I, Paul, Write This Greeting With My Own Hand (II Thessalonian Reading)

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

#Religion #Christianity #Allen Greeley #Bible #Scripture #Ponder #Meditation #Sermons #Class #Devotional #Read #Study #Church #Allen

33:58

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still holds. Then they play it. Just the song, and the truth behind it." Find Open Folk on Instagram: @openfolkla Find Gaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K9pSmFx0kWESA9jqx8aCW?si=Wz4RUP88Qlm_RKs7QTLvWQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gaby-moreno/472697737 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/ Find Lily on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p0ksmwMDQlAM24TWKu4Ua?si=Bmdg-uIUTHu-zRUc_dqL3g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-kershaw/526884610 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilykershaw/ Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3u50TPoLvMBXNT1KrLa3iT?si=OoLoq7ZTRZyUiytQcz0FsQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-spaite/905076868 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesspaite/ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus , where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

about a year ago 11:00

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Let's hear the word of God together as it was written in the first century, as a letter to the church. When the church read these, they were reading it in one sitting, and that's how the author intended it to be read. This is a reading of II Thessalonians, with a short note at the beginning about why I do this. To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

118 episodes

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

I, Paul, Write This Greeting With My Own Hand (II Thessalonian Reading)

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Send Allen a text -

Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

118 episodes

#Religion #Christianity #Allen Greeley #Bible #Scripture #Ponder #Meditation #Sermons #Class #Devotional #Read #Study #Church #Allen

All episodes

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Contagion of Christ, Reversing the Curse of the Law 23:39

3 days ago23:39

23:39

Send Allen a text - Ponder the healing of the hemorrhaging woman with me. This episode is a bit of a follow up from the last. We saw in the previous episode that under the Old Law, uncleanness could spread but cleanness/holiness could NOT (Haggai 2). However, Christ reverses that. Let's think through some of the miracles where He heals people unclean under the Old Law and what the implications of that are. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Contagion of Uncleanness - Does Being 'Around' Religion Help? 27:37

4 days ago27:37

27:37

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder a weird sermon in Haggai. The prophet asks two hypothetical questions to the Jews about how holiness and cleanliness get passed on. The returned exiles had stopped work on the Temple partly because they thought just being around the animal sacrifices of the altar would make them holy. Haggai challenges that and even goes one step further...think through this weird one with me. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Another Human, Like Us, Praying...and It Worked! 7:07

7 days ago7:07

7:07

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder how the Scripture never hides the flaws of its most faithful characters. Their sins are staring us in the face...and not just their sins but the darker emotional side too that sometimes doesn't involve sin. In short, the Scripture wants us to see their humanity for what it is. Such is the case in James when he humanizes Elijah and turns it into an encouragement to pray. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Crucifixion of Jesus in Hebrew Poetry - Christ in the O.T. Series #14 25:59

10 days ago25:59

25:59

Send Allen a text - Ponder the crucifixion with me, from the poetry of the Old Testament. There are some prophecies that are a little hidden and obscure...while others are so obvious they work more like a portrait. They paint a vivid scene of Jesus' life. Such is the case in Psalm 22. Let's ponder and be amazed at what He did for us! To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thriving Through Prayer and God Empowering Us to Lead Productive Lives 31:18

11 days ago31:18

31:18

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder how to help one another thrive, through prayer and living a productive life! Paul touches on both of these in II Thessalonians 3. Paul asks Christians to pray for him in other letters but there is a little more background to this request, one that we can find in Acts. What does this teach us about how we should see the solutions to our problems? Then, he transitions to a very stern and serious discussion about working and leading a productive life. What does this emphasize to us about the importance of work? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Fighting Discouragement From a Cave - Fallout from Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18-19) 25:59

18 days ago25:59

25:59

Send Allen a text - Ponder the fallout of Mt. Carmel with me. It was a tremendous outward, visible victory for God! How could discouragement be the fallout? What was Elijah thinking that caused him to want to quit? Discouragement is so dangerous, and more people are dealing with it than we can appreciate. Perhaps you are? I know I fight it regularly. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Dads, Revival is Waiting! Calling All Abrahamic Dads - Happy Father's Day 25:21

