Joe Barnett

Where can I go from your Spirit?                   —Psalm 139:7 The hurricane-tracking graphic commonly seen on TV is cone-shaped. The point of the cone—the hurricane’s present location—is out in the ocean. From that small point, the cone’s sides taper out and up until they define the possible

You are the Messiah.    —Matthew 16:16 If you have gray hair or no hair, you’re probably old enough to remember Country-Western composer Carson Robison’s song, Life Gets Teejus, Don’t It? Sun comes up and the sun goes down. The hands on the clock keep goin’ around. I just get up an’ it’s time to

Christ has given each of us special abilities.                                 —Ephesians 4:7 What is your gift? You do have one, you know: “Christ has given each of us special abilities—whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of

Be sympathetic . . . be compassionate. —1 Peter 3:8 The lady caught me eyeing her grocery cart, loaded with heart-attack-waiting-to-happen grub. She laughed and said, “You only live once.” The dog-tired cashier working checkout said, “Once is enough.” I sensed she was saying, “I’ve been here all day without a break. I’m sick of

The deceitfulness of wealth . . .choke[s] the word.                                            —Mark 4:19 Jesus said, “It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:23). We’ve been duped into thinking

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.                          —Psalm 139:2 “There’s an all-seeing eye watching you!” Remember that song? It was intended to keep you on the straight and narrow. God was watching everything you did,

I will come back and take you to be with me.                                   —John 14:3 Jesus told his disciples, “I will be with you only a little longer” (Jn 13:33). They were stunned. They were like children seeing mom and

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.                                        —Luke 10:20 You were promoted to CEO. Ran a marathon. Wrote a book. Won a case. Discovered a cure for cancer. Good for you. All those things are

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.            —Matthew 26:39 Jesus wanted to return to heaven: “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (Jn 17:5). But anticipating his horrifying approaching death, there was another prayer