Shows
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGod's Name is Not God - What is it Then? A Pondering From Josiah GreeleySend Allen a text - This pondering comes from my nephew, Josiah Greeley. I have a short introduction about him and his lesson at the very beginning of this episode. He taught this lesson back in Phoenix, AZ and it makes you think! And since thinking is what this podcast is all about, I thought it would be great to share with you. When was the first time God revealed His name to humanity and what significance does that hold for us? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at...2025-06-0424 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsReligiously Elite Kill Churches - Beauty of Confessing WeaknessSend Allen a text - Let's ponder the command from James to confess our sins to one another. Is this practiced in the church? I'm sure it is practiced more than we realize, but could it be practiced more? What happens when this doesn't happen? Without even realizing it we come across as religiously elite. This is dangerous. We must keep our relationships real and genuine. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-05-0427 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsOf Ephods and Kings - Should These Go Together? Christ in the O.T. Series #9Send Allen a text - Ponder with me a strange statement that we are given in passing - that David wore a linen ephod. It's just one curious sentence that is stated in both accounts of him bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Let's back up though, and see the history of ephods and somehow, someway - let us see Jesus. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-2829 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWhat Does God Do With a Farm That Doesn’t Produce?Send Allen a text - Let's ponder God farming us as disciples and even as a local congregation. It is springtime and so much of life is reminding me of planting and growing. It has me pondering God as a farmer. What's He like as a farmer and what's His reaction when His farm isn't going as planned? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-2729 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Weird Easter Sermon: Resurrection - Historical or Metaphorical?Send Allen a text - Let's ponder the resurrection of Jesus together. Churchgoers everywhere are celebrating Easter and thinking about the resurrection. Stats show, however, fewer and fewer people are believing it. How are they getting around it? Can we accept the Scripture without the bodily resurrection of Jesus? Think through this with me. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-2026 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWhere Should I Go To Church? Religious Consumerism vs. DiscipleshipSend Allen a text - Let's ponder the question I'm sure many of you already have - where should I go to church? With the ease of travel today, the options are almost unlimited. Unfortunately, this has created a panic in many churches. It's created a business-like mindset that competes for our time and attention, as if we were consumers. But perhaps we are. Are we more of a consumer or the type of disciple that Jesus called? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-1613 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsAnxiously Waiting in Doubt of God's Promises - Did God Change His Mind?Send Allen a text - Let's ponder what it means to wait on God. Every era of God's people had to wait on God for something. We are no different, waiting for the Lord to return. But what happens when doubt creeps in? What happens when what we see physically doesn't match up with the Lord's promises? We have a Psalm that talks about this exact feeling. Study it with me. We'll even have a singing at the end of this episode! To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or...2025-04-1426 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA House Containing God, History Changing Promises - Christ in the O.T. Series #8Send Allen a text - Let's ponder some of the most history-altering promises ever made by God. Sometimes the Lord breaks so forcefully into human history with such profound promises that history is never the same. Such is the case in II Samuel 7 and the parallel passage in I Chronicles 17. Let's see if we can find Jesus and then ask - what does this say about His kingdom? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-1331 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Troubling Violence of the Conquest, and Scripture as a WholeSend Allen a text - Ponder the troubling violence of the conquest of Canaan with me. It is probably no secret that the violence of Scripture has troubled many people. It is a common argument against believing in the God of the Bible. Is this fair though? What does fairness require of us if we object to something in Scripture? Think through this with me. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-0912 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGreatest Moabite Love Story Ever Told - Christ in the O.T. Series #7Send Allen a text - Ponder the gospel with me, as told in Ruth. A Gentile is redeemed by a Christ-like figure named Boaz. I'll paraphrase this beautiful love story. After that, let's think through the connections together and where this story is leading us and why we have it in our Bible's. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-0731 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsHeart Widening Surgery - Helping and Being HelpedSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about widening our heart to one another! Paul once told the Corinthians that their own affections were holding them back (II Corinthians 6). Sometimes we get so focused on being willing to help people (we will focus on that in this lesson too), we forget that we also have to be willing to receive spiritual help. Paul calls it a widening of our heart. