Joe Barnett

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.                            —John 8:7 “Adulteress!” they shrieked. “We caught her. The law says to stone her. What do you say?” “The guy that’s never sinned should throw […]

I who speak to you am he.           —John 4:26 For those who eagerly anticipated the coming of Messiah the good life didn’t begin with once upon a time, but with there will come a time. Misery was made bearable by belief that when Messiah came things would get better. Those

I am the light of the world.                  —John 8:12 If your hair has gone gray you’re old enough to remember Carson Robison’s song, Life Gets Teejus, Don’t It? Sun comes up and the sun goes down. The hands on the clock keep goin’ around. I just get

One has this gift, another has that.              —1 Corinthians 7:7 Today consciously commit your gift to God: Father, you have given me the gift you have chosen for me. I now commit myself and my gift to you to use when you please, where you please, as you please.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.                    —Romans 12:6 Moses had a staff. Rahab had a rope. David had a sling. Dorcas had a needle. And then there was the guy that had a donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and into the

Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.                —Philippians 2:4 Her grocery cart was packed with enough junk food to clog the arteries of half the population of Chicago. Seeing the shopper behind her eyeballing her heart-attack-waiting-to-happen grub, she laughed and said,

Be quick to listen, slow to speak.                  —James 1:19 The bumper sticker caught my eye: “My wife says I never listen to her—or something like that.” Are you a good listener? It’s easy to get in the habit of tuning out when we should be tuning in.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning.                            —Proverbs 1:5 It was printed in the church bulletin: “There will be no service on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.” Ditto in the Sunday handout: “There will be no service on Wednesday night before

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.         —Matthew 6:21 Most of us are outlandishly rich compared to those who populate the world’s poorest places. With a super market around the corner, a late-model car in the garage, and a house filled with enough stuff to make the queen

I will come back and take you to be with me.           —John 14:3 “I will be with you only a little longer,” Jesus told his friends. They were like children playing with their toys when they see Mom and Dad put on their coats and head out the door. They