Category Archives: Shared Devotions

READ: LUKE 16: 19-31 “But Abraham said, If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won’t be persuaded even someone who rises from the dead.” (V. 31) Last year on February 6, my wife and were not in Florida for our annual snowbird escape.  She had suffered a serious COPD exacerbation and was…

READ: EXODUS 15: 1-6 “The Lord is my strength and my song: he has become my victory.  He is my God, and I will praise him: he is my father’s God and I will exalt him!”  (V. 2) The officers assigned to the Vice Squad, where I was the supervisor, had spent many months working…

READ: GALATIANS 5: 16-25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (V.25) READ: GALATIANS 5: 16-25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (V.25) Sonny Vaccaro was a sports marketing executive…

READ: ROMANS 12: 17-21 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. (V. 17) How would you react if a friend launched a campaign to have you branded and arrested as a pedophile to get even for a prior wrong.  What would…

READ: JOB: 40 Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?  You are God’s critic, but you do not have the answers.”  (V. 1-2) A critical analysis of how law enforcement first responders approached mass shootings was undertaken after the tragedy at Columbine High School.  For years these…

READ: MATTHEW 8: 23-27  “Why are you so afraid?  You have so little faith!”  Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.  (V. 26) The whaleship Essex left Nantucket in November 1820 for a 2 ½ year whale hunt.  Due to the depletion of whales in the Atlantic,…

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 1: 8-11 In fact, we expect to die.  But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. (V. 9) Christmas found my wife and me receiving Fitbit watches as gifts from our family.  Strangely, I find myself tied to this little device…

READ: EXODUS 14: 15-31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power, the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him.  They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. (V. 31) The athletes in their starting blocks wait anxiously for the gun to go off…

“Get up, take the mother and child to Egypt.” Matthew 2: 13 Not the kind of text you want to receive on Sunday afternoon.  Actually, not a text you ever want to receive.  “I just heard Francis and Jane’s home caught on fire,” it read.  “Completely destroyed.”  Francis and Jane teach at our elementary school. …

“More blessed to give…”  Acts 20:25 Years ago, during a conversation with an older and wiser mentor, I started complaining about the stress and pressure of asking people for money during the Christmas season.  Abruptly he interrupted.  “What’s the Bible say?”  As a recent seminary graduate, an informed answer should have rolled off my tongue. …