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-04-0628 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsI Put You Under Oath - Read This Letter (Thessalonians)Send Allen a text - Ponder the book of I Thessalonians with me. Today's episode is a little different, but very similar to the one we put out November 1st. We're going to read an entire epistle together, as a letter, start to finish, in one sitting. This is how these epistles were written, and it is how they were read in the early church. As a personal discipline I force myself to do this from time to time. It brings new understandings for me. I chose this letter now because I'm going to begin a class...2025-04-0315 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsPassing Through Carcasses, No Fingers Crossed - God's FaithfulnessSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how much we depend on God's faithfulness. Almost everything we believe fully relies on the trustworthiness of God. We are on firm ground though. God stooped down and partook of a human oath ritual in Genesis 15 to show Abraham how true He would be to him. Let's think through it together and build our faith on God's promises! To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-03-3029 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsLegit Faith and a Legit FallSend Allen a text - Ponder the idea of eternal security with me. Sometimes called "once saved, always saved" -- is this true? Let's walk through this by looking at the legitimate faith of the Israelites who crossed the Red Sea. This is a faith held up in Hebrews 11, but then what happened? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-03-2327 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsStars and Scepters, Christ in the O.T. Series #6Send Allen a text - Ponder with me the same that the magi (wise men) did in Matthew 2. They saw a star rising in the land of Israel and they believed that meant a king was coming, worthy of worship. Herod's first thought was about the Christ, and he was right! But why did he think that? Why did the wise men think that this meant a Jewish king was coming? Stay with me all the way till the end and you might see an application to yourself. To God be the glory! Please email me any...2025-03-2332 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations"Someone Just Tell Me What God Wants Already!"Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about what God wants from us. Actually, let's think about what comes before this. Have we appreciated that God has communicated this very thing to us? Concerning that communication from God - have we mixed God's message with some of our human assumptions? Micah asks the question, "what does the Lord require of you?" Just as powerful as the answer to this question is what some of the Israelites assumed (and perhaps we have too). Think through it with me! To God be the glory! Please e...2025-03-1813 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsChrist's Resurrection, the Firstfruits of More - Christ in the O.T. Series #5Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about how and why Christ's resurrection is called the "firstfruits" in I Corinthians 15. This allusion to the Old Testament is quite fascinating. There was a firstfruit holiday in the O.T. that was always celebrated on Sunday's, the day Christ was raised from the dead. But get this! It wasn't just any Sunday, it was the Sunday following the Passover, the day Christ was crucified. Cool stuff here! I hope you'll think so too. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreel...2025-03-1627 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSmall Beginnings, Big DiscouragementSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how all great projects begin small. All great projects have to begin somewhere. Many endeavors worth doing, and certainly worth completing, come to a screeching halt right after they begin...because we're discouraged with how small and insignificant the start was. Such was the case in rebuilding the temple, after the return from captivity. Is there something you're quitting on because of its "small beginnings"? Keep at it! To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-03-1011 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsIs Jesus Really In Control Of This World?Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about who is in control of this crazy world! Is it Jesus? The Scripture indicates He is. Repeated texts are given about all things put under the feet of Jesus and even Jesus admitted He had all authority in heaven and on earth. What we see with our physical eyes tells a different story though (if we're honest). So, what we see physically, and the spiritual realities don't match up. What are some principles that help us wade through this challenge? To God be the glory! Please email m...2025-03-0513 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe King from Judah and the Grape Harvest - Christ in the O.T. Series #4Send Allen a text - Ponder another passage in Genesis about the Christ. The offspring of Abraham gets a little narrower, down to the line of Judah and it's the first time the reign of a king is mentioned (in connection with the Christ). The scope of His reign is much broader than Israel though...the obedience of all the nations belong to this King. Also, this Ruler from Judah is associated with a prolific grape harvest. What connection could that possibly have to Christ? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or qu...2025-03-0326 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Hope of Living Forever, and Encouraging Others With ItSend Allen a text - Let's ponder eternity, and our hope of eternal life. We can't fall into the trap of thinking that religion is nothing more than being nice and living a decently moral life. God has so much more planned in eternity and when we take our eyes off of that hope, bad things happen. But what is that hope? Is it death and then all the joys of heaven are immediately experienced? Or should our focus be on the resurrection of the body? Critical thinking caps required! To God be the glory! Please...2025-03-0224 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Footstool of Enemies - Christ in the O.T. Series #3Send Allen a text - Let's ponder some more themes about the Christ from the Old Testament. This lesson is a bit of a culmination of the first 2 lessons we did in this series. The domination of enemies was promised to Abraham's offspring as well. Why do the details of this prophecy lead us to Jesus? Are we involved in this at all? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-02-2426 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSin Spiraling and a Call to Bless - Christ in the O.T. Series #2Send Allen a text - Let's ponder another hint of Christ in the O.T. - the promise to Abraham that an offspring of his would bless the whole world. I'll try my best to emphasize the magnitude of this promise. Someone who blesses every single human being?! Who could do that? When the enormity of the promise sinks in, the list of options gets reduced to one option, Jesus the Christ. But are we involved in this promise at all? And if so, what does that mean for our mission? To God be the glory! Plea...2025-02-2331 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGod in a Troubled MarriageSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about the vital nature of communication in marriage! I don't know of any marital problems that don't at least include a communication breakdown. God was in a troubled marriage too, with Northern Israel. What did God do in those moments? Let's go to marriage school and learn from Him. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-02-1914 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Human Satan Crusher - Christ in the O.T. Series #1Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about how serious God considers defeating Satan. It might surprise us to note that before God mentions forgiveness or a sacrifice for sins, He FIRST brings up the defeat of Satan. Mankind not only has a problem with sin...we also have a problem with a spiritual enemy that wants us to sin. Our of God's love for us, He has a plan. Let's see how Jesus uniquely fits into Genesis 3:15 as the Satan crusher. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at gr...2025-02-1630 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsYour Life's Wind Effect - Born Again Part 3Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about how we can truly know we are converted. This is part 3 of a short series on being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus you can only see the effects of wind, but the wind itself is not something tangible. So, while we cannot tangibly see someone being born of God's Spirit, what are the effects of it? What can we verifiably point to as evidence of our conversion? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-02-1023 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Great Grace and a Severe BlowSend Allen a text - Ponder the kindness and severity of God. Paul says to do this very thing in Romans 11:22, "note then the kindness and severity of God". Let's do that through the book of Amos. God was so good to Israel! He reminds them of that at the beginning of Amos. He wasn't just good in their past, but He had been good to them even under Jeroboam II. However, God's options are limited when dealing with rock-hard hearts. Which is why we need His severity at times. To God be the glory! Please e...2025-02-0928 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSalty Communication, and the Delicate Walk of GeeseSend Allen a text - Let's ponder the way we say things. This truly matters. The way we come across is just as powerful as the content of the message. When food is seasoned with salt, the food content doesn't change. It's just more palatable. And oftentimes, the content of what we say doesn't need to change, but how we say it needs a little work. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-02-0613 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsHow Low Can I Go? The Lowliness of JesusSend Allen a text - Ponder about how to help each other thrive with our manner of life. We normally think of moral issues when thinking about our manner of life, but when Paul mentions it in Philippians, he has our relationship to the church on his mind. Our relationship to the church says as much about our manner of life as morals do. How should our relationship with the church be defined? As usual, the answer is about Christ. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-02-0326 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Spirit Birth, Born Again Part 2Send Allen a text - Ponder with me again about the new birth. Last episode we begin thinking about what it means to be born again. The first episode was about being born of water and this episode we think about the second half of that, which is born of the Spirit. Jesus expects Nicodemus to be familiar with these ideas from the O.T. What O.T. passages give us the idea that we'll be NEW (born again) from His Spirit? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrre...2025-02-0326 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Gift of Speech, and My Nephew JackSend Allen a text - Ponder the blessing of being able to speak. It is something I have taken for granted all of my life. Slowly though, I am becoming more appreciative of it because of my nephew Jack. He is mute but is incredibly intelligent! He has learned to communicate through spelling on a letter board. Watching his progress and seeing his desire to speak has touched me. With the blessing of the gospel, we have most amazing gift to talk about and many of us having the ability to talk about it. It would be tragic...2025-01-3112 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Water Birth, Born Again Part 1Send Allen a text - Ponder the new birth with me! One of the most popular and debated statements from Jesus is about being born again. He defines that as being born of water and the Spirit. This episode will focus on being born of water. Jesus expects Nicodemus to understand this from the O.T. What information from the O.T. would have pre-figured baptism? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-2627 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsPrayer, Faith's Relentless PursuitSend Allen a text - Ponder what it means to lose faith. When I think of losing faith it's normally associated with full on atheism, idolatry, etc. Jesus challenges us to think about a loss of faith as quitting on prayer. Right after telling a parable about persistent prayer, He asks about whether faith will be found on earth when He comes again. In other words -- when Jesus is teaching about prayer, He's really teaching about faith. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-2214 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Riddle of God's Character, Jonah part 5Send Allen a text - Ponder God's character with me! Is there anything more foundational to our faith than knowing the God we serve? Jonah's view of God is quite heart-warming, and yet he cannot stand how God has acted with Nineveh. What's the deal here? Is Jonah correct in his assessment of God's character? Is it a common feeling to be upset at Him like this? Let's think through it together. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-1929 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWhere Do I Start With This Person? The Art of the ParableSend Allen a text - Ponder the art of the parable with me. Why did Jesus teach in parables? He was asked that question in Matthew 13. His response is fascinating, and it says something to us about how to deal with people who are dull of hearing (spiritually). Have you ever wondered about someone who had almost NO religious or biblical background - where do I start with this person? This conversation in Matthew 13 may give us some insight. