform miracles – even raise the dead. Now, they were astonished to witness that even the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus’ command. Thousands… Continue reading No Such Power Mark 4:21-41
The Word Along the Way Mark 4:1-20
There were so many that he had to sit in a boat offshore while the crowds gathered at the shore. Clearly, they were hungry for the word he had to offer. Telling them stories, touching on the things – the images with which they could best identify – he taught them about life. So it… Continue reading The Word Along the Way Mark 4:1-20
Family Ties – Mark 3:22 –35
They were at it again. Claiming he was possessed. Insisting the miracles he performed were just cheap sleight of hand. Pulling them apart any way they could. Of course they did – he threatened them – this itinerant rabbi who seemed to have the whole world following him. Now, he had pulled together a select… Continue reading Family Ties – Mark 3:22 –35
Back to Basics with IGW3
As the 2019 Lenten/Easter season begins, we are excited to announce a new ministry – and a new look – for this blog. It’s called IGW3 – which as you can see above stands for… In God’s Word In God’s Will In God’s Work We live in complicated and confusing times. We believe that the… Continue reading Back to Basics with IGW3
Heads Up
This morning, like congregations all over the globe, our little church began to celebrate the season of Advent. It is a time of watching and waiting, of great anticipation, of holy listening. One of the scripture passages I read, from the Gospel of Luke, speaks of lifting our heads up and watching the “signs and… Continue reading Heads Up
Seasons
Well, it’s fall again. Really? Can that be true? I wonder as I sit sweltering with a fan blowing in my living room. The old heat pump ain’t what it used to be – and I am feeling it. Still, the calendar doesn’t lie. It is the autumnal equinox – fall has begun. That means… Continue reading Seasons
A Word to Dads
Thanks. That’s it…thanks. Though the cynics among us claim it’s all a racket – that is – Hallmark created Father’s Day to sell cards – don’t believe it. It’s right, and natural, and a very good thing that we take time once a year (and really, far more often than that) to say thank you… Continue reading A Word to Dads
He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed (Almost)
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday – (just in case you hadn’t heard yet.) My wife, who grew up in the Episcopalian tradition, likes to tell the story of hearing one of her priests marching into the sanctuary on Easter Sunday morning and proclaiming with a great, booming voice: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” Though… Continue reading He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed (Almost)
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 