PaulStiver.com

5 Christmases ago I was dead in my sins a 27 year old husk of "What might have beens" rebellion, corruption, completed rejection hater of spiritual things, Edenic defection not loving good, a brute fully lost my sinful rap sheet laminated/embossed a mess, a nightmare trapped in a good person heart full of hatred a mouthful of cursing no one more deserving someone fully worthy --- of God's own rejection (not the Son's full perfection) wrath - the gallows death knell to me Is what I deserved my blind eyes couldn't see grasping at walls, looking for life in the bottle - good works community service relationships to flourish "I'm not a sinner, no way, not me" I'm trying so hard, sure got flaws but I'm good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood Till God intervened parted my heart's Red Sea torn asunder, ripped apart The Morning Star dawned in my darkened heart Profound absurity laughing like Sara...

Each year around my birthday (for the past three years), I like to share my thoughts from the previous year. These are keen and not so keen observations, musings, and the like. Feel free to read and disagree, silently judge, or even criticize these -- I'll probably never know that you did that! Those little nose pimples that you get on the inside of your nostril from time to time are the worst.  Life is really, really hard. We aren't meant to go it alone. We need community. I've lived most of my life thinking the opposite, but I'm realizing I need people more and more as I get older.  Social media lives are not reality. Who are you trying to impress? Who am  I  trying to impress? Fear is perhaps our strongest motivator. Beware of any person who tries to influence you based on your fears. Has craft beer jumped the shark? I will neither confirm, nor deny. But you know what will never jump the shark. A nice cold domestic. Also, I recently learned that Bud Ligh...

Augustine of Hippo is famously quoted as saying to God, "You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find rest in you." We have to consider this: If God really is our Creator, and the Bible really is His inspired word, God's words and instructions for us are life. He is our Maker and he knows how we are made. Therefore, when we are reading the Bible, we are looking into the truth about ourselves. We are grasping onto the truth of how we are wired to operate, which means we can be learning true wisdom. Let's think about wisdom in a few contexts from the Scriptures, and we can weigh for ourselves the authority we think they deserve. A Pure Heart: Wisdom in Conduct From the New Testament James 3:13–18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is ...

I don't know if you've been to a Costco on a Sunday, but it is an unreal human experience. There are people everywhere , sluggishly pushing their shopping carts around one another, with no real flow of movement. Yet, onwardly we trudge, navigating a sea of products and deals, all in bulk, occasionally in unreasonable amounts. Today as we were leaving Costco, there was quite a backup of cars. Miraculously we made it to the exit of the parking lot, only to be met by some cross-traffic that must be waited for. As I waited for the truck pulling a U-turn, and the Honda following behind him, the car behind me jumped out, as if to go around me. I responded with less than kind words, as I am still a work in progress. He realized his mistake (the truck was still in-process of completing the U-turn) and ended up having to wait for me anyway. But, there is something about having to wait that reveals to us just how impatient we are. Go to Costco on a Sunday, wait to get access to th...

Psalm 19 is a triumph and certainly among some of the most beautiful words ever written. The Psalm rejoices in God's general revelation of his glory and splendor that shines through in the world he has created, and then turns to delight and praise God through the exaltation of his word which comes to us as special revelation. Let's look at Psalm 19 as a whole, while zooming in more on God's law. Psalm 19 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circ...

The Old Testament contains 5 Books which are called the "Wisdom Literature" and guide us in the ways of relating to God and the world wisely. These books are: Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Each book offers a different and unique insight into what it means to walk in the world as one of God's people. The books also interrelate with one another and supplement one another, helping to form a reader that has a well-versed understanding of who God is, who they are, how the world works, and how one must live. In the interrelation, Psalm 1 essentially capitalizes on the basic underlying teaching of the Proverbs, which is this: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Psalm 1 lays out a path for what it looks like to be a wise person in this world. Let's dig into the text: Psalm 1 Book One The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked 1 Blessed is the man     who walks not ...

2019 is here, people! Out of the abundant favor of God, we are here in Nebraska as I write this, staying at a lovely AirBnB as a family, celebrating the holiday and enjoying time together. Last night, we were studying Ephesians 3 as we prepared for the New Year, and it seemed like such a fitting and beautiful prayer to ring in 2019, that I wanted to pass it along. Here is the prayer that I am joining with the Apostle Paul almost 2000 years ago in praying for myself and others, and for you and for those you love. Prayer for Spiritual Strength 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and ...