RG AUDIO 111321   Jeremiah 29:4-13 Some scriptures have become so popular we rely on in-vogue interpretations because they fit our narrative. Jeremiah 29:11 is a good example. This verse can be found everywhere, promising that God wants to prosper you (make you rich), not to harm you (security), and give you hope and a […]

RG AUDIO 111221   Proverbs 16:1-9 I love watching a baby learn to take his or her first steps. While loved ones stand by, smile, and applaud at those first movements forward, even falling cannot dampen the joy. New believers are often like a baby as they learn to walk with Christ. Before too long, […]

RG AUDIO 111121   Proverbs 3:1-10 The Bible has a lot to say about the heart. In Western culture we associate the heart with the center of our being, our will, and where decisions are made. As Christians we understand the heart as God’s residence and understand it is to be protected and nurtured. When […]

RG AUDIO 111021   Genesis 37:23-36 A cistern was a deep pit usually used to tap into a source of water or to catch rainwater. It was about 15-20 feet deep with an opening of 2-3 feet. It had a stone lid to protect from contaminants. While Reuben averted the outright murder of Joseph, being […]

RG AUDIO 110921   Genesis 37:12-22 Why did Joseph wear his beautiful coat to travel 100 miles across a desert wasteland to reach his brothers? For his older brothers it was a reminder of his favored position in the family. His youthful arrogance seems to dominate his decisions. Joseph has seen glimpses of God’s plans […]

RG AUDIO 110821   Genesis 37:1-11 Seventeen-year-old Joseph is about to learn a very grown-up lesson: words have consequences. For Joseph, those consequences would lead him into captivity, separated from family. We remember the end of this story more than its beginning, that God used conceit, anger, and deception to bring about His glory. Genesis […]

RG AUDIO 110721   Hebrews 11:32—12:3 I was never a running aficionado. That is until about three years ago, when I realized my metabolism was slowing down and I needed something to keep my body in decent shape. Just months into it, one thing became evident: this running thing required perseverance. That’s exactly what the […]

RG AUDIO 110621   Hebrews 9:11-22 We don’t normally think of blood as a cleaning agent. Much the opposite, we know that blood stains are very tenacious when it comes to removing them from clothes and other porous surfaces. So, the image the writer of Hebrews paints for us is not immediately understandable. What clearly […]

RG AUDIO 110521   2 Timothy 2:14-26 I am not ashamed to say that I have a soft spot for kitchen utensils and Scandinavian-style tableware. I try hard to keep the ones I have in good shape so they look nice when guests grace us with their presence. Obviously, we have other plates and utensils […]

RG AUDIO 110421   Luke 4:1-14 Luke tells us that after a glorious baptism scene, with voices thundering from heaven and the Spirit descending as a dove (3:21-22), Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, is led by that very same Spirit into the wilderness to be tested. The wilderness is a place of preparation and […]