Week 30: Holy, Holy, Holy Today’s Text: Leviticus 19-21 Key Text: Leviticus 19:1-2 “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”’ If I were to pick only a few verses that, for me, sum up the whole… Continue reading Week 30: Holy, Holy, Holy
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 30: Whom Are You Trying To Please?
Week 30: Whom Do You Want To Please? Today’s Text: First Thessalonians 1-3 Key Text: First Thessalonians 2:1-5 “You know, brothers and sisters that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to… Continue reading Week 30: Whom Are You Trying To Please?
Week 29: All We Have To Give
Week 29: All We Have To Give Today’s Text: Luke 21-22 Key Text: Luke 21:1-4 “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she of her penury… Continue reading Week 29: All We Have To Give
Week 29: A New Heart
Week 29: A New Heart Today’s Text: Ezekiel 31-36 Key Text: Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put… Continue reading Week 29: A New Heart
Week 29: The Way of the Fool
Week 29: The Way of the Fool Today’s Text: Proverbs 11-12 Key Text: Proverbs 12:15 “The way of the fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” I once heard someone say something to the effect that “if advice worked, there would be no problems in the world.” I have often… Continue reading Week 29: The Way of the Fool
Week 29: Even the Swallow
Week 29: Even the Swallow Today’s Text: Psalm 84-86 Key Text: Psalm 84:3-4 “Even the swallow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house,… Continue reading Week 29: Even the Swallow
Not Far Enough
Week 29: Not Far Enough Today’s Text: Second Kings 11-15 Key Text: Second Kings 12:1-3 “In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada… Continue reading Not Far Enough
Week 29: Why There is No More Need for a Scapegoat
Today’s Text: Leviticus 16-18 Key Text: Leviticus 16:7-10 “And he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. Then Aaron shall offer the… Continue reading Week 29: Why There is No More Need for a Scapegoat
Week 29: How to Become Someone New
Today’s Text: Colossians 3-4 Key Text: Colossians 3:12-14 “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should… Continue reading Week 29: How to Become Someone New
Week 28: Use It or Lose It
Today’s Text: Luke 19-20 Key Text: Luke 19:26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” It’s one of Jesus’ more difficult stories to hear. It’s about receiving talents – and using – or losing… Continue reading Week 28: Use It or Lose It