When you spend time on a river, you get almost every imaginable condition – heat and rain, high and low, hot and cold.  Any given day can be a challenge, but on average: every day is beautiful! In the evening … Continue reading →

What has the Lord got in His cubbards? One of His commodities is: mercy, a blessing that is an act of divine favor and compassion, and includes the compassionate treatment of those in distress, and forbearance. i like the meaning … Continue reading →

You know, someone said to me once that when we sincerely forgive, we only have to forgive once, but when we’re offended, we have to keep living the offence over and over in order to continue to perpetuate the hurt, … Continue reading →

Have you ever felt the Lord was challenging your priorities, all the way from your idea of what was most important to what you think is least important? In Matt6:33, when Jesus said “seek first the kingdom of God and … Continue reading →

Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” To “renew” something … Continue reading →

Our view of God is too small. i think most of us, as a whole, have not really given ourselves to God’s process of transforming our lives as much as we might think. Regardless of what we like to dream … Continue reading →

One of the first things i was told after i called on the Lord for salvation was that Jesus is coming back. i used to sit outside and watch the sky, wondering if today was the day. The ever present … Continue reading →

i am absolutely convinced beyond all doubt that we are born, all of us, with the knowledge of basic right and wrong embedded in us by God. We are also born with a rebellious nature whose intent is to always … Continue reading →

Today’s program was written by Jerry Price. Did you watch any of the Republican or Democratic National Convention stuff a while back? I’m not going to weigh in on which political party is right or wrong, but my observation centers … Continue reading →

i think so many people want to find a place where God can not see so they can sin in peace, but no such place exists, there is no shelter from such a storm. Truly, there is no such place … Continue reading →

It’s a beautiful evening and i thought i’d go outside on the deck which overlooks the beautiful river below. i’m Social Porter and you’re listening to Outposts, cool jazz and contemplative conversation, broadcast semi-live from the deck of a rural … Continue reading →

This was written by Jerry Price. Today we’re talking about how you can’t take God and the Bible out of the schools and expect that humanity without God has a better way. In December of 2012 the headlines read, “Such … Continue reading →

This was written by Jerry Price. The topic today is, “Me Games”. Without getting into a big word like narcissism, how about let’s give a simple definition of me games? “Me games” means “I outshine others, especially you, and my … Continue reading →

Of the three C’s, character is the last, and quite probably the most important, it being the engine which drives our conduct and conversation. Across history many have spoken about the value and importance of being upright in our character, … Continue reading →

Of the three high points of leadership which i call the three C’s … conduct, conversation, and character, and our conversation, like our conduct, is a big indicator of our character. Most of us probably just talk along, and may … Continue reading →

Being a good leader is about having such exemplary conduct, character, and conversation others want to be like you. As a leader, you are the example, and as an example all that you are is contagious, even the hidden stuff … Continue reading →

This week has been like every other week in that there have been extraordinary moments, a very few low moments, but by far and large time has passed in the everyday doings of life, just like everyone else. On a … Continue reading →

Today’s program was written by Jerry Price. If there’s anything that sets up twisted games, it’s the Overconfident game. i find it interesting that confidence and arrogance often look very similar, except overconfidence is quite glaring and tells another story … Continue reading →

Hey. Come stand outside with me for a minute. Imagine yourself standing on the deck of a rural diner, overlooking a river. It’s seriously overcast and evening seems to have come early. Oh…it’s beginning to rain. First a few drops … Continue reading →

 Saved, but saved from who or what, and if we are saved “from” we must be saved “to”. After he prayed, the man declared, “I’ve been saved!” Everyone clapped and cheered amid encouragers to the man about his new life … Continue reading →

With And Together…. It’s summer finally, and the days are warm, vivid and green. The vegetable and fruit guy in his make shift hut is going full blast selling fruit, flowers, and berries. Some days it’s just so hot and … Continue reading →

Nahum 1: “Look! Striding across the mountains— a messenger bringing the latest good news: peace! Celebrate, worship and recommit to God! No more worries about this enemy. This one is history. Close the books.” Psalms 35: “But let me run … Continue reading →

Luke 10:25-35 is an interesting story of how we view other people and their needs. In the Biblical account, there are 8 characters:  Jesus, who tells the story, an expert in the law, a man who made a trip to … Continue reading →

“Always”, and “Never” are, what i call, ultimate words. There are very few things in this life we live which are “always”, and “never”, but yet in the Bible there are ultimate words used, and i believe the Lord wants … Continue reading →

Have you noticed or experienced how Christmas seems to tap into the soul’s emptiness for many, if not all of us? We are living in troubled times, world-wide! Something happened to our nation’s thinking facility because, partly, of what happened … Continue reading →

Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands … Continue reading →

My house stands with an air of confidence that is most noticeable in it’s situational serenity. My house is confident because God is confident. My house, from property line to property line is my Shalom place and even includes our … Continue reading →

Intellectual honesty, is when we know the truth and tell the truth, but along with our being honest, everyday, we must deal with the contrary nature of our body, the skin we wear, or what i call, our “skin talk”. … Continue reading →

God forgave Israel at their darkest moment, but it did not let them off the hook for their actions. We must find a balance here. Just because we forgive, everything is not suddenly “fine, just fine,” neither is it right … Continue reading →

Good evening! Here we are again, on the cusp of the close of the day, pondering what the occurrences or non-occurrences of things in our life, and looking forward to the developments of tomorrow. i’m Social Porter and this is … Continue reading →

Now this is serious, no satire or funny stuff. Way too commonly, i meet believers who “put on a face” just to get along, but underneath, it’s simply not what’s really going on. By saying “put on a face” i … Continue reading →

When i was a boy, more than a few times, in frustration, i would hear my dad say, “Boy, i tell you what, when i get to Heaven, i’ve got some questions for God. My entire life all i’ve heard … Continue reading →

i realize this is a story previously spoken of, but the Lord has illuminated to me the value of it again. A little definition is necessary to set the stage here. A moral is “concerned with the principles of right … Continue reading →

After reading a Charisma Magazine article about how many pastors leave the church every month, which is approximately 1500, I think I’m beginning to realize, from what I can hear and have read, that they’re leaving probably because they had … Continue reading →

Now, i’m not going to go down the longest list you ever heard concerning examples of heroes, the list would go around the earth several times. But what i do want to convey is that you, yes you, are a … Continue reading →

When i first met Jesus and went to church, i remember the story of Israel crossing the Red Sea and spending 40 years in the wilderness more than most other stories from the Bible. It’s a story of great deliverance, … Continue reading →

Synthesis of Nine Fruits of the Spirit At about program number 52 i began to notice a phenomenon within myself…it was the growing realization that i didn’t know what i thought i knew. You’ve heard the phrase, “Out on a … Continue reading →

The tragedy involving the Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Jovan Belcher stirred up a number of emotions and thoughts for me. We know that after the shooting and killing of his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, Belcher drove to a location near … Continue reading →

Common Sense, if you’ve got, use it, and if you need some, God’s got it. On February 18, 2003, I remember hearing the disturbing news that Robert Hanssen, a 25-year veteran of the FBI and expert in counterintelligence, had been … Continue reading →

Let’s step off the dock here and jump right in: What will it take for you to be OK with yourself? We say, “If they’d just …”, “If i could only …”, “If everyone would …”. Shoulda’, woulda’, might’ve … … Continue reading →

This evening is another beautiful evening on the banks of the beautiful Ockluhwahhah River, which flows south from here until it joins the French Broad many miles from the end of Old Field Road. For the sake of trivia, i … Continue reading →

My alarm was set for 6:30 A.M. i had been awake off and on during the night but at 6:30am i was absolutely dead to this world asleep. Amazingly, i should have heard the automatic “click” of the alarm kicking … Continue reading →

We hide, we are hiding, and often remain hidden. Hide, hiding, and hidden. i think, these days, many of us are hiding from God, but, you know, it’s not a childs game, and there’s no laughing and giggling to it … Continue reading →

Where are you on the “at rest” scale, with ten being at total rest, and zero, of course, being completely unnerved, twitchy, can’t settle your thoughts in one place, and restless? How about the “peace scale”? Are you feeling a … Continue reading →

Ever been in a relationship with someone where you felt if a new model came along, they’d gladly trade you in for a new one? I often hear from married couples how one partner or the other thinks and feels … Continue reading →

I won’t accept when things go wrong and to someone else, the blame belongs. That’s the blame game by choosing to be a victim for reasons of an agenda. When conflict comes our way, for those who play the “blame … Continue reading →

11.06.2024 Let the vision play. See this… Imagine yourself on a long stretch of highway and you’re driving. It’s a two-lane black top road. See yourself driving across mountains and valleys, wide places and desert places. One day, as you’re … Continue reading →

Sometimes examples of communication can be ridiculously funny. The Massachusetts Bar Association Journal printed the following questions that were actually asked of witnesses during a trial. Were you alone or by yourself? Was it you or your younger brother who … Continue reading →

Philippians 3:13-16, My friends, i’d like you to know that, although i have left and am definitely on my way, i don’t count myself as having arrived, nor do i think of myself as being at such level of spiritual … Continue reading →

