Author Archives: normdave

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ He prayed for strength that he might achieve; He was made weak that he might obey. He prayed for health that heContinue reading “Genesis 3:20-21…”

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.””‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “It is the call of Divine justice, which cannot overlook sin. It is the call of Divine sorrow, which grieves over the sinner. It isContinue reading “Genesis 3:15…”

The Sabbath was on the Seventh day… The Levitical system was built on a cycle of sevens… Jericho fell after seven Priests, with seven trumpets, for seven days, marched around its walls, and blew seven trumpets seven times on the seventh day… Naaman dipped in the Jordon river seven times… There are seven days ofContinue reading “The number 7…”

The seven names of God that meet our every need. Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide. Jehovah-rapha, the Lord that heals. Jehovah-nissi, the Lord our banner. Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our peace. Jehovah-ra-ah, the Lord my shepherd. Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is present. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out ofContinue reading “7 compound Names…”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “The most general forms into which the manifestation of the Unknowable are re-divisible areContinue reading “Genesis 1:1-2…”

“Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, And that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and IContinue reading “Job chapter 42…”

“I call this book, apart from all theories about it, one of the grandest things ever written. Our first, oldest statement of the never-ending problem: Man’s Destiny, and God’s ways with him in the earth. There is nothing written, I think, of equal literary merit.” Thomas Carlyle. “The Book of Job is perhaps the greatestContinue reading “The Book of Job…”

““Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap norContinue reading “The Cure of Anxiety…”

“as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;”‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ I NEEDED THE QUIET I needed the quiet so He drew me aside, Into the shadows where we could confide. Away from the bustle where all the day long I hurried and worried when active and strong. IContinue reading “1 Peter 1:14”

“to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “It will always be new; it will never decay. No night ever comes; it will always be day. How it gladdens my heart with joy that’s untold To think of that land where nothing growsContinue reading “1 Peter 1:4…”

My life in God—-that’s salvation! My life with God—-that’s communion and fellowship. My life for God—-that’s service.

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”‭‭II John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Love is that in God which existed before He would care to exercise mercy or grace. Mercy on the other hand, is that in GodContinue reading “2 John 3…”

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”‭‭I John‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Christianity is not a religion. It isContinue reading “1 John 5:20”

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ I heard the voice of JesusContinue reading “1 John 2:10-11…”

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Upon a life I did not live, Upon a death I did not die, Another’s life, Another’s death, I stake my wholeContinue reading “1 John 2: 1…”

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Oh,joy! oh, delight! Should we go without dying, No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying, Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory, When Jesus receives “His own.” O Lord Jesus, how long, howContinue reading “Hebrews 9:27…”

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do youContinue reading “Lovest thou Me???…”

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ These verses are the key toContinue reading “John 20: 30-31…”

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Facts! Our salvation is based on our relationship to those facts andContinue reading “What is the Gospel???…”

“Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of theContinue reading “John 19: 20-22…”

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Peace can only be found in Jesus Christ, in the person of Jesus Christ. There is trouble in the world, but weContinue reading “Peace…”

““I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.Continue reading “Seven Steps…”

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “I am THE WAY..” Jesus is saying He is the way! No church or ritual can bring you to God. Jesus is the way. You are either in Christ or not,Continue reading “John 14:6…”

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “These Christians are very strange people. They meet together in an empty roomContinue reading “John 13:34-35…”

““Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”‭‭ “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and weContinue reading “John 12:27…”

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oilContinue reading “John 12: 1-3…”

“Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the lightContinue reading “John 9:3-5”

How God Speaks to Us, by David Hocking God speaks to us today through the Bible. Do you believe that? Can I tell you that God spoke to me this morning? Yes I can. How did He do that? Was it an audible voice? No. Well how did He do that? Through His word, HeContinue reading “God Speaks…”

“how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ I do not work my soul to save— That work my Lord has done. But I will work like any slave For loveContinue reading “Hebrews 9:14…”

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ WhenContinue reading “Hebrews 3: 5-6…”

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “There is something wrong with you if you can’t walk out and look up at the mountains, or go down to the seashore and look at the sea, or look up into the heavensContinue reading “Hebrews 1:1…”

