May 31, 2026

In our Sunday morning class we have been studying Paul letter to the Philippians. We briefly discussed the concept of Joy which is a term Paul uses repeatedly in the book (1:4; 1:25; 2:2; 2:29; 4:1). Paul famously calls the Philippians to Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil 4:4.

It is easy to look at the world around us—or even just our own chaotic to-do lists and unexpected hardships—and feel like joy is a luxury we can’t afford right now. We often treat joy like a reaction: something that happens only when everything goes exactly right. The Book of Philippians completely flips that idea on its head.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, he wasn’t relaxing on a sunny beach or celebrating a massive victory. He was sitting in a dark, cramped Roman prison cell, chained to a guard, facing a potential death sentence. Yet, in a letter only four chapters long, he uses the words joy and rejoice more than sixteen times.

Philippians shows us two beautiful truths about real, lasting joy: Joy is a focus, not a feeling: Paul didn’t ignore his chains; he just chose to look at something bigger. In chapter one, he focuses on how his imprisonment is actually helping to spread the Gospel. Joy comes when we intentionally look past our immediate frustration to see how God might be working behind the scenes. Joy is anchored in a Person, Paul doesn’t say, “Rejoice in your perfect circumstances.” He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” Circumstances change, but Christ’s love, presence, and promises are completely unshakeable. Because He doesn’t change, your ultimate source of joy doesn’t have to change either.

Regardless of the challenges you may be facing the problems you may be anticipating you can have the Joy of the Lord. True biblical joy is simply a quiet, confident assurance that God is still on the throne, He is still good, and He is right there in the mess with you.

~ Kevin Cleary

May 24, 2026

Being only 35 miles NW of Jerusalem, and the only natural harbour between Egypt and Ptolemais, Joppa functioned as the seaport of Jerusalem. This city is mentioned only a few times in scripture and often does not play a very central role. However there are two occasions when a servant of God leaves from this city. One is Jonah the other is Peter.

     We are quite familiar with the events recorded in the book of Jonah how he was asked to go to Nineveh and preach to the Assyrian capital. Jonah did not like God’s plan and instead tries to take a boat from Joppa to Tarshish. The very opposite direction from Nineveh, Jonah leaves Joppa going away from what God has planned for his life.

     We are probably not quite  familiar with Peter’s time in Joppa but it is quite significant. Peter had traveled to Joppa to evangelize. While there he healed Dorcas and had a successful campaign. He was still in Joppa staying with Simon the tanner when God called him to go and preach to Cornelius and his household. These would become the first gentile converts to Christianity. Peter being a good Jew would have strong reservations about this, but because of God’s preparing him he went to Caesarea.

     It seems to me that we are all leaving Joppa, we all face the choice to go where God wants to send us or go in the opposite direction. All of us are called by God to do things in his service that are often less than comfortable for us. We have to decide will we follow the example of Jonah or Peter as we leave Joppa.

Reworked from the post “Leaving Joppa” idevotions Steve Higginbotham

~ Kevin Cleary

May 17, 2026

  In one episode of the Simpsons Homer calls the police to report that he has seen an alien. Chief Wiggum replies “your story is very compelling, let me just type that up on my invisible typewriter”. It sounds as if the police Chief is mocking Homer because of the incredulity of his claim. Then the Chief receives another call; this time, A man says he has been starting house fires and is about to start another one. Chief Wiggum again replies “let me just type this up on my invisible typewriter”. The chief clearly does not take anything seriously.

     This humorous scene reveals something about how we think about reality. If we feel something is reasonable then we take it seriously. If however we don’t feel something is reasonable then we laugh it off. Like Chief Wiggum you would probably doubt me if I said I had witnessed an alien landing in my back yard. If however I told you I had a problem with a skunk you would believe me and begin suggesting solutions.

     It is both wise and normal to filter what we hear through our own reason and assess the credibility of information we are exposed to. After all, we want to respond in the most appropriate way to the world around us. 

     One of the primary criticisms levelled at Christians is that we fail to do this in regards to our faith in both God and Jesus. It is said that belief in some supernatural being makes no sense. Nor does it make sense to think that a man was born without the help of a father, that he grew up and was able to perform miracles, and was eventually put to death by the political leaders of the time only to raise again.

     Yet this among other things is exactly what we believe. And we believe it because it is true. It’s not a fable that we have adopted because we like the moral of the story. It’s not a tool we have made up to make us feel better. What we believe is historical fact. What’s more it must be historical fact or we are foolish to take it seriously. Paul makes this point very powerfully in 1Cor 15:12-19.

