Unemployed No More
Nº 414 The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. - Billy Graham The unemployment rate impacts our economy. This rate essentially measures how many people are out of work but wish they had a job. In general, having more people employed improves the economy. Besides those seeking employment, there are always some who are classified as ‘out of the workforce.’ These people are unemployed but not seeking work. There are legitimate reasons; some
Dan Bolin
5 days ago
Freedom To Do Good
Nº 413 May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. - Peter Marshall This week the United States celebrates its 250th birthday. Bands will play, speeches will be delivered, parades will amble through the streets, and fireworks will light the night sky. It will be a grand party! Much of the fanfare will focus on the freedom we enjoy as citizens of the United States. Two thousand years ago, Peter reflected on the
Dan Bolin
Jun 29
Follow Me
Nº 412 If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead. - William Law I am rereading Prince Caspian, the second of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicle of Narnia series. Besides being a delightful story, the tale explores some deep and significant spiritual truths. At one point Lucy, the youngest of the four siblings, sees Aslan, the great lion and Christ figure in the story. He beckons her to follow him. She wakes her
Dan Bolin
Jun 22
Duplicating Dad
Nº 411 We honor our earthly fathers by placing our complete trust in our Heavenly Father, who never fails, never forsakes, and never disappoints. C.H. Spurgeon In several places the Bible repeats four words: “was the father of.” We often read those unremarkable yet significant words in seemingly endless genealogies, simple clarifications, or family connections. The father/child relationship is very significant. The fifth commandment directs us to “honor your father and mo
Dan Bolin
Jun 17
Never Alone
Nº 410 God hath in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you. - Thomas Brooks Gideon’s life was a mess. Powerful nations had sent marauders into Israel to steal their crops and livestock. These raids came year after year. To escape the enemy’s eyes, Gideon resorted to using a winepress - a small sunken hideout - to
Dan Bolin
Jun 9
Recipe for Success(ion)
Nº 409 So if you turn one to Christ, that one may turn a hundred; they may turn a thousand, and so the stream, small at first, goes on broadening and deepening as it rolls toward eternity. - Dwight L. Moody My wife makes great zucchini bread. She got the receipt from my mother. My mother got the receipt from my grandmother. And who knows where she got it. I’m just glad each generation saw the value of passing along this important bit of information. If any generation had fa
Dan Bolin
Jun 1
R x T = D
Nº 408 Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. - Oswald Chambers In school, mathematics was never my favorite subject; however, one formula I remember is R x T = D (Rate times Time equals Distance). The pace that we sustain and the time we invest determine the distance we cover. This is true in the world of running and driving, and it’s true in our spiritual lives as well. Paul visited Corinth about five years bef
Dan Bolin
May 25
Grace & Truth
Nº 407 Truth without grace crushes people and ceases to be truth. Grace without truth deceives people and ceases to be grace. - Randy Alcorn I listened to a very knowledgeable Bible teacher expound the scriptures and share deep spiritual truth. That part was great! Then he shifted gears and brutally attacked a fellow believer – another astute Bible teacher who held a different theological view. From where I stand, the first pastor was probably right on his theology but de
Dan Bolin
May 18
Peter - First and Second
Nº 406 We are God’s own; to him, therefore, let us live and die. We are God’s own; therefore let His wisdom and will dominate all our actions. We are God’s own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed towards Him as our only legitimate goal. - John Calvin Three decades of Peter’s life are missing. The Gospels put him front and center, and his epistles, written thirty years later, provide another wonderful picture. However, we have only a few glimpses of hi
Dan Bolin
May 11
The Best Mother's Day Gifts
Mother’s Day – in the United States and many parts of the world – is this Sunday.
