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February 13

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Everyone needs a pick-me-up from time to time. Whether it be a kind word or an arm around the shoulder or a heartfelt handshake or a hug, sometimes ya just need one. You know?

Church people are no different. Unless they are wired cockeyed, no one wants to come on Sunday to be screamed and yelled at and made to feel worse than when they arrived. Even when the topic of sin is preached on it can be done in such a way that people aren’t made to feel lower than a snake. I believe it was D.L. Moody who once said, 

“No preacher should preach on hell without tears in his eyes.” 

That is my philosophy. I am not a screamer and a yeller from the pulpit. I don’t even do that at ballgames, let alone from the pulpit. It accomplishes absolutely NOTHING, except making people feel really bad.

So I began the practice of leaving them with a Scripture. I got tired of finishing preaching, praying, then saying, “Have a good week!”  That is when I hit on the idea (with a little help from a book I was reading at the time) to close with the time-long-gone-by-tradition of a benediction. But not just from my lips. I pray, then have the congregation read it along with me from the screen in front of them. The most common one I use is from Numbers 6:24-26 (It was in our Scripture reading from Everyday Gospel Devotional for today). This is from the New Living Translation:

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.

After we have all said that passage, I simply look at them and say, “Thanks for being with us today. Go with Him this week” or something to that effect. It gives people something to remember, something to identify with, and hopefully, something to carry with them during the week. The original passage was given to Moses to pass along to Aaron in order to bless the people.

May I encourage you to repeat that Scripture to yourself before you walk out your door or begin your work day? May you be blessed today with the awareness of His presence in all you do.

February 10

Monday, February 10th, 2025

Finally it’s over! Now we can get onto the sports that really matters (at least to some): Spring Training and baseball!! 🙂 I have a daughter who would most certainly agree with me.

Actually, I really don’t care what sport it is as long as it is not the NBA. WNBA. NFL. Soccer. College football. NHL. UFC. Or the others with initials. I follow the Pittsburgh Pirates, but I’m not a rabid fan, so even that takes second place (or wherever the Pirates find themselves at the time). I used to follow professional cycling until blood doping became a major scandal. I am not a prophet but I can only see more danger ahead for players and non-players due to the “licensed” betting which is now being allowed. I see no good thing coming out of that, only heartache for players, people and families. I have never placed a bet in my life and have no desire to. Shoot, I’ve never even bought a lottery ticket. I certainly have no plans to start going down that road at the age of 72.

Why am I so cynical when I’m not normally that way? I’m glad you asked! 🙂  I guess it is because there are so many more important things to do and to like and to allow to occupy my time. As I’ve just said, I see nothing but heartache in the future. Plus, and this is a big plus, I used to spend so much time eating and breathing sports, especially basketball, that I got “lost” along the way.  I have two adult daughters who are obviously on their own. I have a grandson who will be attending THE Ohio State University (according to the pundits) in the fall.

What flashes before my eyes is what am I leaving behind? What is my legacy? They aren’t going to stand at my grave and say, “Thanks Dad for being a sports fanatic.” “Thanks grandpa for being a Pirate fan (he is a Reds fan).” 🙂 My wife of almost 52 years this June will not say, “Thanks Bill for loving sports so much you watched all the games.” What I want them to remember is that I loved them, made time for them, laughed with them, cried with them, celebrated with them, and chose them over sports or money. You see…I was made to bless others.  You were made to bless others. God blessed me and He blessed you not for my or your own good but because He can then use me or you to bless others. I’m reminded of Micah 6:8-“This is what the Lord requires of you: to do what is right (to do justice), to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.”  What a much more meaningful legacy to leave! I applaud each athlete who competes according to the rules, but their greater legacy is not whether they were the GOAT, but whose life was changed for the good because of their influence.

That is a true legacy worth thinking and talking about.