     There is not time here to elaborate on the various evidences that exist which demonstrate that Christian faith is not misplaced. However I would encourage each Christian to look into that evidence. Recently Stephen Meyers recent work has been made into a movie called “The Story of Everything” based off of his book “Return of the God Hypothesis.” Other good sources are www.apologeticspress.org or a book called Convicted by Dr. Brad Harrub which can be ordered from Focus Press. The “Case For…” books by Lee Stroble, or New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowel are good as well. The point is we need to be ready to give an answer that will prompt a greater response than “Your story is very compelling just let me type that up on my invisible typewriter”.

~ Kevin Cleary

May 10, 2026

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.”

Rachel weeps for the people of Israel taken into captivity. God was punishing Israel for it’s sin in allowing Babylon to take them captive. People continue to be captive not to a foreign nation but to sin. Its damage continues to ravage children and bring sorrow to mothers.

Historically, the abuses of sexuality have taken the greatest tole on women and children. Men too suffer, but we will hold off on that briefly. The consequences of unrestrained sexuality is perhaps best and most poignantly captured by a poem called conversation with an Archeologist by Hollie McNish. The poem describes an archeologist explaining that they had found a brothel on the dig that day. The person hearing the news asked how a brothel was identified, the archeologist explained that near the ruins of the building there would be a “pit of babies bones, a pit of newborn babies bones was how to spot a brothel.” Even writing this it’s hard not to cry for the mothers used only for sexual gratification. It’s hard to think of them weeping as their children are snatched away. It’s hard to think of the cruelty of the species that would so violate nature as to desecrate the bond between mother and child. 

The desecration has not stopped. It’s estimated that 591000 babies were killed in just the first six months of 2025, it’s further estimated that 73 million babies are killed worldwide. I know that some reading this may be quick to protest that a fetus or embryo is not a baby. To those people I would ask; what is it then? Is it not alive? Is it some other species than the one dictated by it’s DNA? These are obvious questions, no honest person can conclude anything except that we are killing humans to maintain the delusion of consequence free sex. 

Sadly these millions of souls who’s blood cries out for justice are not the only victims. A quick google search reveals that more than 27 million people are subjected to forced labour each year around the globe and that about 23% of those are in the sex trade. Eight hundred thousand mostly women and girls are transported across international borders for the sex trade each year.

It’s Mother’s Day but not all mothers are happy. We pray for good mothers who are loved and appreciated by a good society. 

Kevin Cleary

May 3, 2026

Two simple things can help us with the danger of getting in over our heads. First take responsibility for your time. Second find ways of recovering. We are called to use our resources to the glory of God but we can’t do that if we are always reacting and never planning. 

Time is our greatest asset; we need to take responsibility for it. If others started telling us what to do with other resources say our house or savings account, we would quickly put a stop to it. Time is just as important if not more. Many of us act as if we are victims of our schedule rather than creators of them. Our time belongs to us (and more importantly God) and it’s dangerous to let others control it for us. This may mean we say no sometimes or at the very least help others understand that there are other things taking priority. The point is to be proactive instead of reactive and make conscious choices about what we spend our time on.

Recovery is how we repair the wear and tear that work and responsibilities place on our minds and bodies. It should not be viewed as wasted time or leisure time but rather productive rebuilding time. Various approaches work and you will need to find the things that work for you. Maybe it’s exercise, maybe a walk in the woods, listening to music, sleeping, reading, or something else. The point is we want to be at our best and to do that we need some time to recover so that we can come back stronger than before. There is a reason that God gave the people of Israel a day of rest. While we are not required to keep the Sabbath the principle that we need rest and recovery remains legitimate. 

No one wants to find themselves overwhelmed and stressed to the point of failure. Let’s take practical steps to avoid adding that straw that breaks the camels back by knowing how many straws we can manage and by strengthening the camel. 

God knows us and wants us to be successful in his service. Paul describes how he was able to do so much as an evangelist saying “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Manage time, if you are going to be taking on more than you can chew then take small bites. Break things down and fit them into your schedule in a way that is realistic for you. Have a schedule and label it so that you can tell how much time is spent in various areas, this way you can easily see what is needed to balance your work, rest, play, and family time. 

We all want to be as effective as possible, we also know that we have limits. If we are to be responsible before God and others we need to take care how we use our time (Eph 5:16). 

~ Kevin Cleary