Sheep and Shepherds
Preparing for next Sunday's Video talk, which we're filming later today, I found a great deal of interesting detail from this source, reproduced at www.baptistbiblebelievers.com Manner And Customs of Bible Lands by Fred H. Wight Copyright @ 1953 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Shepherd ...
Francis Chan – What Do You Want To Be Known For?
"If this was your last day on earth, how would people remember you? What do you want to be known for? Where do you find your identity? John was 'the disciple Jesus loved.'"
Curses and Blessings, Balaam & Barak
It's not just the strange tale of a talking donkey. Numbers 22 has a lot to tell us about blessings and curses and how words work God's way.
Egypt operates under a false god—the god of toil and endless striving. But Yahweh is the God of Sabbath, of presence, of blessing.
Even today, we face “Pharaohs”—systems and mindsets that push us to strive harder. But in a Year of Expansion, we are not called to make it happen by force. We are called to trust God
Balance, by definition, means finding an equilibrium between competing forces. It assumes life should be a delicate juggling act where everything—work, family, ministry, personal time—exists in perfect harmony.
But life doesn’t work that way – especially if you are carrying a cross (Mark 8:34). Aiming at balance is an impossible standard that leaves you frustrated and exhausted.
Can you think of one person in Scripture who lived a “balanced” life?
“If this was your last day on earth, how would people remember you? What do you want to be known for? Where do you find your identity? John was ‘the disciple Jesus loved.'”
The Bible teaches that God communicates in many ways, including dreams:
“For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people… He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride.” (Job 33:14-17)
In a world where people seek meaning for life through astrology, psychics, and new-age philosophies, dreams remain a direct line from heaven—if we learn to interpret them biblically.
Dreams are more than just subconscious processing of daily issues —they can contain divine messages. The Bible is filled with accounts of God speaking through dreams!
“You MUST believe in the power of the message…” CH Spurgeon
“You must believe in the power of that message to save people..”
“The very fact that the writer is addressing these feelings to God suggests a level of confidence that God will in fact listen and care about the situation.” How much of the transformation we need to go through only happens in the furnace of pain, grief and darkness?
‘The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time…’
David’s greatness as a leader wasn’t in his strength or skill—it was in his seeking. He wanted to hear and follow God’s guidance. So he didn’t just ask “Can I?” but “Shall I?”
Can I – assumes capability
Shall I – asks for confirmation