“Called by God” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews 5:1-5 Key verse: Hebrews 5:4 “And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.” As a pastor’s wife, I meet other pastors and their spouses. And I’ve heard stories about how these pastors… Continue reading “Called By God” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest blogger)
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
“How to Please God” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest blogger)
“How to Please God” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews Chapters 3-4 Key Verses: Hebrews 4:7, 4:2, 4:12, 3:13 “He again fixes a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, ‘Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’” “For indeed we… Continue reading “How to Please God” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest blogger)
“The Promise of His Rest” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
“The Promise of His Rest” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews Chapters 3-4 Key Verses: Hebrews 4:1, 4:3, 4:11 “Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.” “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as… Continue reading “The Promise of His Rest” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
“How Can A Loving God Allow Suffering?” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
How Can A Loving God Allow Suffering? By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews 2:1-18 Key Verses: Hebrews 2:9-10, 14, 17-18 “But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace… Continue reading “How Can A Loving God Allow Suffering?” by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
God’s Anointed One–Exalted Above All by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
God’s Anointed One—Exalted Above All By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews 1:6-14 Key Verse: Hebrews 1:6: “And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.’” I have always thought that the Old Testament story of the Israelites worshipping a golden calf seemed… Continue reading God’s Anointed One–Exalted Above All by Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
Dear Faithful Readers
Hello Everyone, Having suffered a serious injury from a recent fall, I will be unable to use my right arm for some time, so no blogging for me! My wife Elizabeth has graciously and lovingly agreed to post to this blog in my absence. I encourage you to continue following (or start following) as often… Continue reading Dear Faithful Readers
Who is God? How can I know Him? By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
Who is God? How can I know Him? By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell Scripture Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6 Key Verse: Hebrews 1:3 “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.” In these passages the author reminds us of who God… Continue reading Who is God? How can I know Him? By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell
Ascension
Scripture selection: Luke 24:50-53 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple,… Continue reading Ascension
Fulfilled
Scripture selection: Luke 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. It wasn’t by accident –… Continue reading Fulfilled
Peace
Scripture selection: Luke 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. When the report was given about how Jesus appeared to some of the disciples, he appeared again. What did he say?… Continue reading Peace