5 weeks ago25:21

25:21

Send Allen a text - Happy Father's Day! Let's ponder fatherhood together. The generational impact of fatherhood is frightening. We can make a difference! When God wanted to make a difference, he selected Dad's. Let's think through a couple of passages together that we normally don't associate with fatherhood, but the powerful message is right in front of us. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
I, Paul, Write This Greeting With My Own Hand (II Thessalonian Reading) 11:00

5 weeks ago11:00

11:00

Send Allen a text - Let's hear the word of God together as it was written in the first century, as a letter to the church. When the church read these, they were reading it in one sitting, and that's how the author intended it to be read. This is a reading of II Thessalonians, with a short note at the beginning about why I do this. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God's Two Approaches to Anger Management Counseling 27:54

5 weeks ago27:54

27:54

Send Allen a text - Ponder two cases of anger with me - Cain and Jonah. As similar as the wording is in the stories, there are some differences. Let's think about what God is wanting them to consider in their anger, while contrasting it with mankind's approach. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Betrayal of a Close Friend, a Macbethian Tragedy - Christ in the O.T. Series #13 29:15

6 weeks ago29:15

29:15

Send Allen a text - Ponder Judas' betrayal of Christ with me. He was a dear friend of Jesus. The Scripture calls him that on multiple occasions. There are Old Testament Psalms that speak to this betrayal. Let's look at those, through the lens of Jesus' life and let ourselves sit in the tragedy of it all. Hopefully it will build your faith in Jesus to see the details come alive in the Old Testament, while challenging us to think about our friendship to Christ. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God's Name is Not God - What is it Then? A Pondering From Josiah Greeley 24:18

6 weeks ago24:18

24:18

Send 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 grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Celebrate Your Covenant with God! In the Lord's Supper 22:26

6 weeks ago22:26

22:26

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder another aspect of the Lord's Supper. We don't often think about the covenant aspect of it. However, it is not a mistake that every time Scripture mentions the institution of the Lord's Supper, it mentions "covenant". What story in the Old Testament does this bring our minds back to, and what is the significance of it? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Treating Everyone Equally, A Sign of Thriving Churches 26:49

7 weeks ago26:49

26:49

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder impartiality together and just how important it has been in God's mind for so long. The Lord has been stressing the importance of equity and impartiality since the beginnings of Scripture, and how it would help their society thrive. It will do the same for our churches! James connects this issue to faith in Jesus and loving our neighbor - heavy stuff! To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Passover Reimagined in the Lord’s Supper - Christ in the O.T. Series #12 22:27

7 weeks ago22:27

22:27

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder the Lord's Supper again, but let's do it through the lens of the Passover. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit wants us to do exactly that. In the lead up to the institution of the Lord's Supper, Luke mentions "Passover" 6 times in 15 verses. The Scripture is begging us to view this memorial through the Israelite memorial. There's more application to how we live than you might think. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Happy Memorial Day! The Best Memorial on the Best Memorial Day 28:30

8 weeks ago28:30

28:30

Send Allen a text - Happy Memorial day! No, not tomorrow, the U.S. holiday...Sunday! The Lord's Day is the greatest of memorial days, on which the greatest memorial is celebrated - the Lord's Supper. Let's think through the mechanics of the Lord's Supper - what, why and when. This may be basic information to some, but I don't want to take anything for granted to some of our younger listeners or people who are new to the Bible. Then, in the next episode, we'll start to see some O.T. imagery and some of the nerdier elements to it. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Humble King of the Universe - The Conundrum of Servant Leadership 27:23

9 weeks ago27:23

27:23

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about servant leadership. The teachings of Jesus about leadership and greatness are quite clear, but if we look to the O.T. prophecies - we see this conundrum is much older. How can the Leader of the universe be considered humble, gentle, tender and willing to suffer for others? The ancient Rabbi's battled with this question...as did the apostles. We do too. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God's Spirit on Christ, Evidenced How? - Christ in the O.T. Series #11 28:44

9 weeks ago28:44

28:44

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about what it means for the Messiah to have God's Spirit put on Him. It is a point of prophecy and certainly the Spirit descending on Him after His baptism is when it happened...but what effect would this have on Christ's life? How would this be evidenced in the life of Jesus? Might surprise you! Let's look at the Old Testament to find out. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Unseen Mothers and an All-Seeing God 28:58

