Author Archives: Pete

Show Perfect Courtesy

Pause and chew on them a bit, and the first eight verses of Titus 3 are like drinking from a fire hose (I know, I’ve mixed my metaphors . . . maybe I should have said it’s like gorging yourself … Continue reading

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Reproof

As far as Old Testament words go, it’s not all that common. As far as wisdom goes, I’m thinking it’s kind of a big deal. A fool despises his father’s instruction,       but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. There is severe discipline … Continue reading

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Remember Me

It’s the two-word prayer that hits me every time I wrap up reading Nehemiah. A two-word prayer that almost always leaves me a little uncomfortable. A two-word prayer that feels self-serving at first, but which, after considering the character of … Continue reading

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Forgiven. Not Forgotten

Okay, here’s one of those thoughts that I think is a valid thought but, to be honest, as I type this I’m kind of hearing it put this way for the first time myself. If not entirely correct, it’s at … Continue reading

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A Tree of Life

It’s a three-word phrase that’s caught my attention this morning. Not an obscure phrase, but one pretty well known. Doing a bit of e-concordance work and I find the phrase occurs only 11 times in my bible and pops up … Continue reading

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With the Help of God

I was at a retreat last week connecting with some missionary-pastors and their wives. I’m on the board of a ministry which sends these faithful saints to lesser-known (some of them WAY lesser-known) rural places in America. Many of these … Continue reading

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The Way of Life

“The way of life” — that’s the phrase that caught my attention this morning. Sounds kind of important. Sounds like something, though perhaps not the only thing, that’s foundational to thriving. While it may not be a heart or a … Continue reading

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The Wisdom of God in Our Hand

It’s a favorite line from Aladdin. It’s also a phrase that comes to mind, from time to time, as I read Scripture. And it comes to mind again this morning as I read in Ezra 7. Like the “genie gig”, … Continue reading

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Take a Seat . . . Down There

Not the first time I’ve read this parable. Not the first I’ve paused to noodle on it. Not the first time I’ve been challenged to apply it. But I do think it’s the first time I’ve noticed that Jesus noticed. … Continue reading

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Scorn

It’s a “lesser sin to consider” that hits my radar this morning. A more “acceptable” transgression that’s giving me something to chew on. Scorn. Kind of a funny word. Not really a word that I think is used much these … Continue reading

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