Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom

In or Out?

This is Seamus. He faithfully keeps watch at our door and carefully checks all who come and go. Who needs a video surveillance system when you have such a dedicated gatekeeper?

In Psalm 24, we encounter a different doorway with its own group of gatekeepers. As the Ark of the Covenant approached Jerusalem in a joyful procession, the gates became the focus of attention. The guardians at these gates were not watchful cats, but priests. These priests were entrusted to prepare the way for the arrival of the King of Glory. Their role was not merely to guard the entrance, but to call on God’s people to recognize His holy presence and welcome it among them.

(Reading time – 8 mins)

Read more
Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom

The Bridge

I have family members who enjoy the New York Times daily word game “Connections.” The game consists of sixteen random words that need to be organized into four groups of four, each group with its own distinct theme. Some of the groups are easy to figure out, like the words interval, period, span and stretch are examples of duration. Others are not as straightforward, such as fair, marple, popular and psalm. The connecting theme for these words is revealed at the end of the blog. Speaking of connections, verses 5 and 6 in Psalm 24 provide the following four words which got my attention – seek, righteousness, worship and blessing.

(Reading time – 11 mins.)

Read more
Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom

The Answer to the Question – Part 3

Do you enjoy learning through a good fictional story? Or do you prefer lists, facts and lectures? Recently my wife finished L.M. Montgomery’s novel, Jane of Lantern Hill. She shared a particular insight from the story to which I remarked that I had just read the same idea in Stephen Covey’s, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People! Same insight – two very different authors and writing methods.

(Reading time – 12 mins.)

Read more
Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom

The Answer to the Question, Part 2

Have you ever looked at an interesting job posting only to quickly feel unqualified? When you saw the employer’s wish list of requirements, you may have concluded that no person could possibly fill the advertised role. Disheartened, you then moved on to review other job postings.

(Reading Time – 10 minutes)

Read more
Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom

The Answer to the Question, Part 1

If you grew up in church and the Sunday school teacher, pastor or group leader asked any question, the safe and most likely answer was … Jesus! And while this answer tended to be correct on a surface level, the person asking the question might have been looking for a deeper answer. The question-and-answer sequence in Psalm 24:3-4 has a similar simple response, but the answer requires further consideration.

(Reading time – 10 minutes)

Read more
Posted on by handhcollidegmailcom · 1 Comment

Protected Spaces

Have you ever had an opportunity to personally meet a high-ranking dignitary or famous public person? The kind of person who has a full-time security detail. There are always protocols to follow and security clearances to pass. Think of it as going through airport security, but meeting a person instead of going on an airplane.

(Reading time 11 mins.)

Read more