Posts by Thomas Overmiller
The Invisible Presence of God
We serve and worship an invisible God. He is a Spirit (Jn 4:24). In addition, no human being has ever viewed God with his eyes (Jn 1:18). The nation of Israel struggled with this reality. For a period of 400 years (nearly twice the age of the United States of America), they lived immersed in…
Read MoreA Voice from The Past
The Background The Gospel of John wraps up the public ministry of Jesus in an unexpected way, by returning to the memory of John the Baptist. At the beginning of this gospel, we read about the message of John the Baptist (John 1:6-36). But after the introduction and baptism of Jesus, his followers followed Jesus…
Read MoreLife Is Like a Dickens Novel
It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known. – Sydney Carton This famous line marks the end of the masterful novel, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. If you know…
Read MoreChoices, Circumstances and the Providence of God
Every sunrise welcomes a new day filled with choices you will make and circumstances you will encounter. For some, this daily adventure is exhilarating. For others, it is overwhelming. And for others (perhaps most), it is routine. In every case, there is one important fact to remember: God is carefully attending to every detail of…
Read MoreMaking Decisions, Trusting God and Casting Lots
This series of wisdom statements in Proverbs 16 can help you to navigate the many decisions you make in life, big and small. A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.…
Read MorePhysical Exercise and Godliness
Is physical exercise a good thing? Over some coffee at Connecticut Muffin last week, some pastor friends and I discussed the subject of physical exercise. Is it good? Is it important? We can answer this question by giving attention to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, which says: Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little,…
Read MoreIt’s Summertime, Take a Break!
“Have you ever felt like a goldfish swimming around in a blender full of water – with someone’s finger on the ‘high’ switch? Many of us are altogether too busy, running on overdrive, overextended in our schedules and underdeveloped in our souls. Instead of green pastures and still waters, we’re accustomed to clogged freeways and…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit and the Apostles Together
When you buy a house, it is very important to inspect the foundation. Before my wife and I purchased a home for the first time, we enlisted the help of a building inspector to examine the foundation of the house were considering. We also asked for some feedback from friends who had building and construction…
Read MoreBible Perspective On Suicide
The recent deaths of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade raise awareness of a disturbing fact. Even famous and accomplished people commit suicide. What’s more, the New Yorker claims that suicide rates increase following high-profile suicides like these. (Suicides jumped nearly 10% following the death of Robin Williams). According to the Centers…
Read MorePraying, Praying, Praying
Praying at All Times When Paul says, “Praying always,” he encourages believers to pray all the time (Eph 6:18). He further portrays this as “being watchful,” which means to “stay awake.” He also portrays this as “with all perseverance,” which means, “to be persistent.” To take this emphatic encouragement to heart, a believer should learn…
Read More