We love to say, “We are living in a culture of honor at our church,” and it’s highly likely, at least on some level, that’s true. But after having spoken to quite a few people about what their idea of … Continue reading →

Our adversary, the merchandiser, is the one whose will is fully set against God and ourselves, now and forever. It’s important to know something of who it is that constantly grieves the nations as a whole and us as individuals. … Continue reading →

There are not many things as uncomfortable as someone scowling and aiming their finger at you. It is possible to inspire feelings of guilt in other people simply by scowling and aiming our bony finger at them. There is a … Continue reading →

Kindness  Kindness is not only what we do, but how we are and why we do what we do. As example, it is a kindness to listen, and a kindness to bury the dead. It’s the kind of virtue which … Continue reading →

The sky is clear, i mean not a cloud in the sky this evening, just blue and blue as far as you can see in any direction; as to God’s brilliance about His color – blue – it’s the color … Continue reading →

In this life, there are very few things which are always. Unless we’re speaking about strict identities, like man, woman, up, down, etc, most everything else can change it seems. i realize we’ve spoken of the words “always” and “never” … Continue reading →

Never. Just as there are several important things for us to know of the Lord which are always, there are several important things which are “never”, meaning at no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not ever. … Continue reading →

In another room in the house is a blue metal box with a small lockable latch, though the key is long gone. i’ve had it for years now. In it are things from when i was a boy, memento’s, little … Continue reading →

During a pressing need to sound spiritual among other spiritually knowledgeable people, i’ve used the word “purpose”, as in praying out loud, “Lord, help us that we would be more involved with your purposes.” But, here lately, the Lord has … Continue reading →

Hey now. i want to talk to you for a minute. We men seem to often have a really tangled idea in our heads about our wives. As if you couldn’t have guessed, this is mostly directed to men, but … Continue reading →

There comes a time in the lifespan of any believer when there seems to be no wind, no inspiration, no motivation, we don’t know what to pray, and maybe even all purpose for praying is a vacuum of sorts. Oh … Continue reading →

Jesus said, “The poor will always be with us.” My idea of poor and God’s idea of poor don’t line up well many times. Somehow, i’ve gotten it in my head that to say someone is poor, immediately into my … Continue reading →

Recently, a man says to me, “Why do we so often defer to anyone and everyone except God?” You know, that’s a real good question. Why do we do that? National Geographic has published several articles in the last year … Continue reading →

Church – an essay What is this thing we do? Not too long ago, someone in a group conversation asked, “Do I really, truly, have to go to church?”

Counsel And Exhortation (the doctrine of Instruction)            Proverbs 12:20, “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.” It seems these days there’s a lot of people who like to offer lots … Continue reading →

We’ve been pursuing a better view of the King of Kings whom we love and serve, to understand His character which would be to know His values, that we would be like Him, from beginning to end in honor of … Continue reading →

          Transitions can be very tough and if they’re not made in today’s world, it’s called an adjustment disorder. James writes as a Jewish man who knows something about transitions. There he was, a half-brother of Jesus, learning to get over … Continue reading →

If – If Only (or Might Have Been), in the world of “If Only” and “What might have been”. Almost, pretty much, just about, for the most part, if, maybe, might have been…yea but, yea but if… …if …if only … Continue reading →

A few years ago, there were several declarations saying God was going to increase the harvest and His people in an unprecedented way. There was coming increase in answered prayer as had never been charted in the history of Christianity; … Continue reading →

          Romans 15:14, “Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” The Lord is the personification of perfect choosing, and His heart … Continue reading →

Hey! The phone is ringing! Aren’t you going to answer it? i’d recognize that ring tone anywhere, i guarantee you it’s Jesus calling and He wants to talk to you. That phone has rung everyday of your life, just answer … Continue reading →

Set and Bearing Or Application And Provision In our beautiful Savior is justice based on accurate scales, He IS the perfect and just weight by which all standards of righteousness are based. He, himself, IS the Prince of Shalom, and Shayim, … Continue reading →

          In the early 1970’s Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, who were song writers for Stax Records wrote a song released by the Staple Singers titled, “Respect Yourself”. The lyrics were, If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how … Continue reading →

Intentions and inclinations. i believe anyone with a prophetic gift struggles with where God’s word to them ends and their imagination begins and it is hard won wisdom and maturity to sort those things out to do our gifting well. … Continue reading →

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall be saved.” – OR – God sent the world an invitation to come to His house, live and eat … Continue reading →