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-1513 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsProbation or Forgiveness? The Philemon Perspective of ReconcilingSend Allen a text - Ponder reconciling brothers again with me. The last lesson we did (released on January 5th) was mainly from the perspective of Onesimus...that if we have wronged others, we must go out of our way to address that. In this lesson we look more from the perspective of being wronged. Are we wanting to put people on probation, or forgive them? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-1326 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsNineveh and the Faith of Abraham - Jonah part 4Send Allen a text - Ponder the faith of Abraham, seen in the Ninevites. Jonah 3 is the story of Nineveh's repentance. There is a unique phrase in Jonah 3 about their faith that only appears positively in a couple other instances, Abraham's faith being one of them! What is saving faith, and do we have it? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-1335 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSifting Through the DragnetSend Allen a text - Ponder the dragnet parable with me. Matt. 13:47-50. It's not a feel-good parable. It's a parable of realism. The kingdom of heaven, on earth, isn't always what it should be. As much as we would like to get rid of all the ungodly influences within the church and be as holy and pure as God wants us to be, we cannot fully do so. Some sins are rather hidden, but not from God. When the dragnet comes in though, all will be the way it should be. In the meantime, don't be discoura...2025-01-0813 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsReconciling Brothers, More Important Than WorshipSend Allen a text - Ponder the reconciliation of humans with me. It is one of the intentions of the gospel that I haven't thought enough about. God wants peace with Him, but also peace between humans. The gospel should be a conduit of healing relationships. Jesus treated this subject with the utmost seriousness. Let's give it that kind of attention too. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-0522 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsBeginning the New Year Like an IsraeliteSend Allen a text - Ponder the new year with me! Happy new year to everyone. While there is not a new year's celebration in the New Testament, what did the new year look like to an Israelite? God changed their calendar based on their salvation from slavery. Let's think through that and the first major holiday that followed. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2025-01-0113 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Prayer From Sheol - Jonah part 3Send Allen a text - Ponder the belly of the fish with me. God prepared a trial, and a pretty harsh one at that, for Jonah. A near death experience (or worse?) is what Jonah needed to snap out of his hypocrisy and apathy. What do you need? God loves us enough to give us the trials we need to realize that sin isn't what it's cracked up to be. Sin always disappoints...always lies...always brings death. When will I learn that? Perhaps, like Jonah, after a harsh trial. To God be the glory! Please e...2024-12-2321 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsApathy, Hypocrisy's Best Friend - Jonah part 2Send Allen a text - Ponder the hideous effects that hypocrisy and apathy have on others. Sin always works its way into the lives of others. Always. It's why Jesus called hypocrisy the leaven of the Pharisees. It always has a horrendous impact. When we are hypocritical and apathetic, someone around us is suffering. If we're asleep spiritually (as Jonah was physically and spiritually), God may have to do something drastic to help rouse us. He loves us too much not to try. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or quest...2024-12-2322 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsTarshish Bound Pharisee - Jonah part 1Send Allen a text - Let's ponder Jonah together! This will be the beginning of a new series on Jonah. I hope it's as challenging for you as it is for me. In Jonah, I see a Pharisee. He ends up grumpy about the mercy the Gentiles in Nineveh receive, but also, he conveniently was okay with living the Tarshish-dream although they were as wicked as Nineveh (albeit in a different way). Are we more like this Pharisaical prophet than we'd like to admit? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questi...2024-12-1624 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsDark Days and the Bright Morning StarSend Allen a text - Ponder the solstice with me. The winter solstice is just around the corner. It's December 21st, the shortest day of the year. This has made me think about Jesus being compared to the Dawn, or as He calls Himself in Revelation 22:16, "the bright morning star". Let's think through this and why Jesus would be referring to Himself as this, at the very end of Revelation. Perhaps we need this one last reminder too. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-12-1112 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Stench of FaithSend Allen a text - Ponder the anointing of perfume from Mary of Bethany with me. Jesus said wherever the gospel is proclaimed in all the world, it would be told in memory of her. Let's remember her together. Her faith in what Jesus was saying about His death is remarkable, especially when you consider the refusal of others to believe it. When people all around us won't believe the simple teachings of Jesus, will we imitate Mary's faith? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-12-0932 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsYou Stink So GoodSend Allen a text - Ponder the stench of Christ with me. We'll play off of the story from the last episode about Mary from Bethany's anointing of perfume. The perfume was to cover up the stench of death. How did Christ's death smell to God? How does it smell to you? Will you carry that stench with you always, in everyday life? And finally, how will the world perceive the odor? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-12-0926 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsDay of Judgment, Come QuicklySend Allen a text - Ponder the day of judgment with me! Several passages say we ought to be eagerly awaiting the day of judgment. Peter even says to hasten it. Some view the day of judgment like it's a threat, or with negativity and fear. That's not the picture painted for the people of God. Even in the passages where it sounds negative and scary, we should look deeper in the context. It's always pictured as a relief, a day we should want to come soon! To God be the glory! Please email me any com...2024-12-0412 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Tragedy of Edom and the Beauty of Brotherly UnitySend Allen a text - Ponder the book of Obadiah with me! It was written about the Edomites, whose backstory begins with Esau. The Israelites and Edomites were brothers. There's an interesting law in Deuteronomy about their relationship that should have benefitted the Edomites spiritually. That's what unity among brothers always does - it helps people grow spiritually. Let's think through this Edomite tragedy, what could have been, and what the ideal is in the church. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-12-0227 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThanksgiving Week Psalms - 136, 145Send Allen a text - Ponder with me two more Psalms of Thanksgiving! These 2 will be our last for the week. Psalm 136 is the one of the most repetitious Psalms in the book. God's "steadfast love" is repeated 26 times - in every verse of the Psalm! I'll try to define the term before reading this beautiful Psalm. What a profound word! Finally, we'll read Psalm 145 which is about the greatness of God. His provision and His power are obvious things to focus on, but as the Psalm will point out, He's also great because of His care for the...2024-11-2809 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThanksgiving Week Psalms - 107, 118Send Allen a text - Ponder a couple more Psalms of thanksgiving with me! Today's reading is from Psalm 107 and 118. Psalm 107 is about the return from captivity, and why they went into it in the first place. It was because of their rebellion, and it was because of God's eternal love and faithfulness that they came out. When God saves His people, His people ought to say so! Psalm 118 is a psalm used in the New Testament about Jesus. It's used by Jesus, Peter and by some Jews during the triumphal entrance of Jesus on the donkey's foal. ...2024-11-2708 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThanksgiving Week Psalms - 100, 103Send Allen a text - Ponder a couple more Psalms of Thanksgiving with me. As many are gearing up for the holiday of Thanksgiving, we want to center our minds on the Giver of all blessings. Psalm 100 is about giving Him thanks for who He is, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness. Psalm 103 focuses on God's forgiveness and treating us better than we deserve...but it also has a hint in it about resurrection. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-11-2606 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThanksgiving Week Psalms - 34, 92, 95Send Allen a text - Ponder some Psalms of Thanksgiving with me! It's Thanksgiving week, and as we think about all the fantastic things we are blessed with, we must not forget that the origin of all of them, is God. I'll be releasing some readings of some Psalms every morning, through Thanksgiving Day morning. I hope these readings will help you think about all the amazing things God has done. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-11-2508 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Holy Spirit and the River of Your HeartSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about what Christ said about the Holy Spirit in John 7. What did Jesus mean when He said that out of our hearts would flow rivers or streams of living water? John gives a footnote about this text and says this would happen to all believers (7:39). Let's trace it in the Old Testament and then connect it to Acts 2:38 and the gift of the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-11-2530 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Galilean ProblemSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about another conversation that takes place in John 7. It all begins with some of the doubts people had about Jesus' origins. They said in John 7:27 - "when the Christ appears we won't know where He is from." What did they mean by that? Furthermore, let's dig a little deeper into the Galilee problem. What does the Scripture say about Galilee and the Messiah from the Old Testament? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-11-2525 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Distracted Marriage is a Challenged MarriageSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about distractions to having healthy marriages. My wife asked me recently during our anniversary dinner date what the best year of our marriage was, and what was the most challenging year of our marriage? Wow, great questions! It created healthy conversation between us, but what has shocked me in reflecting back on our answers is that it came down to life-distractions. Are we letting life get in the way of thinking about what our spouse needs? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or quest...2024-11-2012 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsConversation Amongst TentsSend Allen a text - Ponder with me a conversation Jesus had with the Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7. By this time, they wanted to kill Him in Jerusalem already, but Jesus makes this pilgrimage to the city anyway. The first recorded conversation in John 7 begins with, "how can Jesus know so much when He's never studied?" He never went to their schools, didn't have a personal rabbi as His tutor...nothing that would have impressed anyone in the education realm. And yet, He was blowing people's minds with the Scriptures. Jesus' response is, "I'm f...2024-11-1828 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsDealing With Shame and Guilt, Our Way or God'sSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how we deal with shame and guilt. We all have it, though we may not have dealt with it as honestly as we should. That we all have it, is evidenced by the story of "the fall" in Genesis 3. That story is not just history. We are missing so much wisdom if we read it as just history. It is how sin works TODAY, and the fallout is the same too. The first thing they dealt with after sin, was shame. They tried to deal with it themselves, by them...2024-11-1312 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Danger of Presumption, Even When It Makes SenseSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about presuming what God wants, when something hasn't been communicated clearly. This can lead to quite a mess! Join with me in looking at a couple of instances where it led to spiritual