Dan Bolin
May 4
Measure Up
Nº 404 The only reason integrity should be a burden to you is if you enjoy being dishonest. - Sam Storms As a youngster, I spent summers picking berries. The season started with strawberries, migrated to raspberries, and then blackberries. I enjoyed those days, picking and eating my way through the rows of sweet delight. However, the summer ended with several weeks picking string beans. Not much immediate gratification from string beans. Payment was three cents a pound, so we
Dan Bolin
Apr 27
Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Nº 403 God is the author of the Bible, and only the truth it contains will lead people to true happiness. A Christian should read this precious Book every day with earnest prayer and meditation. - George Muller I enjoy reading or listening to great fiction – mysteries, adventure, whatever. At times, I become entangled in the plot of a well-written ‘whodunit,’ staying up late reading or listening because I want to know who the bad guy is and why he or she did it. A made-up st
Dan Bolin
Apr 20
Forever Friends
Nº 402 It is not exceptionally worthy people that Jesus loves, but His love is exceptional in that He loves those of no value at all. In fact, He loves us in our sin. Only such a view of love correctly appreciates the sacrifice of Christ and respects the infinite chasm between what is deserved and mercy. - Jim Elliff Atop the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus began to glow. He was joined by two renowned heroes of the faith, Moses and Elijah. Jesus’ three stunned disciples watch
Dan Bolin
Apr 13
Let Easter Shine
Nº 401 We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine. - D.L. Moody The first day of creation must have been spectacular. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) Day one of creation went from utter darkness to brilliant light. But that was just the beginning. Another light shined forth when Jesus came out of the tomb -
Dan Bolin
Apr 6
Jesus Wept.
Nº 400 Think of the cross and let your tears flow. But you must wipe those tears away, for Christ is not in the grave. - C.H. Spurgeon Isaiah painted Jesus’ painful portrait. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3a) Every Easter has its Good Friday. The joy and celebration of Easter morning flowed from the pain and agony of Good Friday. We know of three times when Jesus wept. He wept over the death of his friend Laza
Dan Bolin
Mar 30
The Defining Question
Nº 399 Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge. - David Brainerd Mark records two interesting conversations as Jesus made His way toward Jerusalem and the events of Passion Week. The first began with James and John making a childish and self-serving request. We want you to do for us whatever we ask.(Mark 10:35) Jesus replied, What do you want me to do for
Dan Bolin
Mar 23
Keep It Simple
Nº 398 Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. - St. Patrick Today is St Patrick’s Day. So, a few reflections on his extraordinary life seem in order. Remarkably, Patrick was a very unassuming man. No one knows when he was born, although many surmise it was about AD 386. No one knows his given name, but some think it may have been Maewyn Succat (I’d go by Patrick too). No one knows when he died, however many
Dan Bolin
Mar 16
A Whale of a Prayer
Nº 397 Let us labor to memorize the Word of God-for worship and for warfare. If we do not carry it in our heads, we cannot savor it in our hearts or wield it in the Spirit. - John Piper Jonah’s adventure is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. God commanded Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Instead, he headed in the opposite direction and set sail across the Mediterranean Ocean. There, a severe storm nearly swamped his ship. The sailors discovered that Jonah’s disobedience
Dan Bolin
Mar 9
A Stirring Moment
Nº 396 One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement . . . We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word. - William Barclay On special occasions I often make fresh squeezed orange juice. The wonderful taste is worth the aggravation of buying, cutting, squeezing, and cleaning up the mess. If the juice sets for more than a
Dan Bolin
Mar 3
Trust and Obey
Nº 395 Obedience is the only reality. It is faith visible, faith acting, and faith manifest. It is the test of real discipleship among the Lord’s people. - J.C. Ryle Hebrews 5:8 has always troubled me. Speaking of Jesus, the writer says, Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. So, as a child, was Jesus disobedient and spanked by Joseph to correct the error of his way? I don’t think so! The two keys that unlock this confusing verse are found in th
Dan Bolin
Feb 23
Lead Well
Nº 394 The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve. - John Stott Paul gives young Timothy some sound leadership insight. If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task (1 Timothy 3:1.) First, he affirms the positive contribution of people who are willing to set their he
Dan Bolin
Feb 16
Love Out
Nº 393 When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. - C.S. Lewis This Saturday we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love. As a little boy I learned a chorus in Sunday school: Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus. Because He first loved me. That is absolutely true - but it is only part of the story. We respond to God’s love for us with love for Him. How could we not? But
Dan Bolin
Feb 9
Restorative Grace
Nº 392 Although the threads of my life have often seemed knotted, I know, by faith, that on the other side of the embroidery there is a crown. - Corrie Ten Boom A few weeks ago, I wrote about a friend who tried to knit a pair of gloves using a flawed pattern. The wrong directions led to a messy, snarled, and unproductive result. She followed up with this encouraging update. Instead of tossing the entire mess into the trash she decided on a better, more productive idea. She un