10 weeks ago28:58

28:58

Send Allen a text - Ponder the all-seeing God with me! It's Mother's Day, and it is only scriptural to honor and praise our Mother's (Proverbs 31:28-29). However, most Mom's don't feel seen or appreciated. I'll share some studies along those lines...but praise God that we serve a God that sees all our work in the privacy of our homes. One mother, who was touched by this, even gave God a nickname to honor this very fact. Let's ponder her story. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Priesthood Face-off, Melchizedek vs. Levitical - Christ in the O.T. #10 28:18

10 weeks ago28:18

28:18

Send Allen a text - Let's ponder the priest-king theme, in seeing Jesus in the O.T. In the last lesson within this series we traced the history of the ephod, concluding that we need a priest-king. Although we might be tempted to think that is a revolutionary thought - the very first priest in the Bible is a king! Melchizedek. Join me in thinking through this, along with Zechariah 6 and finally Jesus face-to-face with Caiaphas. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Religiously Elite Kill Churches - Beauty of Confessing Weakness 27:14

11 weeks ago27:14

27:14

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Of Ephods and Kings - Should These Go Together? Christ in the O.T. Series #9 29:13

11 weeks ago29:13

29:13

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
What Does God Do With a Farm That Doesn’t Produce? 29:36

12 weeks ago29:36

29:36

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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Weird Easter Sermon: Resurrection - Historical or Metaphorical? 26:53

13 weeks ago26:53

26:53

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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Where Should I Go To Church? Religious Consumerism vs. Discipleship 13:06

13 weeks ago13:06

13:06

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Anxiously Waiting in Doubt of God's Promises - Did God Change His Mind? 26:25

13 weeks ago26:25

26:25

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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A House Containing God, History Changing Promises - Christ in the O.T. Series #8 31:04

14 weeks ago31:04

31:04

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Troubling Violence of the Conquest, and Scripture as a Whole 12:08

14 weeks ago12:08

12:08

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Greatest Moabite Love Story Ever Told - Christ in the O.T. Series #7 31:46

14 weeks ago31:46

31:46

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Heart Widening Surgery - Helping and Being Helped 28:44

15 weeks ago28:44

28:44

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
I Put You Under Oath - Read This Letter (Thessalonians) 15:31

15 weeks ago15:31

15:31

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 on I and II Thessalonians this upcoming Wednesday. Everyone is invited! To God be the glory. Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Passing Through Carcasses, No Fingers Crossed - God's Faithfulness 29:26

16 weeks ago29:26

29:26

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Legit Faith and a Legit Fall 27:54

17 weeks ago27:54

27:54

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Stars and Scepters, Christ in the O.T. Series #6 32:16

17 weeks ago32:16

32:16

Send 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 comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
"Someone Just Tell Me What God Wants Already!" 13:22

17 weeks ago13:22

13:22

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 email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Christ's Resurrection, the Firstfruits of More - Christ in the O.T. Series #5 27:33

18 weeks ago27:33

27:33

Send 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 grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Small Beginnings, Big Discouragement 11:02

18 weeks ago11:02

11:02

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Is Jesus Really In Control Of This World? 13:28

19 weeks ago13:28

13:28

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 me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The King from Judah and the Grape Harvest - Christ in the O.T. Series #4 26:46

20 weeks ago26:46

26:46

Send 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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Hope of Living Forever, and Encouraging Others With It 24:57

20 weeks ago24:57

24:57

Send 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 email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Footstool of Enemies - Christ in the O.T. Series #3 26:43

20 weeks ago26:43

26:43

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Sin Spiraling and a Call to Bless - Christ in the O.T. Series #2 31:30

21 weeks ago31:30

31:30

Send 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! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God in a Troubled Marriage 14:09

21 weeks ago14:09

14:09

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

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The Human Satan Crusher - Christ in the O.T. Series #1 30:25

22 weeks ago30:25

30:25

Send 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 grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Your Life's Wind Effect - Born Again Part 3 23:53

23 weeks ago23:53

23:53

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Great Grace and a Severe Blow 28:19

23 weeks ago28:19

28:19

Send 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 email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Tarshish Bound Pharisee - Jonah part 1 24:55

30 weeks ago24:55

24:55

Send 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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Dark Days and the Bright Morning Star 12:25

31 weeks ago12:25

12:25

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Stench of Faith 32:52

31 weeks ago32:52

32:52

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
You Stink So Good 26:44

31 weeks ago26:44

26:44

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Day of Judgment, Come Quickly 12:22