disaster. What God has always wanted is a listening ear and a heart for obedience. That can take quite a bit of discipline though, especially when we might excuse things with, "I'm doing it for the Lord"...or..."it just makes so much sense". But is that what God truly wants? Has He communicated that? To God be...2024-11-1131 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsUnassuming Approach to Life, Inquiring of HimSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how quickly and rashly we make life decisions at times. This episode is a bit of a contrast between the presumption that we studied about in the last episode vs. taking an unassuming approach to life. What does God want me to do? This disciplined approach was seen several times throughout king David's life, but it's perfectly seen in Jesus. David "inquired of God" -- that becomes a refrain throughout his life (though he wasn't perfect in it) and every time he does, his decisions are blessed! Ours will...2024-11-1129 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsElection Season and Mustard SeedsSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how we are addicted to big, flashy, impressive things. Let's contrast that with how Jesus told us the kingdom of heaven would begin. Today is election day. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to vote and to live in a place where we have freedom. However, with all the political ads I have been forced to watch over the past several months I am stunned by all the large-scale promises made. Some of them are just outright silly, but that's how Americans generally think. We want large-scale, flashy stuff...2024-11-0510 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsOne Like a Human Ascending to the Ancient of DaysSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about the most popular passage about Christ's ascension in the Old Testament - Daniel 7. It's a bit of a follow up from the last podcast episode about Jesus being more than David's son...He's the Son of God. However, interestingly, Daniel 7 refers to him as "one like the son of man" when speaking about His ascension and His kingdom starting. But before we look at that, consider the context of Daniel 7 with me. Lots of world chaos going on! What is God going to do about it all? King Jesus...2024-11-0427 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWhose Son is He?Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the lineage of Christ. Jesus once asked the Pharisee's - what do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He? All the Jews knew the Christ needed to be descended from David, but Jesus pushes them a bit - is that all He is? Will the Christ be more than that? Jesus challenges them to think deeper about a Messianic Psalm (110). And finally, and just as important -- is that who Jesus is? We know the Christ is being discussed in Psalm 110, but is Jesus the one sitting...2024-11-0427 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsBeauty of Reading the Letters of Scripture as a Letter (followed with Galatians reading)Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about reading the letters of Scripture as one, complete unit. The way we read Scripture today is so compartmentalized, and much different from how they were intended to be read. We read a few verses from this book, a few verses over here, a few verses over there...and that's not a bad thing but it's definitely not how they were read in the early church. They digested them as a full, complete letter and probably heard them dozens and even hundreds of times as they were read in the...2024-11-0124 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsNoah’s Baptism, and OursSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about why Peter says we are saved in baptism. Baptism has been one of the most controversial and hotly debated topics of the last few centuries and yet Peter says in the clearest language possible, baptism now saves you (I Peter 3:21). What was Peter thinking and why do so many people reject that? What are some objections to baptism? Let's think through this I Peter 3 passage together and open our hearts to what the Holy Spirit wants us to see. To God be the glory! Please email me an...2024-10-3010 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGod Finally Speaks About SufferingSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about the end of Job! The longest continuous speech in Job is by a mysterious character named Elihu. He pops up at the end of Job, although he makes it clear he's been listening to Job and his friends while they were arguing the whole time. His theme is simple - regardless of the suffering we experience, God is good through it all! He is the right and just through it all. Then, God comes into the picture and peppers Job with dozens and dozens of questions...but what's weird...2024-10-2829 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsPassing the Torch of LeadershipSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how the leadership in the New Testament morphed into something different than when the church began. At the beginning, you see a heavy focus on the apostles' leadership. Then, at the end of Acts 11, you start seeing a different leadership group introduced - elders. From then on you start seeing elders becoming more and more prominent as leaders in the church. This dynamic of passing the torch of leadership is exactly what the meeting between Paul and the elders in Ephesus was all about (Acts 20). Let's think about what...2024-10-2830 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsOpen My Eyes, Lord!Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about God's angel armies! They are all around. They are awaiting God's direction at any moment to help His cause. This was the case in II Kings 6 when the Syrian army showed up to capture and/or kill Elisha. Elisha's servant is rattled but Elisha doesn't react the same. He sees something his servant isn't seeing. Are we seeing like his servant, or like Elisha? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-10-2311 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsElder’s Are So Needed, Here’s WhySend Allen a text - Ponder with me about who can be an elder in God's church. In a previous episode we began thinking about how impactful leaders in the church can be, for the good or for the bad. Leaders make a difference! That's why God wants elders in every church (Acts 14:23). But who can be an elder? The primary passages that talk about their qualifications are I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Ponder those with me and the implications that they are slightly different lists, given to different churches in different areas. Finally, why are oversee...2024-10-2129 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsForgiving Each OtherSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about perspective on what we've been forgiven, and how it plays into how we forgive others. In our last shorter pondering-devotional entitled "Dinner with a Pharisee", we spoke about how forgiveness is a matter of perspective. When we are seeing clearly what we have been forgiven of, we will honor and reverence Jesus as that sinful woman did. Jesus challenges us with even more, as He usually does. This perspective of being forgiven SO MUCH must also change how we forgive others. If it doesn't, what then? To God be the...2024-10-1612 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWhy Suffering Exists and Why I'm Suffering Are DifferentSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how and why suffering came into existence. God didn't create a world with pain, death or any semblance of suffering. That was only introduced because of sin. Because that's the case, many of us are tempted to think we are being punished for our own sins when we suffer. This is at the heart of the discussion between Job and his friends. Most of the time, suffering is not a punishment of our own sins. It's just not that simple. There are times when it is completely senseless...but eve...2024-10-1431 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsImpactful Leadership - A Study of Elders/Overseers/Shepherds/PastorsSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about the impact of leadership! Both positively and negatively God's people have always been swayed by their leaders. God wants every congregation to have great leadership. That starts with the eldership. Many religions, even amongst modern day "Christianity" have all kinds of organizational structures and leadership models that are nowhere seen in the New Testament. What we do find is that God's will for each congregation is to have Elders. But what are they? What are the words used to describe this office? Please join with me in thinking about th...2024-10-1428 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsDinner With A PhariseeSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about appreciating forgiveness is really a matter of perspective. Jesus went over to Simon the Pharisee's home and a parable broke out! But only after a woman interrupted the dinner with an amazing act of humility. Jesus asked Simon if he saw her. Do we? Furthermore, do we see the moneylender? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-10-0911 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsContentment's Little [BIG!] SecretSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about contentment. It is absolutely central to having a mind of thanksgiving. In this society which is constantly reminding us of what we don't have and all the upgrades we "need", it's not easy. It's not a poor man's problem either. It takes as much effort to learn contentment in rich people too. Fortunately, we have the example of the apostle Paul who lived in poverty and in riches. He found a secret to living in both arenas - it applies to everyone, no matter the situation. To God be the...2024-10-0727 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSuffering and EntitlementSend Allen a text - Ponder with me more about the book of Job! We can't even get out of chapter 1 without being confronted that God at least allows all suffering. Job's suffering was extreme and intense. How could he go through it and fall to his knees in worship? What were the things he was thinking while his wife wanted him to curse God? Powerful principles to help us deal with our suffering! But then comes the friends of Job...join in with me in this journey of some of life's hardest questions. To God be the glo...2024-10-0733 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Righteous Live By Their FaithSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about true living! The most famous line of Habakkuk is, "the righteous will live by their faith" (2:4). God wasn't telling Habakkuk how people could live physically and escape the invasion. He was emphasizing something deeper, more meaningful. Let's compare Habakkuk's focus with what Jesus is focusing on. Jesus quotes a verse that has the same exact Hebrew form of the word "live". Fascinating stuff! Ask yourself after listening, am I wanting to live or "live"? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrre...2024-10-0213 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsChrist's Church And Its Incredible MagnitudeSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about some of the incredible things said about the church. The way people view it and how Scripture views the church are often so different. Many think of it as a "side benefit" of religion. God views it as one of the greatest evidences of His wisdom, a perfect plan for growth, a defense against hardening hearts...and so much more! Let's train our minds to think about Christ's church the way He does. Finding the King AND His people is worth everything we've got (Matt. 13:44). To God be the gl...2024-09-3029 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsSuffering’s FAQ Section of ScriptureSend 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 suffe...2024-09-3028 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsWrite It Down, God Risking His ReputationSend 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 grrreeley@gmail.com2024-09-2512 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGod Must Be With Those People!