JeffRandleman.com | The Randleman Review: passionately pursuing the Creator… one day at a time.

How To Gain Insight By Hand-Copying The Bible

June 29, 2012 in Personal Growth, Spiritual Growth 4

When is the last time you took a good, deep look at the book of Proverbs?

I don’t mean a cursory reading, or finding the few verses you need when you want them.

I’m referring to a cose study that results in new understanding.

Proverbs Journals

That’s what I’m attempting for the rest of the year.

With the start of 2012, I started a new Bible reading system, by Professor Grant Horner. So far, it’s been a great fit for me. I’ve been more consistent than I’ve been in a long time, and I’ve experienced a deeper understanding of the inter-connectedness of God’s Word like never before.

For the rest of 2012, as I continue to work my way through this reading system, I’m going to add a deeper look at the book of Proverbs.

Here’s my plan. Each day, I will write out several verses of Proverbs into one of my favorite pocket journals. Armed with this in my pocket, within easy reach, I will examine each day’s verses several times throughout the day. If needed, I’ll consult a couple of good commentaries I have on the shelf. But since most of the Proverbs are common sense, simply meditating on them all day long should be sufficient to implant their wisdom in my head.

What To Do When It Rains

June 28, 2012 in Leadership 0

Sometimes it rains.

That’s a pretty profound statement, I know. But it’s true. Sometimes it rains.

And when it rains, plans have to change.

Water Drop - Green

But just because plans have to change doesn’t mean that you aren’t making progress.

It just has to take a different form.

We just got hit by Tropical Storm Debby. It’s been raining for most of the past week. In just over three days, some areas here in central Florida received over 20 inches of rain. Yeah, I said 20 inches.

With that amount of rain, plans have to be adjusted.

The same is true in leadership. Sometimes things happen that require you to rethink where you are headed, or at least how you’re going to get there.

Memorize Scripture – Week 25

June 24, 2012 in Memorize 2

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes forget just who Jesus is.

Sometimes I focus on him more a a friend, or a buddy, or even as a vending machine.

And I need to be reminded that he isn’t any of those things, at least not fully. And not at all, in the case of the vending machine.

But just who is he? Take a look at how Peter answered that question in Matthew 16:15-16:

Matthew 16:15-16

It saddens me that I forget this. But it’s much easier to treat Jesus as that vending machine. Pray my prayers, like pushing a button, and expect the answer to just pop right out for me, instantly.

Sometimes, I treat Jesus as just a friend. I can enjoy time with my friends, but sometimes I just want them to leave me alone. Not too long ago, my son offered the kid across the street $2.00 if he would not come over and hang out for the evening. Some people try to buy friends. My kids try to pay them to leave…

But either of those options misses the point when it comes to Jesus.

He is the Messiah. He is the Christ. He is God.

He is everything to me. He is my all.

How can I forget that?

What about you? Who do you say that he is? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Power Of A Conscience

June 23, 2012 in Resources 0

Quote: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Impacting The Future With The Past

June 21, 2012 in Personal Growth 0

Have you ever had one of those moments where you didn’t expect the day to be extraordinary, and God turned it into something extravagant?

Yesterday was one of those days for me.

JAARS Missionary

Sometimes God speaks from the past, teaching me about the present and giving me better insight into the future.

My oldest daughter and I departed yesterday morning from our home on the Gulf Coast of Florida for JAARS, a missionary recruiting and training center. I spent the first part of the week with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade kids at church camp, and had enough time home the previous evening to wash some laundry and spend some time with the family.

Hannah and I got up and left at 4:00 am, anticipating a 10-12 hour drive to North Carolina. I expected yesterday to be a day of riding in the van, getting to know the people on the trip, and catching up on some lost sleep from camp.

It was all that, and more.

Upon our arrival at JAARS, they invited us to an ice cream social. Nothing big, right?

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

That little event may just be the biggest, life-changing moment of the trip for my daughter and I.

7 Ways Encouragement Changes Things – Guest Post at SundiJo.com

June 20, 2012 in Spiritual Growth 0

This week, I had the opportunity to write a guest post for Sundi Jo Graham. You can read my post here.

Sundi Jo writes about life, faith and leadership on her blog, as well as about other issues such as social media, health and more.

As an author and speaker, Sundi Jo shares Jesus through her story of abuse, addiction and redemption.

SundiJo.com

I suggest you check out her blog. You’ll find a lot of great things there that will help you along your own journey.

If you took the time to read my guest post at Sundi Jo’s blog, what did you think? You can leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The Dad Life

June 18, 2012 in Family, Resources 4

Yesterday was Father’s Day. I didn’t get much of a chance to celebrate it with my family this year due to the church camp season. I’m at camp right now with my son, Titus, and a few other boys from our church.

I stumbled across this video over the weekend. It’s good enough to share here. Enjoy!

As a father of five, with another due around the first of the year, this is amusingly accurate. I can’t even begin to imagine all the things I’ve missed out on because my finances and resources went to family events or clothes or dental work or camp tuitions or… And you know what? I really don’t care what I may have missed. I have an incredible family.

Todd, from Familyman Ministries, calls this phenomenon “dad cool”. If you’re a father, I recommend that you subscribe to his newsletter. He always has some great stuff going on.

What did you do to celebbrate Father’s Day? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.