Author: joeladeney

Hearing Jesus in the Psalms

joeladeney Acts, Jesus, Old Testament, Psalms, The Bible

Right in the middle of most English Bibles, there is a collection of one hundred and fifty ancient Hebrew songs. Filled with emotion, imagery, and devotion to the Lord, they are a masterpiece of poetic expression as well as a profound source of encouragement, comfort, and guidance for believers in the midst of the trials … Continue reading Hearing Jesus in the Psalms

Recognizing Almonzo

joeladeney Family Devotions, Jesus, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Old Testament, The Bible

Every day, after the lunch dishes are cleared away and the baby and toddler are diapered and put down in their cribs, either my wife or I will sit down on the couch with our two older children for story time. Our kids love story time. For me and Rebecca, it's a joy to watch … Continue reading Recognizing Almonzo

Seasonal Family Devotional Bookmark

joeladeney Advent & Christmas, Ascension, Devotions, Easter, Family, Family Devotions, Lent, Pentecost, Resources, The Bible

     A couple of months ago, I posted a series of devotional readings for Advent and Christmastide, which walked through the highlights of the Old Testament and the Christmas narratives from the gospels. Then, just last week I shared a plan for reading through the Gospel of Mark throughout the season of Lent, supplemented by … Continue reading Seasonal Family Devotional Bookmark

Walking with Jesus: Devotional Readings for Lent and Eastertide

joeladeney Ascension, Devotions, Easter, Family, Family Devotions, Jesus, Lent, Pentecost, Resources, The Bible, The Gospel

Update 2/5/2019 - I've also created a handy Bookmark that includes the reading plan for Lent and Eastertide as well as Advent and Christmastide. You can find it here On March 1st, many Christians around the world will begin observing the season of Lent, a period of forty days of preparation (not counting Sundays) leading … Continue reading Walking with Jesus: Devotional Readings for Lent and Eastertide

12 Guiding Principles of Pastoral Ministry

joeladeney Pastoral Ministry

In my last post, I described the "what" of pastoral ministry. This time around, I want to address the "how." How does one faithfully fulfill the calling to shepherd God's people with the gospel of Christ? But first, one word about why this matters. I don't usually write about being a pastor. That is because … Continue reading 12 Guiding Principles of Pastoral Ministry

A Philosophy of Pastoral Ministry

joeladeney Pastoral Ministry

I feel called by God to serve him in pastoral ministry. So, over the past several years, I've spent a lot of time learning about and reflecting on the natural and purpose of ministry within the local church. Based on Scripture and guided by the helpful insights of those who've gone before me, here is … Continue reading A Philosophy of Pastoral Ministry

Christ is Born: A New Christmas Carol

joeladeney Advent & Christmas, Jesus, Music & Poetry

I love Christmas carols. From standards like "Joy to the World" and "What Child Is This" to lesser-known carols such as "The Wexford Carol" or "The Holly and the Ivy," I love singing and listening to the traditional songs that celebrate the birth of Jesus. This is a carol that I wrote a couple of … Continue reading Christ is Born: A New Christmas Carol

From Longing to Rejoicing: Devotional Readings for Advent & Christmastide

joeladeney Advent & Christmas, Devotions, Family, Family Devotions, Jesus, Second Coming

Updated 11/29/2017: Last Spring I introduced a Seasonal Family Devotional Bookmark as a helpful tool. It includes the readings for Advent & Christmastide as well as Lent & Eastertide. Updated 2/28/2017: After some beta testing, I've slightly revised this devotional plan to make some of the readings shorter and more suitable for reading in a … Continue reading From Longing to Rejoicing: Devotional Readings for Advent & Christmastide

Making Sense of the Bible (including the weird parts)

joeladeney Devotions, Family Devotions, Jesus, The Bible, The Gospel

You need the Bible. If you're a parent, your children need the Bible too. I've written before about the importance of personal and family devotions. But let's be honest: the Bible can sometimes be hard to understand. I mean, if you stick to easier parts (most of the New Testament), it's not so bad. But … Continue reading Making Sense of the Bible (including the weird parts)