32 weeks ago12:22

12:22

Send 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 comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Tragedy of Edom and the Beauty of Brotherly Unity 27:30

32 weeks ago27:30

27:30

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thanksgiving Week Psalms - 136, 145 9:38

33 weeks ago9:38

9:38

Send 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 lowly. The people we tend to forget about, God does not. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thanksgiving Week Psalms - 107, 118 8:44

33 weeks ago8:44

8:44

Send 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. So, let's read this psalm with Jesus on our mind too. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thanksgiving Week Psalms - 100, 103 6:56

33 weeks ago6:56

6:56

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Galilean Problem 25:02

33 weeks ago25:02

25:02

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Holy Spirit and the River of Your Heart 30:00

33 weeks ago30:00

30:00

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thanksgiving Week Psalms - 34, 92, 95 8:32

33 weeks ago8:32

8:32

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Distracted Marriage is a Challenged Marriage 12:09

34 weeks ago12:09

12:09

Send 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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Conversation Amongst Tents 28:44

34 weeks ago28:44

28:44

Send 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 from God!". He then proceeds to let them know how they can know that for certain and the reasoning He uses still stands today. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Dealing With Shame and Guilt, Our Way or God's 12:53

35 weeks ago12:53

12:53

Send 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 themselves...and so do we. We need God to help us deal with it though. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Salty Communication, and the Delicate Walk of Geese 13:14

23 weeks ago13:14

13:14

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
How Low Can I Go? The Lowliness of Jesus 26:33

23 weeks ago26:33

26:33

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Spirit Birth, Born Again Part 2 26:12

24 weeks ago26:12

26:12

Send 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 grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Gift of Speech, and My Nephew Jack 12:31

24 weeks ago12:31

12:31

Send 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 if we didn't. Think through this with me, please. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Water Birth, Born Again Part 1 27:03

25 weeks ago27:03

27:03

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Prayer, Faith's Relentless Pursuit 14:45

25 weeks ago14:45

14:45

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Riddle of God's Character, Jonah part 5 29:52

26 weeks ago29:52

29:52

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Where Do I Start With This Person? The Art of the Parable 13:35

26 weeks ago13:35

13:35

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Probation or Forgiveness? The Philemon Perspective of Reconciling 26:36

26 weeks ago26:36

26:36

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Nineveh and the Faith of Abraham - Jonah part 4 35:22

27 weeks ago35:22

35:22

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Sifting Through the Dragnet 13:39

27 weeks ago13:39

13:39

Send 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 discouraged! It's a tool of the devil to use the fact that God's kingdom isn't always what it should be, as discouragement. Hang in there! You'll be glad you did, post dragnet. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Reconciling Brothers, More Important Than Worship 22:31

28 weeks ago22:31

22:31

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Beginning the New Year Like an Israelite 13:30

28 weeks ago13:30

13:30

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Prayer From Sheol - Jonah part 3 21:33

29 weeks ago21:33

21:33

Send 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 email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Apathy, Hypocrisy's Best Friend - Jonah part 2 22:37

29 weeks ago22:37

22:37

Send 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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Danger of Presumption, Even When It Makes Sense 31:16

35 weeks ago31:16

31:16

Send 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 the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Unassuming Approach to Life, Inquiring of Him 29:47

35 weeks ago29:47

29:47

Send 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 be too, if we'll live in this disciplined way. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Election Season and Mustard Seeds 10:50

36 weeks ago10:50

10:50

Send 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, but unfortunately that has crept into how American's seek God and "do religion" too. Jesus compared the beginnings of the kingdom to something much more modest though -- the smallest of seeds. Let's think through this contrast together. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
One Like a Human Ascending to the Ancient of Days 27:37

36 weeks ago27:37

27:37

Send 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 is of course the answer, beginning with ascension in a cloud. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Whose Son is He? 27:57

36 weeks ago27:57

27:57

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 at God's right hand? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Beauty of Reading the Letters of Scripture as a Letter (followed with Galatians reading) 24:46

37 weeks ago24:46

24:46

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 their public assembly. There's an advantage to reading them that way. We can notice themes and connections better. Finally, let's practice with one of the letters from Paul together as one complete unit. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Noah’s Baptism, and Ours 10:31