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ A believer is saved by the grace of God, but don’t sit down and pat yourself onContinue reading “Be careful…”

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ We mutter and sputter; We fume and we spurt; We mumble and grumble; Our feelings get hurt. We can’t understand things; Our vision grows dim, When all thatContinue reading “Grow in Grace…”

“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ A careless word may kindle strife; A cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instill; A brutal word may smite and kill.Continue reading “James 3:4…The Tongue…”

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Life is to be mastered by faith, and not by doubt; it is to be forevermore illuminated by hope, and not darkened by despair;Continue reading “Hebrews 11:3”

If you have ever attended a worship service you probably have an opinion about the music.  You may prefer “contemporary” styles over the more “traditional” ones, or vice versa.  Certain instruments, like drums or pipe organs, have their proponents and critics.  Paradoxically, younger people, with good hearing, favor loud music more than older people whoContinue reading “Pastor Tom”

Luke 15: 11-32 “Come home with me,” said the prodigal son. “We’ll sing and dance and have lots of fun. “We’ll wine and dine with women and song. You’ll forget you’re a pig before very long.” So the pig slipped out while the momma was asleep, Shook off the mud from the mire so deep.Continue reading “A Pig is a Pig…”

“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Brightness,” the outshining, brilliance, radiant splendor- Jesus Christ! The raysContinue reading “Sun,Son…”

Computers have been around for a long time1.  Around 2000 BC the Chinese invented the Abacus board to calculate simple arithmetic solutions.  In 1642 Blaise Pascal developed the first automated mechanical calculator.  The Differential Analyzer appeared in 1930 as the first electrical computer, able to perform 25 calculations in a matter of minutes.  The ElectronicContinue reading “Pastor Tom…”

‘And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he criedContinue reading “Man of the Tombs…”

“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” A. W. Tozer.

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly toContinue reading “Homeward…”

“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.””‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.””‭‭Acts‬ ‭21‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “The WILL of the LORD be done.” Amen…

Picture yourself tied to a tree, condemned of the sins of eternity. Then picture a spear parting the air, seeking your heart to end your despair. Suddenly-a knight in armor of white, stands in the gap betwixt you and its flight,And shedding his Armor of God for you – bears the lance that runs himContinue reading “The Suffering Prince…”

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. ThereforeContinue reading “OTR- Day 2…”

“Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.”‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭16‬:‭30‬-‭32‬Continue reading “On the Road…”

Interest [on debt] never sleeps nor sickens nor dies; it never goes to the hospital; it works on Sundays and holidays; it never takes a vacation; it never visits nor travels; it takes no pleasure; it is never laid off work nor discharged from employment; it never works on reduced hours. … Once in debt,Continue reading “Debt….”

“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.” F.B. Meyer “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldlyContinue reading “Chaplains conference day 3…”

The second session covered, “Theological Foundations for Religious Liberty.” Some take aways. Align with Truth and live it out in your life. Live it out sincerely. Temporary authority/Eternal authority. “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher,Continue reading “Chaplains Conference day 2…”

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Then Paul stood in the midstContinue reading “Chaplain Conference Day 1…”

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭46‬-‭47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Every morning and all hoursContinue reading “Chaplains Conference…”

Halloween is a long-gone memory, but zombies are in the news.  Zombie debt and zombie debt scavengers are prowling in personal and corporate financial fields1.  Zombie debt refers to obligations you once had, but thought the matter had been settled.   They are raised again to haunt you.  You may have legitimately had a debt dischargedContinue reading “Doctor Tom…”

Are you one of the elect? Can we look over God’s shoulder to see if our names are written in His book? Probably not. We can know, beyond a doubt, if we are one of the elect! “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For HeContinue reading “Who are the elect???”

This was just too funny/true to not share. I really couldn’t find an appropriate photo… A couple years into my medical residency, the stress of 105 hour work weeks, hospital food and too many carbohydrates caught up with me. . .  One memorable afternoon, I found myself calling my gastroenterologist because of blood exiting fromContinue reading “Too True…”

““There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came andContinue reading “Heaven and Hell…”