February 3

Monday, February 3rd, 2025

One of the topics that is often taboo to talk about these days is S-I-N.  It puts us on edge and make us feel uncomfortable. The “why” is up in the air. Sometimes it is conviction. Sometimes it is guilt. Sometimes it is “I’m not as bad as so-and-so because they have done such-and-such.”  Close to that last one, but not quite landing on top of it, is “I just don’t care.” I’m wondering if this might be the most common these days, but also the most dangerous.

Someone has said, “Sin will take you farther than you ever wanted to go, cost you more than you ever wanted to pay, and keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay.” You don’t have to think about that statement too long before you realize it is true.  Take, for example, the people of Israel. They clamored for a representation of God so Aaron molds a golden calf. In Exodus 32 not long after their promise to follow God, Exodus 32:6 tells us “The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” That is a $10 word for “immorality.” Yep, they just slid down that slippery slope they found themselves on. I hate to think of how much that describes me.

Here’s the thing though. God takes sin seriously. While we may pooh-pooh it. While we may turn a blind eye. While we may even justify ours or someone else’s sin, God takes it seriously. Very seriously. Case in point: God goes to great lengths to prepare Aaron and his sons for their responsibilities as High Priest (Aaron) and priests (his sons). Moses makes sure that all God told him to do is fulfilled. He relates it all to Aaron and his sons. All seems right. Until Leviticus 10. Verses 1-2 tells us that Nadab & Abihu, two sons of Aaron, offered strange fire-fire different from what had been commanded-and “fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.” What exactly that means is up for debate. Some suggest they offered the wrong kind of incense. Some suggest they were drunk (God stipulates no wine or alcoholic drink in verses 8-9).  Whatever it stands for, they disobeyed God. And as I have said before, God takes sin seriously. To quote Paul David Tripp: “To God, no disease that has befallen humanity is more significant and destructive that sin.” (February 3-p.42 from Everyday Gospel Devotional). Expulsion from the Garden was the consequence of the first sin. Who knows what the consequences of our sin will be?

Let’s take sin seriously. Adam and Eve. Nadab and Abihu serve as just 4 examples of the consequences of taking sin lightly. Let’s not be one of those statistics.

January 28

Tuesday, January 28th, 2025

“Some things never change.” I’m sure you have heard or used that phrase before.

It struck me as I read today’s Scripture in Exodus 30-32. Short recap: Moses and Joshua are up on the mountain where Moses is receiving instructions from God for numerous things. The Tabernacle. The Altar of Incense. The Table of Shewbread. The Lampstand. The Ark of the Covenant. The clothing for the priests and a myriad of other things. He is also receiving the Law, commonly referred to as the 10 Commandments. But there is trouble in the camp.

In chapter 32 the people come to Aaron and ask him to make them some gods who can lead them. Moses, after all, is an unknown to them (so they say) and they have no clue as to his whereabouts. So in Exodus 32:4 it says, “Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf.” That latter phrase is especially important. When God tells Moses to get down to the camp, he is livid. He throws the tablets down breaking them into pieces and then turns to Aaron and asks, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?”

Now…here it comes. Two vital thoughts:

  • Aaron’s first response: “Don’t get upset, my lord. You yourself know how evil these people are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’
  • Aaron’s second response: So I told them ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire-and out came this calf!”

Okay…do you see the two thoughts? One, Aaron placed the blame on the Israelite people. Not himself. Remember when that happened once before? “The serpent tempted me.” “The woman you gave me.”  The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree with Aaron did it?  Two, do you notice it says he melted it down and molded it into the shape of a calf. But then he tells Moses that he threw it into the fire and out came this calf. WOW!

I think that is called “Passing the buck” and then “Lying.”  But like I said at the very beginning: some things never change. The Garden of Eden. Aaron. January 28, 2025. It may be a new dog but it is the same old tricks.  Let’s break that cycle. Let’s stop the blame game and let’s start telling the truth.