Dan Bolin
Feb 2
Choose Mercy
Nº 391 As a merciful God, He pitied us; but as a holy God, He could not but hate our transgression; as a God of truth, He could not but fulfill His own threatening; as a God of justice, He must avenge Himself for the offense against Him. He gave Christ as a God of mercy and required satisfaction as a God of justice. - Stephen Charnock After his adventure with the whale, Jonah sparked a powerful revival in the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. His preaching about God’s impending ju
Dan Bolin
Jan 26
Flawless Pattern
Nº 390 “True Christians…acknowledge and live under the Word of God. They submit without reserve to the Word of God written in the Book of Truth, believing the teaching trusting the promises, following the commands. Their eyes are upon the God the Bible as their Father and the Christ of the Bible as their Savior.” J.I. Packer A friend of ours loves to knit. She has done it for decades and is quite good. I know nothing about knitting, but I do enjoy the warm hats and mittens sh
Dan Bolin
Jan 19
All-Access Pass
“The wonder of the high priestly ministry of Christ lies not just in where he is, but in who he is. Where he is we may boldly go; he has opened the way to the sanctuary of heaven and the throne of grace. We know him because he has first known us, and knows us still in all our helplessness and need.” - Edward Clowney Nº 389 My nephew travels with a major country music group. His contribution is on the production team, working behind the scenes, out of the spotlight. The band w
Dan Bolin
Jan 12
New Year - New Hope
Nº 388 “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love, and the future to God’s providence.” - Augustine Ezekiel prophesied during Israel’s exile in Babylon. His writing is filled with curious images such as dry bones rattling, connecting and coming to life, and wheels in wheels soaring into the heavens. His writing is filled with painful symbolism including the death of his beloved wife and the glory of God departing the temple. But Ezekiel’s final chapters, 40-48,
Dan Bolin
Jan 5
Forever and Ever
Nº 387 December 30, 2025 God with us is eternity’s sonnet, heaven’s hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of the angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky. - Charles Spurgeon PREVIEW – This December we have walked through five Christmas related passages – but none from the familiar Gospel accounts. We have looked at Genesis, Exodus, Ruth, and Haggai. Today we end the month with an amazing Christmas truth from 1 T
Dan Bolin
Dec 29, 2025
Greater Glory
Nº 386 December 23, 2025 He that might have dwelt forever in the glory which He had with the Father, amidst the praises of legions of angels, came down to earth and dwelt as a Man among sinful men. Surely this fact alone is an amazing miracle of condescension, grace, pity, and love. - J.C. Ryle PREVIEW – This December we are walking through five Christmas related passages – but none from the familiar Gospel accounts. We have looked at Genesis, Exodus, and Ruth. Today we wi
Dan Bolin
Dec 22, 2025
Jesus for All
Nº 385 December 16, 2025 Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life. - Corrie Ten Boom PREVIEW – This December we are walking through five Christmas related passages – but none from the familiar Gospel accounts. We have looked at Genesis and Exodus, and today we will explore Ruth. Next week we w
Dan Bolin
Dec 15, 2025
Parallel Tracks
Nº 384 December 9, 2025 PREVIEW – This December we are walking through five Christmas related passages – but none from the familiar Gospel accounts. Last week we looked at Genesis, today Exodus, then Ruth, Haggai, and end the month in 1 Timothy. Enjoy a look at Christmas from some non-traditional passages. Do you want to see something of the glory of God? Ah, now you do not look at the trailing edge of the afterglow of God’s glory as Moses peeps out. Now you look at the Son.
Dan Bolin
Dec 8, 2025
Glimmer of Hope
Nº 383 December 2, 2025 The [Christian] message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. - J.I. Packer PREVIEW – This December I will walk through five Christmas related passages – but none from the familiar Gospel accounts. Today we will look at Genesis, next week Exodus, then Ruth, Haggai,
Dan Bolin
Dec 1, 2025
Triple Blessing
Nº 382 November 25, 2025 It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do. - Tim Keller Thanksgiving, in the United States, is celebrated this Thursday. This holiday is a day set aside to express our gratitude and appreciation for God’s many blessings. A 2021, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) study found several physical benefits flowing from a life filled with gratitude: diminished stress, hig
Dan Bolin
Nov 25, 2025
Signing Bonus
Nº 381 November 18, 2025 The only thing of our very own which we contribute to our salvation is the sin which makes it necessary. - William Temple I recently saw a list of salaries paid to the World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. Millions and millions of dollars paid just to play baseball. Many of the star players had been members of other teams, but the Dodgers offered massive amounts of money to entice the best performers to move to Los Angeles. What if God recruited y
Dan Bolin
Nov 17, 2025
Royal Access
Nº 380 November 11, 2025 The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God - that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you. - Brother Lawrence Several years ago, a friend of mine had the opportunity to meet a member of his country’s royal family. Before meeting the distinguished and powerful lady, a protocol officer explained how to act in her presence: when to stand, when to sit, what to say, what to do, and what not to do.
