Honesty – The Arnold Journey

Honest Words – Psalm 109:6-12

Psalm 109: 6-126 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;let an accuser stand at his right hand.7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,and may his prayers condemn him.8 May his days be few;may another take his place of leadership.9 May his children be fatherlessand his wife a widow.10 May his children be wandering beggars;may they be drivenContinue reading “Honest Words – Psalm 109:6-12”

Heavy Loads – Matthew 23:4

Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. We live in a time of almost unprecedented public hypocrisy. And the hypocrisy is not limited to any one party, or any one country. The virtue signalingContinue reading “Heavy Loads – Matthew 23:4”

I Cannot Do It – Genesis 41:16

Genesis 41:16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” There are few words that hold so great a terror to so many people than “I cannot do it.” Almost no one wants to proclaim their inability to accomplish something. We don’t want to identify ourContinue reading “I Cannot Do It – Genesis 41:16”

Plain Speak

1 John 1:6 There are times when you just have to tell the truth, no matter who gets hurt in the process. We sometimes talk about the elephant in the room as a way to express this need to talk about the uncomfortable truth that almost everyone seems to know, but no one seemsContinue reading “Plain Speak”

Honest Feelings

Psalm 17:10-15 One difference between someone who follows the LORD and someone who doesn’t is that the follower wants the LORD looking in on their life, being aware of what is going on with them. The non-follower wants to hide what they are doing from the LORD and often from others. Inwardly they knowContinue reading “Honest Feelings”

Denial (Not the Egyptian River)

Mark 14:27-31 There is a very funny scene in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the good guy meets an enemy and has a sword fight. The good guy chops off the arm of his opponent. Then the other arm. Then each leg in turn. Then the armless and legless manContinue reading “Denial (Not the Egyptian River)”

Rent a Wreck

Mark 11:1-3 Someone had a great idea. Why do rental cars need to be the newest cars out there? New cars are expensive. What if we used used cars instead? Cheaper, less concern for getting dings and dents. Thus RentAWreck was born. Today’s innovations on this concept are the ride sharing companies. Cars andContinue reading “Rent a Wreck”

Keeping Secrets

Mark 9:33-34 Secrets can be hard to keep. Some would say that you can’t hide a secret, that you will tell other people through very subtle gestures, primarily facial expressions. The TV show Lie to Me gives some insight into this science. The face telegraphs the deceptions that the heart is committing. And peopleContinue reading “Keeping Secrets”

The Big “IF”

Mark 9:22-24 “If” is such a big word wrapped up in such a little word. It has similar power as the word “but” when it is used in almost any sentence. I love you, but …. I would help you, but …. This medicine will help you, but …. The “but” negates everything saidContinue reading “The Big “IF””

Liar, Liar

Proverbs 12:17-20 The truths of this first proverb might seem obvious, but think about it. Honest people are honest. Liars lie. There is no middle ground. That is why we need to be honest. No one will know if you are telling the truth “this time” if you have lied. And lying really gets peopleContinue reading “Liar, Liar”