Reading today Psalm 59 and John 4:27-38, 43-54 Doris and I were at the funeral home last night. We sat for a long time with a couple we have not seen for years. They were our best friends in college. We lived in the married students’ apartments at the bottom of the campus at Trevecca.… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Dr. Mike Courtney
Shame
Reading for today: John 4:1-20, 39-42 John throws in little, seemingly random, bits of information that later come back to change the whole tenor of the story. Five loaves and two fishes. Two more days. 5000 people. In this story, it’s time. He says, “It was about noon.” Jesus and his entourage are passing through… Continue Reading
Trust God for the Decrease
Reading Psalm 57, John 3:22-36 Trust God for the Decrease I’ll be brief. (Do you believe that?) There is a saying among TV evangelists, “Trust God for the increase.” It is usually preceded by, “Send me money and…” Now, I’m not discounting the fact that “my God shall supply all your need according to His… Continue Reading
Born Again?
Reading today, Psalm 56, John 3:1-21 Jesus said some crazy things. One of the craziest is, “You have to be born again.” It’s not so crazy because of the content but because of the context. We look back at the statement in John 3 with 2000 years of theological understanding and it makes perfect sense.… Continue Reading
The Calling of Reconciliation
The Calling of Reconciliation Psalm 53, John 1:35-51 On Tuesday Josh and Jennifer were explaining Lent to Jon-Mical and Jakson. They were telling the boys how some people traditionally give something up for the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter to honor the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Jon-Mical, who… Continue Reading
40 Days of Reconciliation
Good morning! Here we go for 40 Days of Reconciliation during Lent. I am anticipating God working in and around me as I focus intentionally on Him. My challenge is that during Lent, from now to Easter we give something up, take something on, read the scripture daily, and pray daily. (I recommend praying three… Continue Reading
God Don’t Make No Junk
God don’t make no junk. My apologies to English teachers everywhere but the statement is true. When God made you He knew exactly what He was doing and He didn’t make no junk. David says in Psalm 139, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made and Your works (that’s you and me) are wonderful, I know… Continue Reading
Going
Everybody is going somewhere it seems. Even when I’m standing still I’m getting older and headed for some destination. Nobody is actually not moving. If we look back at the end of the day we will be far away from where we started. That is so true that now we wear devices on our wrist… Continue Reading
Vulnerable Love
Happy Valentine’s Day! In case you forgot there are still cars at the Dollar Store and chocolate at Mapco. And for you men who really know your wives heart Bass Pro Shop is running a special on tackle boxes. Knock yourself out. Actually in some relationships that would work just fine. We are all different… Continue Reading
Chemistry or Commitment
Now, what would a February Bible study be without a little love advice. Here’s the advice about love, do it! Okay, just kidding. There is more to it than that. Jimmy Evans wrote a great little book a few years ago on marriage called “Our Secret Paradise.” In it he describes the ways to rekindle and retain true… Continue Reading