Dan Bolin
Nov 10, 2025
Wash Your Hands
Nº 379 November 4, 2025 Prudence must be exercised in (discipline), lest we do more hurt than good…we should deal humbly even when we deal sharply. - Richard Baxter After years of education, training, and preparation, surgeons do two things: first, they wash their hands before entering the operating room, and second, they wash their hands when they depart. Doctors are diligent to ensure that they are clean when they address a dangerous case and clean when they leave a messy s
Dan Bolin
Nov 3, 2025
Finish Strong
Nº 378 October 28, 2025 I know of nothing which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God till death, still to be a soul winner, still to be a true herald of the cross, and testify the name of Jesus to the last hour. - Charles Spurgeon Today, we wrap up this year’s version of the Refueling in Flight Men’s Fishing Adventure. Over 30 men have been fishing the White River in Arkansas. This year’s topic was Finishing Strong.
Dan Bolin
Oct 27, 2025
Under the Circumstances
Nº 377 October 21, 2025 On earth, the underside of the tapestry (is) tangled and unclear; but in heaven, we will stand amazed to see the topside of the tapestry and how God beautifully embroidered each circumstance into a pattern for our good and His glory. - Joni Eareckson Tada Some writers long to sequester themselves in mountain hamlets or seaside villages to avoid distractions, view the magnificent scenery, and gain inspiration from the tranquil setting. But not all great
Dan Bolin
Oct 20, 2025
Ve Vin
Nº 376 October 14, 2025 With Jesus, even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be. - Corrie Ten Boom Years ago, Corrie ten Boom spoke in chapel at the Christian college I attended. She told of facing horrific dangers in the face of Nazi aggression during World War II. She also shared many anchors that stabilized her and her family as they faced the cruel atrocities. She related that when she felt overwhelmed and her situation seemed hopeless, sh
Dan Bolin
Oct 13, 2025
A Better Way
Nº 374 September 30, 2025 Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning. Frederick W. Faber God miraculously...
Dan Bolin
Sep 29, 2025
The Big Three
Nº 373 September 23, 2025 The more reverence we have for the Word of God, the more joy we shall find in it. - Matthew Henry Few people...
Dan Bolin
Sep 22, 2025
Come Together
Nº 372 September 16, 2025 During September. I’ll be on a study tour in Switzerland and Germany exploring the roots of the Protestant...
Dan Bolin
Sep 15, 2025
Two Sides of the Coin
Nº 371 September 9, 2025 During September. I’ll be on a study tour in Switzerland and Germany exploring the roots of the Protestant...
Dan Bolin
Sep 8, 2025
Internal Reformation
Nº 370 September 2, 2025 The next few weeks I’ll be on a study tour in Switzerland and Germany exploring the roots of the Protestant...
Dan Bolin
Sep 1, 2025
Stay Out of the Ditch
Nº 369 August 26, 2025 [God has] helped me understand that accountability is closely tied to visibility and that personal holiness will...
Dan Bolin
Aug 25, 2025
Trickle to Torrent
Nº 368 August 19, 2025 Our Lord Jesus is ever giving and does not for a solitary instant withdraw His hand. As long as there is a vessel...
Dan Bolin
Aug 18, 2025
Childlike or Childish?
Nº 367 August 12, 2025 Childlike faith is not childish faith. The first resonates with and embraces the neediness, dependency, and...
Dan Bolin
Aug 11, 2025
Car Wash Blues
Nº 366 August 5, 2025 See how red your guilt is. Mark the scarlet stain. But plunge into the “fountain filled with blood, drawn from...
Dan Bolin
Aug 4, 2025
Lights Out
Nº 365 JuLY 29, 2025 There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God,...
Dan Bolin
Jul 29, 2025