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 questi...2024-09-2330 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsBe Careful Judging Others - With the Measure You UseSend 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 grrreeley@gmail.com2024-09-2331 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsGod, I Need Some Answers HereSend 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 grrreeley@gmail.com2024-09-1911 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsNormalizing Paul's MissionSend 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...2024-09-1636 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsAttacks of September 11th - Evidence For GodSend 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...2024-09-1012 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series # 9, No Christian Left BehindSend 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! ...2024-09-0932 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series # 8, Attacking Discouragement Head-OnSend 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 grrreeley@gmail.com2024-09-0929 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsA Friend To ManySend 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 grrreeley@gmail...2024-09-0412 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsYou're So Gifted! - Gift The Church With ThemSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about all the amazing gifts, talents, abilities that people have in the church! As Peter mentions in I Peter 4:10, those gifts need to be used to serve the church. However, unfortunately, because we are so different in so many areas, it can create frustration and even force us into comparing and measuring ourselves to one another. Satan would love for us to do that. Let's leave the frustration behind and praise God for all the pockets of influence these gifts create within congregations! To God be the glory. Plea...2024-09-0226 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Day the Sun's Light FailedSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about why the sun's light failed the day Christ died. Why did that happen? Furthermore, why does the Holy Spirit want us to know it happened? It's recorded 3 times. God must want us to see something about the sun failing that day. Let's dive into the Old Testament and see other times that language is used, and what the context was. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2912 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series # 7, Seeing Ourselves as Part of the SolutionSend Allen a text - Ponder with me what it means to take personal responsibility! Here I am, send me -- that was not said by Nehemiah but that perfect describes his attitude. However, before he saw himself as part of the solution, he saw himself as part of the problem and then spent months praying about it. But how did he come to care so deeply about Jerusalem to begin with? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2629 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsTrusting in Ourselves, and the Disgust For Others It CreatesSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about trusting in ourselves. We look at Israel's trust in the Temple in Jeremiah 7 and then transition to thinking about self-righteousness. Ultimately though, what does self-righteousness do to our relationships with others? We all desperately need God to intercede in His grace and once that idea captures my heart, it helps me deal with others the same way. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2629 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThank you God, for the Family!Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the importance of marriage and children! Also, why did God create the family unit in the first place and are we honoring God with that fulfilled purpose within our families? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2236 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #1 - Waking From a Deep Sleep, For a PurposeSend Allen a text - Ponder revival with me. What is it? What happens when God's people awake? How does God respond, and what are the inevitable challenges that will come? In the beginning lesson we talk about revival's definition and the purpose for the Israelites coming home from captivity. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2132 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsHarming the LORD's AnointedSend Allen a text - Ponder the words Messiah and Christ with me! Remember when Jesus called Peter "Satan"? This lesson might have you feeling a little more sympathy for Peter and his thinking, but in the end, we'll challenge ourselves to think more like Peter (hang on to me!), this side of the cross. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2132 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #2 - God's Deep Desire To Be With UsSend Allen a text - Ponder the amazing fact that God so desperately wants to be with His people!From the garden of Eden to the Tabernacle, and on into eternity God shows us He wants to be with us. This incredible desire should spark revival in all of us. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2128 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Most Dangerous Liar You KnowSend Allen a text - Ponder with me - who is, or has the potential to be the most dangerous liar you know?Hint - you know them really well. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2134 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #3 - What Every Revival is Rooted InSend Allen a text - Ponder with me about how God's people took Scripture so seriously when they were revived. Why is staying within Scripture so important? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2132 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #4 - How Could This Promise Be True?Send Allen a text - Ponder with me how difficult it is at times to trust God's promises. There are times when it looks like all is lost, and for many of the Psalmists, they were bold enough to tell that to God in prayer. Psalm 89 is one such Psalm. We also ponder the beginnings of the Samaritans and the challenge to look at everyone as a soul needing salvation. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2134 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #5 - Revival Slows, the Discouragement of the PastSend Allen a text - Ponder with me why revival slows down. Every single revival in Scripture slowed down at some point. Some gained momentum again and others came to a grinding halt, but why? Perhaps we are stuck in the past. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2132 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsRevival Series #6 - Revival Slows, Worldliness Creeping InSend Allen a text - Ponder with me again about revivals slowing down. Could it be that we've become friends with the world? It's hard to tell sometimes because it happens SO SLOWLY. James called friendship with the world enmity with God. Do we? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2133 min
Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture MeditationsThe Comfortable [False] Security of External ThingsSend Allen a text - We ponder some of the false security Israel had in external things, but quickly move into thinking about areas we might be tempted to put too much trust in. Is your trust the Lord Himself? He alone will deliver! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com2024-08-2133 min