Lavish Today’s Scripture Selection: First John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God.” When you think of the word “lavish” or “lavished” – what comes to mind? For me – it’s usually the idea of some display of great wealth or beauty. … Continue reading Lavish
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
Know
Know Today’s Scripture Selection: Job 19:26 “I know that my Redeemer lives…” What a testimony from a man who had experienced more pain and hardship than most of us can imagine. After illness and loss had taken its toll and his so-called “friends” had accused him of being guilty of various sins – (how else,… Continue reading Know
Kindness
Kindness Today’s Scripture Selection: Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” It’s quite a list. Right there in the middle of this wonderful description of what Paul calls the “fruit” of the Spirit – is something we might easily take for granted –… Continue reading Kindness
Invite
Invite Today’s Scripture Selection: Matthew 25:35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison… Continue reading Invite
Integrity
Integrity Today’s Scripture Selection: Psalm 25:21 “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” Integrity matters. There are so many that seem to want to take short cuts in life. They cut corners or tell a little white lie. They find ways to justify things they know, deep down, they really… Continue reading Integrity
Increase
Increase Today’s Scripture Selection: First Thessalonians 3:12 “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” Do you ever feel like you have just about reached your “tolerance level” for others? Do you ever think that you are tapped out when it… Continue reading Increase
Impossible
Impossible Today’s Scripture Selection: Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.” It’s a wonderful pronouncement from the lips of an angel and I believe it to be true. In this announcing of the miraculous events that will occur in two women – one very young – one very old – Mary and Elizabeth –… Continue reading Impossible
Imitation
Imitation Today’s Scripture Selection: Third John 11 “Dear friend, do no imitate what is evil but what is good.” I don’t often hear anyone describe an imitation as a good thing. We want the “real deal” – or as they say in the country – the “gen-u-yne article.” We don’t think much of a “mere”… Continue reading Imitation
Idols
Idols Today’s Scripture Selection: First Corinthians 4b “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.” Idolatry is alive and well, unfortunately. Oh, we may not have small wooden statues scattered around the house. We may not sacrifice animals to a statue in our… Continue reading Idols
Honorable
Honorable Today’s Scripture Selection: Hebrews 13:18 “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.” It seems to me that there isn’t a lot said about honor these days. Oh, maybe at Boy or Girl Scout meetings, or among those serving in the military,… Continue reading Honorable