Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • Prayer Request

    Shawn, a long-time reader in Boston, is asking us to pray for his father Paul, who, at age 85, has had hip surgery for an infected hip replacement.  Please beseech the Lord on his behalf, not only for recovery but also for enlightenment about the truth of the Messiah.  Thanks.

  • Hidden Treasure

    How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!  Psalm 31:19  NASB Have stored up– Do you like treasure hunts?  Does finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow appeal to you?  Well, according…

  • Being Perfect

    Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.  Psalm 31:18 NASB Arrogant– Some years ago (quite some years ago) I received a card from a dear friend.  On the outside it read: “I used to be conceited, but I got over that.”  On the inside: “Now I’m perfect.”  🙂 Arrogance is…

  • Silent Night

    Let me not be put toshame, O Lord, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol  Psalm 31:17 NASB Silent– Did you notice David’s poetic parallelism?  First, don’t let me be put to shame for I call upon You. Implication: those who are exonerated by God have something to say in the…

  • Failure Rate

    Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol  Psalm 31:17  NASB Shame– We’ve investigated the Hebrew word bôš several times in the past. John Oswalt notes: The primary meaning of this root is “to fall into disgrace, normally through failure, either of self or…

  • The Objective of Conversation

    Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.  Psalm 31:16  NASB Shine upon– Facebook is a failure.  So is texting, and any other form of personal communication that diminishes the human requirement of face-to-face relationship.  Yes, all of those electronic (and other) forms of communication convey information, but they do not allow real…

  • Communication

    My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.  Psalm 31:15 NASB Times– The obvious personal application question here is this one: Are your times in God’s hand? Maybe we should expand this a bit. Is your emotional wellbeing, your sense of personal safety, your reliance on physical sustenance, your…

  • The Vocabulary of Trust

    But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”  Psalm 31:14  NASB Trust– By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust).  TWOT’s reminder is important: in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant…

  • Meet Me in Missouri

    July 27-29  Sedalia, MO.  at the FCS Financial center, 2600 South Limit, Sedalia MO, 65301One session on Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 with an option to have a box lunch provided ahead of the session if desired.  Saturday morning will include one session from 9:30 to 11:30 with a two hour break for lunch…