37 weeks ago10:31

10:31

Send 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 any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God Finally Speaks About Suffering 29:51

37 weeks ago29:51

29:51

Send 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 is that none of the questions have anything to do with suffering. All the questions are about the created world. Let's think about why that is, and what point God is so powerfully making. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Passing the Torch of Leadership 30:11

37 weeks ago30:11

30:11

Send 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 Paul wanted those elders to hear and how Paul thought about leadership. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Open My Eyes, Lord! 11:54

38 weeks ago11:54

11:54

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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Elder’s Are So Needed, Here’s Why 29:44

38 weeks ago29:44

29:44

Send 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 overseers so needed? As Paul will state following the list of qualifications in Titus - "whole families" are at stake. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Forgiving Each Other 12:06

39 weeks ago12:06

12:06

Send 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 glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Impactful Leadership - A Study of Elders/Overseers/Shepherds/Pastors 28:41

39 weeks ago28:41

28:41

Send 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 the impact of leadership and beginning to define the office of Elder/Overseer/Shepherd/Pastor. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Why Suffering Exists and Why I'm Suffering Are Different 31:18

39 weeks ago31:18

31:18

Send 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 even in those moments there is something to be learned. Please continue on in this journey of Job and thinking about this difficult subject. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Dinner With A Pharisee 11:47

40 weeks ago11:47

11:47

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Suffering and Entitlement 33:57

40 weeks ago33:57

33:57

Send 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 glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Contentment's Little [BIG!] Secret 27:50

40 weeks ago27:50

27:50

Send 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 glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Righteous Live By Their Faith 13:35

41 weeks ago13:35

13:35

Send 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 grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Suffering’s FAQ Section of Scripture 28:49

41 weeks ago28:49

28:49

Send 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 suffering allows us. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Christ's Church And Its Incredible Magnitude 29:35

41 weeks ago29:35

29:35

Send 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 glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Write It Down, God Risking His Reputation 12:01

42 weeks ago12:01

12:01

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Be Careful Judging Others - With the Measure You Use 31:23

42 weeks ago31:23

31:23

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God Must Be With Those People! 30:26

42 weeks ago30:26

30:26

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 questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
God, I Need Some Answers Here 11:49

43 weeks ago11:49

11:49

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Normalizing Paul's Mission 36:22

43 weeks ago36:22

36:22

Send 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 glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Attacks of September 11th - Evidence For God 12:43

44 weeks ago12:43

12:43

Send 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 murder that drive us right into the heart of God. A question like -- why is it wrong? Can we objectively decide what is right and wrong ourselves? To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series # 9, No Christian Left Behind 32:13

44 weeks ago32:13

32:13

Send 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! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series # 8, Attacking Discouragement Head-On 29:15

44 weeks ago29:15

29:15

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
A Friend To Many 12:35

45 weeks ago12:35

12:35

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
You're So Gifted! - Gift The Church With Them 26:24

45 weeks ago26:24

26:24

Send 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. Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Day the Sun's Light Failed 12:00

46 weeks ago12:00

12:00

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series # 7, Seeing Ourselves as Part of the Solution 29:25

46 weeks ago29:25

29:25

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Trusting in Ourselves, and the Disgust For Others It Creates 29:10

46 weeks ago29:10

29:10

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Thank you God, for the Family! 36:42

47 weeks ago36:42

36:42

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.com

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #1 - Waking From a Deep Sleep, For a Purpose 32:23

47 weeks ago32:23

32:23

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Harming the LORD's Anointed 32:08

47 weeks ago32:08

32:08

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #2 - God's Deep Desire To Be With Us 28:06

47 weeks ago28:06

28:06

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Most Dangerous Liar You Know 34:09

47 weeks ago34:09

34:09

Send 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.com

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #3 - What Every Revival is Rooted In 32:29

47 weeks ago32:29

32:29

Send 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.com

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #4 - How Could This Promise Be True? 34:25

47 weeks ago34:25

34:25

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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #5 - Revival Slows, the Discouragement of the Past 32:15

47 weeks ago32:15

32:15

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
Revival Series #6 - Revival Slows, Worldliness Creeping In 33:36

47 weeks ago33:36

33:36

Send 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.com…

Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

1
The Comfortable [False] Security of External Things 33:01

47 weeks ago33:01