Key Texts: Mark 16:1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who… Continue reading Who Will Do It
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
We Shall Not All Sleep
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye,… Continue reading We Shall Not All Sleep
Being Sure
Key Texts: Job 19:25-27; 2 Timothy 1:12 Do you ever feel as if the world is spinning just a little too fast out of control? I know I do. During my period of recovery from a nasty fall, and the resultant fractured shoulder, I have had plenty of time to watch the news. In fact,… Continue reading Being Sure
Dear Faithful Readers
Dear Faithful Readers Well, to piggyback on a bit of famous movie dialogue, “I’mmmmmmm back!” That is, at least in part. Cleared by my surgeon to do “light desk work only” I am resuming the posting of this daily devotional blog. I thank you, faithful readers, for your wonderful response to my wife Elizabeth’s posts… Continue reading Dear Faithful Readers
“The Road To Emmaus” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
The Road to Emmaus By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Luke 24:13-35 Key Verses: Luke 24:21; Luke 24:30-31 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.” “And it came about that when He had reclined at… Continue reading “The Road To Emmaus” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
“He Is Risen!!” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
He is RISEN!! By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scipture Readings: Matthew 28:1-20; Luke 24:1-12; Mark 16:1-20; John 20:1-31 Key Verses: Luke 24:6-7; John 20:30-31 “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands… Continue reading “He Is Risen!!” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
“The Men Who Buried Jesus” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
The Men Who Buried Jesus By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Matthew 27:57-66; John 3:1-21; John 19:31-42 Key Verse: John 3: 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Jesus was dead. His closest friends had left him and gone… Continue reading “The Men Who Buried Jesus” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
“Good Friday Remembrance” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
Good Friday Remembrance By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 15:1-15 (The citations noted come from the Chronological Study Bible, New King James Version) Tomorrow is Good Friday. We remember these events leading up to this time: Jesus had supped with his disciples, had gone with them to the Garden of Gethsemane and… Continue reading “Good Friday Remembrance” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
“A New Commandment” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
A New Commandment By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: John 13; Matthew 26:26-29 Key Verses: John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday and in our small church we always have a dinner… Continue reading “A New Commandment” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
“Anointing in the Name of the Lord” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)
Anointing in the Name of the Lord By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: James 5 Key Verse: James 5: 14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” A member of our church… Continue reading “Anointing in the Name of the Lord” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)