Whenever I hear someone say, “We need to just love people like Jesus did,” I get kind of annoyed. Not because I’m against that idea, but because generally, it’s used as sentiment and one that is un-Biblical... almost like it’s used to avoid hard issues. "We should just love people like Jesus did" usually means "be nice and don't be controversial." The real Jesus we meet in the Gospels loved people in a much better, deeper, richer, and much more controversial and confrontational way. Today's pass...
Mar 08, 2022•12 min•Ep. 176
As tempting as it may be to obey our desires, the Bible describes the human heart as “deceitful” and “desperately sick” It tells us not to lean on our own understanding. Jesus taught that out of the heart come “evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Following Jesus means denying yourself, not discovering the god inside. Today we read one of the most famous verses in Jeremiah that comes in the context of people who are sinning greatly while still aski...
Feb 23, 2022•12 min•Ep. 175
How we act and function now as believers and followers of Jesus is determined by what we know about the future. Eternal perspective. If you don’t want to live a defeated life, you gotta roll up your sleeves and get to work and be determined in your focus on Jesus and what he has done for you and what he has set you up for. A life forever with him. God’s not gonna do it for you?! Peter calls the believers and us today to be holy in all of our conduct - to take action. In today's episode, we read ...
Feb 22, 2022•12 min•Ep. 174
God give me the peace of mind to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Today we read about the anointing of King Saul over Israel and the power of change. If you would like to dive deeper into this, or other verses in the Bible, if you have a verse you would like to submit to have included in a future episode if have questions about the Bible that you would like answered in a bonus episode, or simply want to connect with...
Feb 15, 2022•9 min•Ep. 173
Have there been periods in your life where it seemed to be one long, unending string of trials? Maybe it’s the pandemic that has exacerbated these issues. The quarantines, the distancing, the loneliness. Today's podcast is an encouragement for you, but not in the way you might expect. Today we will be reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 If you would like to dive deeper into this, or other verses in the Bible, if you have a verse you would like to submit to have included in a future episode if have qu...
Feb 10, 2022•9 min•Ep. 172
What burdens are you carrying because you can’t forgive yourself? If Jesus has forgiven you, do you also have to forgive yourself? Do you feel stuck there? Trapped in a cage of shame? I’ve been to therapy, I’ve been to counseling, and I was the host of a Christian radio show for 11 years. I’m attempting through this podcast to grow in Bible knowledge. When it comes to self-help, I’ve probably heard it all. So when I saw this article from The Gospel Coalition titled, “Say No to the Gospel of Self...
Feb 09, 2022•10 min•Ep. 171
Alright so I’m going to ask you a question and your response to it is going to reveal so much about yourself, ready? How are you doing? Maybe you recoiled into yourself when I said that. I think most of us hit cruise control and default on a “good” or “fine.” That’s what we say when we don’t feel like talking about what we are really going through because we don’t feel like telling the whole story or burdening someone else or just going there emotionally. The truth is that most of you, myself in...
Feb 08, 2022•9 min•Ep. 170
If you are walking through difficult circumstances. If you are in need of comfort and need of encouragement to keep trusting and hoping in God...don’t look past today’s episode. If you would like to dive deeper into this, or other verses in the Bible, if you have a verse you would like to submit to have included in a future episode if have questions about the Bible that you would like answered in a bonus episode, or simply want to connect with me... text VERSED to 88474 or click here Also includ...
Feb 07, 2022•11 min•Ep. 169
Paul uses this phrase to frequently describe believers in his letters, “In Christ.” He uses the phrase 143 times. It’s said that he did this because he understood that all people struggle with sin that is rooted in an identity crisis. He knew that once they were awakened to their true identity “in Christ” that that knowledge would transform their desires, behaviors, and their lives. In today's passage, Paul says that when you are “in Christ” you become a new creation. It doesn’t matter if you ha...
Feb 02, 2022•10 min•Ep. 168
Is God your ultimate joy and treasure? Can you say with confidence like David, that you have nothing good besides God? It’s important that we understand that our source for everything is God. Especially when we are going through difficult times. Today on the VERSED podcast we read and study Psalm 16. This is the VERSED podcast; a daily pursuit to become more perceptive to what the Bible says. If you would like to dive deeper into certain verses in the Bible, have a verse you would like to submit...
Jan 27, 2022•8 min•Ep. 167
What does the Bible say a downward sin spiral is? It’s more than just sinning a lot. It’s actually where sin leads to discipline from God. It comes in the form of frustration or hardship or failure and instead of us coming to God with it spiraling sin is when we seek relief from that disciple from the world - continuing to sin. Seeking a man-made solution to what is ultimately a spiritual problem - and so the cycle continues. We see this in the book of Hosea, chapter 5. Today we read from Hosea ...
Jan 25, 2022•12 min•Ep. 166
We are being lied to every day by our culture which tells us all sorts of untrue things about ourselves and calls it tolerance and diversity. It's lies upon lies that are destroying people. We can’t be a part of distorting and undermining God’s creation. We have to live and proclaim the truth that actually sets people free and that’s the truth of Jesus. It’s the truth that God is CREATOR of all things and REDEEMER by sending Jesus to take on the penalty for our sins. Jude speaks directly to this...
Jan 21, 2022•12 min•Ep. 165
Alright, I’m going to tell you out of the gate this is a different verse than you are used to if you listen to this podcast. I’ve typically gravitated towards verses that have been blatantly encouraging and reveal something about the nature of God or Jesus. That hasn’t been intentional necessarily but today we are diving into a verse my friend texted me and at the end said “what am I even reading? I think that’s enough Ezekiel for today.” Embracing this challenge let’s dive into it. This is the ...