{Note: All Scripture from the New Living Translation}

January 22

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025

The #1 dysfunction of a team Patrick Lencioni says in his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is an absence of trust (p.43). I’ve been reading it the past two nights and had trouble finding a stopping point last night (but my early morning rising told me I needed to stop). 🙂  He goes on to write: “Trust is the foundation of real teamwork. And so the first dysfunction is a failure on the part of team members to understand and open up to one another. And if that sounds touchy-feely, let me explain, because there is nothing soft about it. It is an absolutely critical part of building a team. In fact, it’s probably the most critical.” (pp.43-44)  To further emphasize its importance he goes on to write: “Great teams are honest with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.” (p.44)

I suspect you may be thinking, “Bill, I don’t read this devotional to read about leadership from another book.” Please stick with me for a moment.

Our reading this morning was Exodus 13-15, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to crossing the Red Sea. But that whole scene was not without its drama. At the end of chapter 13 it says they were guided by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This allowed them to travel, it says, by day or night. But it wasn’t long until the Egyptian army, led by Pharaoh, decided they didn’t like the idea of the Israelites (their slaves) being gone. And so they pursued the Israelites. Soon, the people of Israel saw Pharaoh and his army approaching and were gripped with fear…and griping.  I love Moses’ words to them: “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Ex. 14:13-14).  In other words: T.R.U.S.T.  If you know the story, God came through. He parted the Red Sea, a strong wind dried the sea bed and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. Meanwhile, the Egyptian army decided to follow and had all kinds of issues with their chariots. Once the people of Israel were on the other side, it was sayonara to the Egyptians. Exodus 15 is a song of praise and adoration to the God who saved them by His mighty power.

The people of Israel were a fickle bunch. Trust. Disbelief. Trust. Disbelief. You get the picture. It wasn’t long after they were complaining about water then a lack of food. Are they any different from many of us? A lack of trust comes into play two ways in the life of a follower of Jesus. First, failing to trust implicitly in the goodness and promised provision of God. Facing life with fear not faith. Second, failing to trust others to understand and help.

We don’t like to admit we may be dysfunctional. Seems to me the first line of defense is to admit we just might be and start trusting.

January 13

Monday, January 13th, 2025

If there was ever an example in the Bible that would and should blow apart that whole idea that God wants you health and wealthy and if you do good only good things will happen, it is the life of Joseph. For those who may not know perhaps a short recap is in order:

  • “Favored son status”- His father, Jacob, loved Rachel. After years of infertility she was able to give birth to Joseph.
  • Jacob showed his favoritism toward Joseph by giving him a coat of many colors, which became a sore spot for his brothers.
  • Jacob seemed to have used Joseph to “tattle” on his brothers.
  • Joseph was a dreamer and he didn’t keep those dreams to himself. Oh no. When he had a dream about the sheaves of wheat bowing down to him, he infuriated his brothers. When he had a dream about the sun and moon (including his father) bowing down to him, he drove the dagger deeper.
  • Sold into slavery.
  • Chosen by Potiphar to be his servant and he was so successful Potiphar soon promoted him to the steward of his household. He was in charge of everything…
  • …Except Potiphar’s wife. She didn’t care and decided Joseph was too good looking to pass up. But Joseph maintained his integrity even in the midst of powerful temptation.
  • Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of attempted rape, he would wind up in prison (where he would soon impress the head of the prison who put him in charge).
  • Joseph interprets two dreams and they both come true but the chief’s cupbearer, even though restored to his former position as Joseph predicted, forgot Joseph existed. More time languishing in prison.

Joseph’s life was neither easy nor comfortable. In fact, we might yell out “it is unfair!” because here was a man who maintained his integrity and fear (reverence) for God, but suffered injustice, false accusations, and being forgotten. So much for God’s people enjoying favored status and all the creature comforts.

