Dave Dishman

Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

Category: Bible (Page 266 of 419)

books

Old News and Stale Doughnuts

August 17, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Day-old news is a lot like day-old doughnuts. Stale and ready to be tossed. In past years venders sold fish wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper, while others wadded up newsprint to pad boxes. I’ve even seen old houses with newspapers used as insulation. History emerges as plaster falls from the walls.

Few things written last more than a couple days, hours even. One and a half million books were published globally last year. How many of those are being read today as another 1.5 million hit the shelves? (As an author, I find this disconcerting). Books, like doughnuts, grow stale. Only a tiny handful get picked up by following generations.

So if I want to read something of long term value, thoughts that don’t molder, I turn to the words of Jesus. Jesus taught his disciples: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

It’s not just our words that fade, but all the world around us will eventually collapse as well. What lasts forever? God, the souls of men and women, and the words of Jesus.

I love to read. Novels, history, politics, news, sports, classics—I dabble in most anything. But every day I make it a point to read something Jesus said. I read his words, try to follow and apply them, and know eventually their truth will bear out.

One thing’s for sure—I’m not wrapping any fish in the words of Jesus.

Matthew 24 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Cristina Gottardi

practice what you preach

Practice What You Preach

August 16, 2022 / / 0 Comments

We all love to play the hypocrite—at least I do. Most everyone gives advice without following it themselves, your twitter feed being a living example. Plus, we love catching a hypocrite in the act of cheating on their advice.

Jesus didn’t care for hypocrites. He warned his disciples about a group of prominent religious teachers: You must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Timeless advice.

Or to turn this teaching around, whatever you preach, you’d better practice. I may tell others salad is good for them, but at the next meal I’d better chew a bunch of leaves and swallow.

Which leads me to one solution—stop preaching so much. I best preach on issues I plan to make my own, to follow-up on, to do the work on in my own life. Otherwise, I should keep quiet.

Practice what I preach. Good words to keep in mind the next time I spout off.

Matthew 23 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Carine L

influencer selfie stick

Curse of the Influencer

August 15, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Isaiah records a fascinating judgement from the Lord on the people of Jerusalem and Judah:

I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.

People led by inexperienced leaders too young for the job are in for a rough ride. Pay attention to politics or businesses or churches or non-profits long enough and you’ll see this play out.

Now contrast that thought with the perspective fostered by current western culture. Perhaps you recognize this song lyric—I believe that children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way.

Do I really want to be led by a child?

One of the tragedies of our day is the proliferation of young influencers via social media. These youth encourage their peers to buy expensive products or live unique lifestyles or treat people in certain ways, always with a focus on themselves. An unprecedented flood of narcissism flows from influencer to subscriber who drink deeply, poisoning their soul in the process. I’m reminded of Jesus’s warning—when the blind lead the blind, both end up in the ditch.

So much better to promote older, wiser, patient leaders. I know I need older, wiser, patient friends and mentors. We should encourage the older, wiser, patient among us to speak and not go quietly into the night.

One more thought. Whenever possible, we must match the members of our youngest generations with the members of our oldest generations. That way the truly worthy influencers will have their say.

Isaiah 3 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Steve Gale

The Turning Away

August 14, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Eventually pressure from a disbelieving society undermines adherence to the ways of the Lord. As Christians we battle against spiritual forces of darkness using any means at their disposal to corrode the foundations of our faith. Thankfully the Lord promises support as we struggle our way through this morass.

But at times a person just totally gives in. Ahaz, king of Judah, embraced the practices of demonic gods. We’re told he even sacrificed his son in the fire. Along with human sacrifice, Ahaz ordered a new alter built and installed in Jerusalem. The chief priest agreed, and they started offering sacrifices to pagan gods smack in the middle of Solomon’s temple.

Ahaz capitulated to the ways of the dominant powers. He updated worship and laid aside the study and application of the law of Moses. Totally unmoored, he led his people astray.

Which can happen to any of us at any time. It’s tempting to update the ways and teachings of the Lord. Many find it compelling to reinterpret thousands of years of biblical understanding to better fit our current cultural mores. We want to be liked and we want to fit in. We daily fill our minds with values caught through entertainment and social media, while spending little time in the wisdom of scripture.

All a recipe for the rise of more and more like Ahaz.

I certainly don’t have the answers to all the challenges we face as we navigate living as a Christian in an ever-hostile society. But it’s clear from scripture that the answer does not involve a continual knuckling under to the ways of the world.

It’s possible to live faithfully for the Lord in our times. It takes resolve and backbone. Some will ridicule you, and others will see your stance as unloving or even dangerous.

But with the Lord there’s always hope. The next king, Hezekiah, totally rejected the actions of his father. In fact, he held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him.

Let’s reject the ways of Ahaz and join the tribe of Hezekiah.

2 Kings16 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jakayla Toney

« Older posts Newer posts »

SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

Join 1,549 other subscribers

© 2026 Dave Dishman

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