Godly Passion, Holy Flame

"But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me."(Philippians 2:25-30)This episode is a chapter out of my coming book, "Being Saints" and arecast from my other podcast, Project:Philippians (https://shows.acast.com/project-phillipians) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A meditation from Mark 16 on the dark hopelessness that strikes between Good Friday and Easter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we will be celebrating Good Friday. And, of course, words like "celebrating" and "Good" don't quite feel appropriate for the atrocious execution that took place on this day. But it's my goal today to remind you of some of the reasons that we have to "cherish that old rugged cross."(This episode is a recast from my other podcast -- Project:Philippians. If you enjoy this material, please head on over there for a weekly deep dive into this amazing book. https://shows.acast.com/project-phillipians) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Biographical Sketch of an Unsung Hero of the Faith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's that time of year to stretch our eyes to the horizons and ask the Lord, "Oh, Father! What are you doing that I can be a part of?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An amazing saint went home to be with her Savior this year. This recording is just my humble attempt to pay tribute to the 57 years of love that she poured into my life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'd like to share with you a play I wrote years ago, inspired by the extraordinary events in the hills outside Bethlehem on the original Christmas night. Although fictionalized, this account is drawn from my research into the story and background of the Bethlehem shepherds (as recorded in Luke 2), stirred together with some holy imaginiation of what it might have been like to experience that holy night, not to mention the years that followed...Music by Julius H. from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of you have already heard about the new podcast that I began recently. This is just a little promotional trailer that I put together to try to spread the word and to encourage other disciples who might be interested in the type of "deep-dive Scriptural analysis" that Project: Philippians is aiming to be.If you're interested in joining us on the journey, you can find the podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/project-phillipians (or just search for "Project: Philippians" on your favorite podcast app). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'd like to invite you into a sneak peak of a new project that I have been praying about for months. It is an ambitious new venture -- one that could only be accomplished if the Lord is in it. But, if He is, I believe this project may have a lasting impact in the spirtual journey of many people. In this episode, I'm announcing a brand new podcast that I'm launching today -- a podcast with one singular mission: to take listeners on a verse by verse "deep dive" into one of my favorite books in Scripture: Philippians.For those of you who want to join me on this journey, head over to Project: PHILIPPIANS -- https://shows.acast.com/project-phillipians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regardless of how old you are or how many years you already have under your treads, your story is not finished yet. Neither is mine. And the challenging question that has been swirling around in my head recently is, "What am I going to do with the time I have left?" As I've been meditating on this, I've been inspired by the story of Caleb, the man who kept charging hard into God's adventures even into his eighties. That's the type of man I want to be. And, earlier this week, the Lord gave me a little glimpse of that future in a way that has made me yearn for it even more.Joshua 14:6-14 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to share just a few things that I'm particularly thankful for this year. Not least of which is an amazing get-together that I got invited to by a guy named Jesus.John 1:37-39 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'd like to introduce you to one very special Hebrew word that has begun to transform my prayer life. הִנֵּֽנִי It's pronounced "hin-nê-nî", and it encapsulates, what I believe to be one of the most important postures of a servant's heart.1 Samuel 3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you lost the passion? Has your flame grown dim? Has the spiritual fire of your soul dwindled down to nothing but glowing embers? I've been there. I know the feeling. But today, I'd like to share with you some verses that the Lord God has placed on my heart, because I want to help rekindle that fire on the hearth of your heart. Men, I believe there is nothing more important in our spiritual lives than fanning into flame the eternal fire of communion with God.Leviticus 6:12-13; 9:23-34; 10:1-3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the final episode in Season Two of the Holy Flame podcast. I have to say Farewell, for a while, but I just I'd leave you with you a final verse, a final challenge, and a final prayer. Hope to see you again in the Fall! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a world filled with distractions and diversions, it is all too easy to get a hearts off track and out of focus. I'd like to share a story with you that God has used in my life to help fix my thoughts and heart back on the Son. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes all it takes to get back on the path is just a little reminder. And sometimes... the more the better. Today I'd like to share with you a few thoughts from the jogging trail that have helped keep me on the path.Isaiah 30:21 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today I want to read through another epic book of the Bible: Ephesians. I love this book because it's like a dense gem -- a summary of the entire Bible. All the major themes of Scripture converge in this one little letter. From Creation to the Cross to the Coming again; from grace, to peace, to love, to warfare. It’s all here in one condensed little book. I pray that these themes will wash over you like never before. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The book of Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul while he sat chained in Roman custody. But it's a letter that explodes with the heartfelt enthusiasm of someone who has clearly learned how to fortify his joy regardless of his circumstances. I invite you to take the next few moments to sit at Paul's feet and listen to him as if you were hearing him speak these words for the very first time. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How would your friends rate your joy level? Would your wife or your colleagues characterize you as an uncommonly happy person? I'm pretty sure that is not the first adjective that would come to my friends' minds if you asked them to describe me. But recently I started pondering those questions and thinking about how much glory God would receive if that were to somehow flip in my life. So I asked the Lord about it. And I'd like to share with you the surprising (and happy) answer that He gave me.Romans 15:13 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today I want to share with you a short reading from one of the most classic books in all of Christian literature. The book is called Abide in Christ, by Andrew Murray. Murray was a great and heroic saint of the late 19th century whose books have stirred many souls through the decades. He's long been one of my favorite authors. This chapter was particularly stirring to me, so I decided to share it with all of you. I pray that it blesses you as it did me. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.