As the sun sets low and evening settles in until morning, the sky is absolutely hypnotic with its midnight blue directly overhead then fading to deep azure, and blazing pink and orange at the horizon. The world’s edge is so … Continue reading →

When God says “ALL”, He means what He says, All means all and nothing less than all. How often to we re-think God’s “all things” into being most things, some things, and a few things? We often seem to re-think … Continue reading →

We are all moving in the direction of our expectations, that for which we hope. Hope is always future-looking and is a type of “che’sed”, “that you may know I AM the Lord”. Do we have an anticipation that the … Continue reading →

As i woke up this morning, my eyes opened as they usually do, thank you Lord, to see the ceiling above my bed. In my house i’m glad their are ceilings. That means there’s a roof defending us from wind, … Continue reading →

                    Ting! Did you hear that? Listen again, “Ting!” That’s the sound in the Spirit when the Lord gives us ideas. “Ting!” Ah, there it is again. It’s not big, it’s not a boulder in your living room, but … Continue reading →

          Draw close to Him and He’ll draw close to you. Test Him. Phil 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus … Continue reading →

……the date is today, and the time is now. i’m Social Porter and this is Outposts, contemplative conversation, just for you in this season, at this time, where ever you are, be it grieving at home alone, or in the … Continue reading →

Let’s get right to the topic this evening – my guess is there are a lot of people who incur offense at the hands of others, mostly from family, friends, and the occasional stranger – probably, the worst of offenses … Continue reading →

          Wisdom. We won’t get far without it.           Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization resulting in the ability to choose to produce the optimum results, it is the comprehension of what is true and right coupled with right … Continue reading →

There is a strange stillness and subtle rippling of the Ockluhwahhah River this evening with it’s subtle greens and grays in the twilight of the day, as if time worries no one and the freedom of the water is at … Continue reading →

Love  In a 1985 Grammy award-winning song written by Terry Britten and Lyle Graham, as performed by Tina Turner, took the airwaves by storm… “What’s love got to do, got to do, got to do with it? What’s love but … Continue reading →

          i had a dream where i went to a friends house. As i pulled into his driveway the first thing i noticed was that his house was surrounded by a tall wooden fence, high enough that you couldn’t hardly … Continue reading →

Honesty is like a magnet radiating a strong magnetic force; in the heart of God’s people it is a clear bell set on a hill; like a clarion call it draws truth-hungry people to engage. Honesty should be one of … Continue reading →

Joy Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the … Continue reading →

Goodness           Goodness is intrinsic and essential to good works. From God’s perspective, doing good things is not His definition of “good works”. In order to have “good works”, the foundational element of our character must be … Continue reading →

Gentleness              i heard a story of a corporal at Valley Forge who was directing three men as they tried to lift a log into place. It was too heavy, but the corporal commanded again and again, “All right, men, … Continue reading →

Self-Control           Oh my gosh! In this country do we even have any self-control, which literally means that our thinking is on a level path? One group thinks the other is on a downhill skid, the second group is absolutely … Continue reading →

From the desk of Larry Foldoe The trusted delegates and scholars were in a struggle.  There was so much disagreement, clashes of opinion and heated discussion with little resolution to their task.  After more than three weeks of closed-door meetings, … Continue reading →

Peace i find the Lord often uses contrasts to teach us about Himself, and how to conduct ourselves worthy of our calling in Christ. Frequently the best way to understand God’s perspective about Shalom peace is to also investigate the … Continue reading →

Longsuffering            And there i sat, day after day … the sun came up and the sun went down … the seasons came and went … days went by …  waiting to hear from the Lord. Three years and not … Continue reading →

Among all of the things we all do, everyone does a good thing here and there, obviously some more than others, even the worst of people do something good from time to time, and i suppose it also depends on … Continue reading →

Why study the Attributes of God? Daniel 11:32 says that “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Omnipotent Omnipresent Omniscient Immutable Eternal Faithfulness Love Goodness Holy Impartial Incomprehensible Infinite Jealous Justice Longsuffering Mercy Righteous … Continue reading →

          Don’t give up, we’re too close to going home and now is not a good time to quit.           The news media reports so much discouragement, it’s seems difficult for most to escape the landslide of bad news. Sometimes … Continue reading →

                 Millions of people, mill around, go to work, talk on their cell phones (or at least pretend to), are married, and have children. Many are living in neighborhoods around the world, communities where everyone is surrounded by everyone … Continue reading →

We typically think in concepts, and one key concept in scripture today is the idea of what to keep and what to toss out. That may seem like a simple thing, but consider carefully the world of a hoarder. To … Continue reading →

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness             Isaiah 25:1, “Yahweh, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” An attribute of God is His … Continue reading →