Dan Bolin's Blog

Nº 404 The only reason integrity should be a burden to you is if you enjoy being dishonest. - Sam Storms As a youngster, I spent summers picking berries. The season started with strawberries, migrated to raspberries, and then blackberries. I enjoyed those days, picking and eating my way through the rows of sweet delight. However, the summer ended with several weeks picking string beans. Not much immediate gratification from string beans. Payment was three cents a pound, so we tried to ensure...

Nº 403 God is the author of the Bible, and only the truth it contains will lead people to true happiness. A Christian should read this precious Book every day with earnest prayer and meditation. - George Muller I enjoy reading or listening to great fiction – mysteries, adventure, whatever. At times, I become entangled in the plot of a well-written ‘whodunit,’ staying up late reading or listening because I want to know who the bad guy is and why he or she did it. A made-up story with...

Nº 402 It is not exceptionally worthy people that Jesus loves, but His love is exceptional in that He loves those of no value at all. In fact, He loves us in our sin. Only such a view of love correctly appreciates the sacrifice of Christ and respects the infinite chasm between what is deserved and mercy. - Jim Elliff Atop the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus began to glow. He was joined by two renowned heroes of the faith, Moses and Elijah. Jesus’ three stunned disciples watched incredulously...

Nº 401 We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine. - D.L. Moody The first day of creation must have been spectacular. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) Day one of creation went from utter darkness to brilliant light. But that was just the beginning. Another light shined forth when Jesus came out of the tomb - the first day of...

Nº 400 Think of the cross and let your tears flow. But you must wipe those tears away, for Christ is not in the grave. - C.H. Spurgeon Isaiah painted Jesus’ painful portrait. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3a) Every Easter has its Good Friday. The joy and celebration of Easter morning flowed from the pain and agony of Good Friday. We know of three times when Jesus wept. He wept over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35)....

Nº 399 Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge. - David Brainerd Mark records two interesting conversations as Jesus made His way toward Jerusalem and the events of Passion Week. The first began with James and John making a childish and self-serving request. We want you to do for us whatever we ask.(Mark 10:35) Jesus replied, What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:36)...

Nº 398 Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. - St. Patrick Today is St Patrick’s Day. So, a few reflections on his extraordinary life seem in order. Remarkably, Patrick was a very unassuming man. No one knows when he was born, although many surmise it was about AD 386. No one knows his given name, but some think it may have been Maewyn Succat (I’d go by Patrick too). No one knows when he died, however many think he lived...

Nº 397 Let us labor to memorize the Word of God-for worship and for warfare. If we do not carry it in our heads, we cannot savor it in our hearts or wield it in the Spirit. - John Piper Jonah’s adventure is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. God commanded Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Instead, he headed in the opposite direction and set sail across the Mediterranean Ocean. There, a severe storm nearly swamped his ship. The sailors discovered that Jonah’s disobedience had caused the...

Nº 396 One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement . . . We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word. - William Barclay On special occasions I often make fresh squeezed orange juice. The wonderful taste is worth the aggravation of buying, cutting, squeezing, and cleaning up the mess. If the juice sets for more than a few minutes, the...

Nº 395 Obedience is the only reality. It is faith visible, faith acting, and faith manifest. It is the test of real discipleship among the Lord’s people. - J.C. Ryle Hebrews 5:8 has always troubled me. Speaking of Jesus, the writer says, Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. So, as a child, was Jesus disobedient and spanked by Joseph to correct the error of his way? I don’t think so! The two keys that unlock this confusing verse are found in the words learned...