God’s people today are never promised ease, comfort and smooth sailing. What we are promised is the presence of a faithful God who doesn’t forget us. In case you don’t know, Joseph is eventually vindicated when Pharaoh has a dream and no one can interpret it. The cupbearer remembers Joseph, recommends him and when he not only interprets the dream but gives a solution to it, he is promoted to second in command only to Pharaoh. Will everything always turn out like that for the Christ-follower? We are not promised that. We are promised God’s love and presence-past, present and future. Joseph’s hardships were not the end of his story. Nor are ours. Trust Him to work out all things for your good.

December 30

Monday, December 30th, 2024

Hello and welcome to Living in the Shadow! If you are new here, I’m glad you came by. If not, thanks for being a faithful reader (and hopefully making comments)! 🙂

The new year always brings mixed emotions. Some are glad the previous year is over with. I talked with someone just the other day who had that idea. Some look back but then look forward with anticipation for what is ahead. My philosophy is that I can’t change the past; don’t live in regret; learn from the mistakes and the bright spots; and move forward trusting God to lead. In two short days 2024 will be in the history books and 2025 will be laid out in front of us. I can honestly say at this point the only thing I dread about a new year is knowing I will have to do my taxes. It is such a tedious thing and I have so many other more important things to do! Know what I mean? 🙂

The new year brings what many call “New Year’s Resolutions.” I don’t make them. You know how that works. “I’m going to lose so many pounds this year.” “I’m going to spend less and save more.” And for the gym rats among us it is the dreaded “I’m going to start working out more.” That means for January and about half of February the Y or gym will be crowded.  Fortunately (for me but not for them) that resolve will soon get lost.

The new year is also a time of spiritual reflection for many. “I’m going to read my Bible more.” “I’m going to pray more.” “I’m going to get involved in church more.” “I’m going to be nicer to people, even those who mistreat me.” Sadly, those will often go by the wayside way too quickly as well. Least one hopes they last further than January or half of February.

The church I pastor is doing something we have never done as a congregation before. We are using Everyday Gospel Devotions by Paul David Tripp as a guide for our daily walk with Jesus. By the end of the year-if we stick to it-we will have not only taken part in the daily devotions, but also in reading through the Bible. I’m trying to help that out by basing my Sunday morning messages on the previous week’s Scripture reading. For example, this coming Sunday the sermon will be from Genesis 1-15. Sounds like a lot but I preach about 20-25 minutes so it will be a condensation of that Scripture. My theme for the year is Burning Hearts taken from Luke 24. After Jesus’ encounter with the two on the road to Emmaus they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

My prayer for myself and for the people of OVCF is to have my heart come alive and burn as I study the Scriptures. Feel free to join us in our venture. For more information just respond in the comments.

December 19

Thursday, December 19th, 2024

I have a laptop that I use quite a lot. Over a year ago someone in the church gave me a big monitor which I absolutely love. My laptop sits closed at the base of the monitor because I like using an external keyboard rather than trying to fit my big fingers on the small keyboard of the laptop. I have a Bible open to my favorite chapter in the Bible sitting on top of my closed laptop and a post-it “thingy” (it looks like an arrow that says, “Read me!”) pointed directly to my favorite verse. I have one pointing to Luke 24:32 since that verse is the theme for my 2025 year of preaching. When Jesus walked with the two men on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection, they realized who He was when He broke bread with them. Their words were “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” I want to keep that constantly in front of me as I study.

But hands down my favorite passage in Psalm 37. I have the post-it arrow focused on verse 5. Please allow me to share with you the words from Psalm 37:1-8 this morning. I can think of no better way to start the day than to read Scripture and focus on what it says. Maybe this will be just for you today.

“Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. (That was verse 5) He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper-it only leads to harm.”  A little later in that chapter (verses 23-24) he writes, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”  (Scripture from NLT)

I wrote it without verse divisions because I wanted you to see its flawless reading. How it flows. But most importantly the meaning and encouragement this chapter gives. I hope and pray you might take some time today to meditate on these verses and then allow them to flood your heart and soul.  Who knows? They just may become your favorite as well!

