Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me the problem of suffering through the book of Job!  In this introduction we first talk through how God answers our most profound and troubling questions.  The Scripture isn't like a FAQ section on a website where you can just go and get a quick sentence on the most troubling questions.  We are made to sit, think, and ponder (!) the questions through the stories and sometimes poetry of Scripture.  There are no quick answers, or easy ones.  At the end of the lesson, we'll think about the evangelistic opportunities that suffering allows us.  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me how amazing it is that God has communicated with us at all, but even more astounding that God would have it written down.  There's something dangerous about having something written.  It can come back to haunt you, if you're not completely faithful or can’t deliver on a promise.  God doesn't seem too concerned about that...even inviting it at times.  What's that say about Him?  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about the completion of the wall in Jerusalem.  It didn't come easily!  They were jeered, threatened and discouraged.  There were internal threats along the way too, but Nehemiah stepped up in leadership every time there was a crisis.  So, the enemies make a full-on assault on Nehemiah in chapter 6.  He deals with every temptation beautifully and the wall is completed in 52 days, to the astonishment of the nation's surrounding Jerusalem.  There could only be one explanation...to God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about the greatest danger of always putting others under the microscope.  It is so much easier to see other's failings.  It's such a temptation to many of us, because we conveniently aren't under the microscope ourselves when looking and talking about other people.  But what's the greatest danger of all?  Let's take a look into the life of king David to find out!  To God be the glory.  

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me the struggle to understand the world we live in.  Why isn't God swooping in and fixing our greatest problems?  Does He see them and why isn't He intervening?  Well, He is.  However, what God is doing will almost assuredly surprise you.  It did with Habakkuk.  He asked these very questions - what is happening and what are You (God) doing about it?  The answers challenged him greatly, as they will us.  To God be the glory.

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about the life of Paul and what made him such an effective teacher.  Paul was a regular dude!  We tend to exalt Bible characters to other-worldly status, but they were regular people and the goal of being like them isn't too far-fetched.  In this lesson I try to point out things about Paul that were true because of his discipleship, which we can imitate.  Let's normalize and simplify the story together...and then let's "tell our story"!  That will make more sense once you've heard the lesson.  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about the attacks of September 11th.  This episode might be good for older kids to think about.  We already have a generation of children that don't know what happened, but more importantly, those children will be wrestling with questions asked on this episode fairly soon (if they haven't already).  

The events are so sad, but there is tremendous spiritual fallout.  While the question of suffering has often troubled many people (which is reasonable to ask!  Several people in Scripture thought about this question), there are other questions about murder that drive us right into the heart of God.  A question like -- why is it wrong?  Can we objectively decide what is right and wrong ourselves?  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about how we should never leave people behind.  The world doesn't seem to care about the "little people", but Jesus sure did and so does a revived church.  When Christians are truly awake to God's purposes, there is a tremendous effort to ensure no one is left behind or left out.  When Nehemiah finds out about the "little people" getting crushed with financial corruption, his reaction is startling.  No person in Nehemiah's community was worth more or less.  May God make me a Nehemiah.  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about the silent killer - discouragement!  More importantly though, let's think about how we ought to attack it head-on.  Discouragement is not to be left alone.  Nehemiah will jump into action the moment he hears of it, and so should we.  Are you discouraged or is someone near you discouraged?  Be a Nehemiah, and let's jump into action.  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]

Send Allen a text -

Ponder with me about what it means to be a friend.  Being a true friend isn't easy!  It takes sacrifice, vulnerability, and consistency just to name a few.  I was in the room when someone within my family passed away peacefully when someone said something that touched my heart, "she was a friend to many."  Let's think about friendship, what it means to be God's friend and the zenith of friendship Himself - Jesus the Christ.  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]