Jan 20, 2022•12 min•Ep. 164
What we are about to read today is one of my favorite and incredibly beautiful verses. It is blunt, direct, poetic, black and white truth about Jesus. It's certainly not nonchalant. It punches you right in the face. And for me, its truth delivered in a way that overwhelms me with awe and wonder, a rightful fear of the Lord born out of belief in Him as Creator AND Redeemer through Jesus. We are reading the beginning of the Gospel of John today… This is the VERSED podcast; a daily pursuit to becom...
Jan 19, 2022•10 min•Ep. 163
Sometimes the food that tastes good is not the healthiest. Ok, maybe that’s a lot of the time. The problem is that if we exclusively ate food that tasted great and disregarded how it can affect our bodies, or stopped searching for food that can taste great AND be good for our bodies we would have premature health issues that could lead to death. The same philosophy applies to our spiritual lives and it's what today’s verse, 2 Timothy 4:3 is talking about. There will be a time where people will n...
Jan 18, 2022•9 min•Ep. 162
God doesn’t just want to save you, guard you, and shelter you from attacks from the devil, He wants to show you how he cares for you. Hee uses the psalmist in Psalm 91 to do that. This is the VERSED podcast; a daily pursuit to become more perceptive to what the Bible says. If you would like to dive deeper into certain verses in the Bible, have a verse you would like to submit to have included in a future episode, have questions about the Bible that you would like answered in a bonus episode, or ...
Jan 13, 2022•8 min•Ep. 161
Have you watched that new documentary, "Get Back" on The Beatles? At the time of this recording its new anyway. I thought it was really cool! I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes of the creative process and all that. I’m rediscovering how amazing The Beatles truly were and how influential they were on our culture. You know this song 'All You Need Is Love? It was an anthem, right? Even though the philosophy behind the idea was flawed and damaging (like to the extreme) that longing is what’s in us...
Jan 12, 2022•11 min•Ep. 160
I’m preparing this episode while Lord of The Rings plays in the background. It's ironic actually because the theme of today's episode is worshiping idols and how to know if you are. For anyone who has read, heard of, or watched Lord of the Rings, you get it, so I don’t need to explain further about the power that the ring has in the story and the hold it has on those who come into its presence. If you haven’t, let’s talk about the story of Romeo and Juliet. I never really liked it probably becau...
Jan 11, 2022•13 min•Ep. 159
I heard Elisabeth Elliot define suffering as having something you don’t want or wanting something you don’t have. That can come in many extremes however big or small but it fits in that definition. There have been hard things in my life just like yours. I can’t say that I know what you’re going through but I can say that I know the one who knows. It’s through the deepest suffering that I’ve learned the deepest lessons. If we trust Him for it be can be assured that He’s got this, he has a loving ...
Jan 06, 2022•10 min•Ep. 158
If you’ve experienced significant struggle; a diagnosis you didn’t expect, a betrayal by a loved one, death in your family, family issues, complications in surgery, financial mountains that need to be climbed, you know this isn’t right! This isn’t good, you are in a battle, you’re being attacked. It's thick in the atmosphere and there’s no denying it. There are also ways we are attacked that aren’t so obvious; constant comparison with others; about your success, your body, your clothes, your kid...
Jan 05, 2022•11 min•Ep. 157
Have you ever felt like your prayers have gone unanswered, that God has rejected them and you? That he feels indifferent toward you? Have you ever been through so much pain, troubling thoughts, and crippling anxiety that hope seems to be absent? You are not alone. Psalm 43 teaches us and instructs us in what our souls need in these times. This is the VERSED podcast; a daily pursuit to become more perceptive to what the Bible says. If you would like to dive deeper into certain verses in the Bible...
Jan 03, 2022•7 min•Ep. 156
Today our series in Luke ends. Every day we have been reading, studying and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Today is December 24th and we are reading Luke 24. We have entered the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry and I hope you have experienced a closeness to Jesus like never before. This is the VERSED podcast; a daily pursuit to become more perceptive to what the Bible says. If you would like to dive deeper into certain verses in the B...
Dec 25, 2021•10 min•Ep. 155
Every day leading up to Christmas have been reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. I hope you have been encouraged and are experiencing a closeness to Jesus like never before as we enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. In Luke 23 we continue in the trial of Jesus, his crucifixion, his death, and burial. This is the VERSED podcast;...
Dec 24, 2021•14 min•Ep. 154
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. Luke 22 is where the Last Supper happens, where Jesus is arrested, beaten, and tried but in ...
Dec 23, 2021•14 min•Ep. 153
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. Luke 21 discusses the kind of life that is pleasing to God with the story of the widow who g...
Dec 21, 2021•13 min•Ep. 152
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. Luke 20 Jesus teaches us was bad religious leaders look like as his authority is questioned ...
Dec 20, 2021•13 min•Ep. 151
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. Luke 19 covers the story of Zacchaeus and leads to the big moment of Jesus entering Jerusale...
Dec 19, 2021•13 min•Ep. 150
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. In Luke 18, Jesus teaches about prayers that are pleasing to God and what we must do to be s...
Dec 18, 2021•11 min•Ep. 149
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. Now, I kind of click-baited you with the title. As we will learn in Jesus’ teaching about fo...
Dec 17, 2021•11 min•Ep. 148
Every day leading up to Christmas we will be reading, studying, and reflecting on a chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There are twenty-four days leading up to Christmas and twenty-four Chapters in Luke. We are going to enter the celebration of the birth of Jesus with a full context of his life and ministry. My hope and prayer for each of us is that we fully experience a closeness to Jesus like never before. In Luke 16, Jesus brings more eternal perspective in respect to money, earthly resources, an...
Dec 16, 2021•11 min•Ep. 147
