Leadership Today’s Scripture Selection: John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” When Jesus spoke of the time when he would leave… Continue reading Leadership
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
Kindness
Kindness Today’s Scripture Selection: First Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Be kind. It sounds so simple; so straightforward; even “easy” perhaps. But is it? Sometimes we are (or think we are) too tired or angry or rushed or (insert your… Continue reading Kindness
Joy
Joy Today’s Scripture Selection: Revelation 21:4 It sounds too good to be true: No sorrow No crying No pain No death But it’s what God has promised. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the… Continue reading Joy
Ignorance
Ignorance Today’s Scripture Selection: Matthew 22:29 “Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.’” It was a trick. Those who wanted to show themselves intellectually – and spiritually – superior to Jesus, were trying to debate with him. And so, they asked a hypothetical question… Continue reading Ignorance
Hearing
Hearing Today’s Scripture Selection: Proverbs 8:34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” How’s your hearing? Specifically, how’s your spiritual hearing? If it’s in good working order, you will understand the importance of the above section from the Book of Proverbs. Who calls us to… Continue reading Hearing
Gifted
Gifted Today’s Scripture Selection: Mark 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” The men that history now knows as “the Twelve” – Jesus’ hand-picked first followers – were extraordinarily gifted. It wasn’t because they were just naturally so. As one… Continue reading Gifted
Family
Family Today’s Scripture Selection: Deuteronomy 14:2 “…for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.” Are you God’s “treasured possession”? The Scripture says you are. God chose the people of Abraham; Isaac;… Continue reading Family
Earnestness
Earnestness Today’s Scripture Selection: Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Have you ever lost something that was so important to you – even if it had little material value – that you thought you would be devastated if you didn’t find it? Have you… Continue reading Earnestness
Darkness
Darkness Today’s Scripture Selection: John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” There’s a whole lot I could say about darkness. In today’s world there is certainly plenty of it around. Sometimes I turn off the car radio (and the news report) because I’ve heard enough about it… Continue reading Darkness
Care
Care Today’s Scripture Selection: Psalm 39:6 “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.” Care is a funny word. Used one way – it has to do with the way we lovingly watch out over… Continue reading Care