December 17

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

With the coming of Christmas on the horizon talk begins about the humble beginnings of Jesus in a manger.  That humble beginning started a “trend” that we see throughout the course of Jesus’ earthly ministry. His was a ministry of humility, of caring, of sympathizing and empathizing with others. The only ones He had trouble with were those who didn’t think they had a problem-the religious leaders. They were, after all, the elite. Or so they thought. Jesus was constantly bringing them down to earth, down to reality, and He refused to be impressed or intimidated by their so-called credentials or status among the people. He saw through their duplicity and hypocrisy and called them on it.

Take the life of Jesus as a perfect example. He was unlike any earthly king. He did not invade the earth to impress anyone or to set up an earthly kingdom. No matter that the common folk expected Him to do that. Some suggest Judas betrayed Jesus to “call His bluff” about being king and when it went south, he turned in the silver and took his own life. That’s one of those unanswered questions that will stay unanswered. Jesus once gave His perspective on the whole thing. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mk.10:45)  Consider also His death. His death displayed the ultimate humility that characterized His whole life.

Being a servant is not on many people’s radar. Whether we talk about politicians, school administrators, CEOs, a church leader, a pastor, an athlete, or someone you work with every day, being humble, sacrificial and a servant is missing. In the church, we have false apostles and hirelings who are always looking to make a name for themselves. They make themselves the central focus of every story. They paint themselves as the hero who rides in on a white horse, instead of admitting their lack of discipline and/or having the answers. Their preaching is little more than glorified displays of their own egos. They erect monuments to themselves (while all the while publicly saying it is all about God). Somehow I just cannot see Jesus living in a multi-million dollar home and being in debt up to the yazoo because He had to have a church building that was nothing more than a glorified temple to Himself.

The Apostle Paul hit the bullseye when he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.” (Gal. 6:14)  Those are wise words we would do well to emulate. Jesus set the example for us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, not build monuments that will soon turn to dust.  In reality though, you don’t have to be a rich anything, or live in a mansion to have the attitude of being better than others. Let’s begin following the example Jesus set for us: humility and sacrifice for others.

December 11

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024

Have you noticed how hard it is to listen to the news these days? It seems like the media relishes in giving us the bad news, the awful news and the really awful news.  True, we hear of heroes who saved lives on subway trains or of men and women who are serving our country or communities.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”  Sadly, especially in our cultural times, that is true. No matter that our civilization is privy to ideas, inventions and conveniences that previous generations didn’t even dream of and if they did, they were either seen as crackpots or “out there.” But seriously, think about the advances we have seen in just the past 5 to 10 years. I can remember when my dad was a computer operator and the computers were in a frigid room and were as big as a house. (Okay, slight exaggeration, unless you consider a mini-home). 🙂 In spite of our technological advances, we still see far too many men and women who wander aimlessly, with the no particular direction to go. These people are purposeless. I liken it to two things I believe we can all relate to. One is a pinball machine. I’m sure we have all seen them in action. Pull the lever and watch the ball take off. And then we watch it and it goes from bumper to bumper-once, twice, three times-and eventually drops to get slapped back into action again. The other picture is of the person wandering in the woods, seemingly lost. They can do one of two things: either continue wandering willy nilly  in a “whatever strikes your fancy” way (which shows no purpose), or follow a path until it either leads you out of the woods or burns itself out and you have to backtrack and start all over again (at least there is a method to the madness). 

Have you ever considered the idea that the Christmas story has the stories of two men who knew their purpose and knew why they came? One was John the Baptizer. Zechariah said about his son: “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High because you will prepare the way for the Lord.” (Luke 1:76). The following 3 verses tell us more of John’s purpose. The other was Jesus. We know why He came. He even tells us over and over throughout His short ministry that He came to “seek and save the lost.“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10)

So, the question we all must face is “Why am I here?” What is my purpose in life? Hopefully, you know what yours is. Live that purpose to its fullest.

{All Scripture from the NLT}