In the world of education, we are often given an exam to test our understanding of certain topics. Likewise, in trade school, we are also given exams to test our mastery of particular skills. If we don’t pass these examinations, we must retake the class. Why? As a former teacher, I can you that it…
Author: MVF Silverton
Fear of the Fire, Fear of the River
Pequdei – Accounts, Oversight Shemot (Exodus) 38:21 – 40:38 Melekim Alef (I Kings) 7:40 – 8:21 Revelation 15:5-8 No one was allowed on the other side of the fireline where the fire was burning. Of all my duties with the Forest Service, fighting forest fires meant meeting the strictest protocols under the most authoritative regime…
The Waves of Revival
Vayaq’hel – And he assembled Shemot (Exodus) 35:1 – 38:20 Melekim Alef (I Kings) 7:13-51; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Revelation 11:1-13 Leslie and I love to walk a sandy beach together as close to the waves as we can. The Pacific Ocean was named for its generally pacifying nature. There’s something about the cycle of waves…
The Rest of the Story
Back in high school, I made a poor decision. A friend of mine wanted me to smoke some “weed” with him. Being naïve, I went along with it but was not too happy with my decision the next day. My misstep could have caused me to lose my position as student body President and even…
Washed by Living Water
Ki Tisa, When You Elevate, Take up Shemot (Exodus) 30:11 – 34:35 Melekim Alef (I Kings) 18:1–39 Matthew 9:35 – 11:1; Luke 11:14-20; Acts 7:35 – 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Surveying streams in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon often made me hot and thirsty in the summer. Mapping a stream up to…
Here’s Your Sign
The word sealed in the New Testament comes from a Greek word that means “to stamp with a private mark” in the interest of keeping something secret or protected. In these last days, we are told that those who follow YHVH will be sealed. Will we know the identity of those sealed? Will we be the ones…
Who is Your Go-To Guy?
Tetzaveh, You Shall Command Shemot (Exodus) 27:20 – 30:10 Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 43:10-27 Mark 4:35 – 5:43; Philippians 4:10-20 Everybody loves a go-to guy. He comes through for you like no one else can when you’re in a pinch. He’s Mr. Clutch – always right on time with just what you need! When no one else…
The Paradox of Giving
Terumah, Free-will Offerings Shemot (Exodus) 25:1 – 27:19 Melekim Alef (I Kings) 5:12 – 6:13 MattitYahu (Matthew) 5:14-16, 33-37; 27:51; Hebrews 4:16; 8:1-6; 9:1-27 (23-24); 10:1,19-23; 13:10-12; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 8:12; 9:1-15; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 1:12-20; 4:5; 11:19; 21:3 Something so cool about YHWH is how His ways are paradoxical, boggling the mind of the…
Why Give?
Have you ever had a person in your life that you would do anything for them? Maybe you feel that way because they were there for you at your most vulnerable moment. Maybe they are a person who knows you better than anyone else. Maybe they rescued you from a catastrophe. Or maybe you just…
How Can I Witness?
To this day, I still have family members and friends who say to me, “Why do you follow the laws in the Old Testament, aren’t they just meant for the Jews?” Have you ever had to wrestle with this? At times, I get tired of the question, but mostly I get super excited to share…