R. Duane Gryder’s blogs on Christian unity, HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry, S.O.A.P. Devotionals*, etc.
* S.O.A.P. Devotionals are done using this process. S – Scripture O – Observation A – Application P – Prayer
For S.O.A.P. Devotionals CLICK HERE
After our recent milestone anniversary, many wanted to know our “secret” for staying happily married for forty-five years. I guess the honest answer would be that we have not been happily married the entire forty-five years. Marriage is neither always happy nor always easy, but I would not have wanted to spend the past forty-five years with anyone else. And even if I had to make the same mistakes again, I would do it all over again. A good marriage, like raising good kids, requires a lot of work and at times endurance. Raising bad kids would...
read moreIn the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. –John 1:1-5 NLT So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the...
read moreI was thinking about when I first learned to tune my guitar. I did not have a digital meter like we have today. I had a little instrument that you played each note and compared the sound of each string to the sounds of the horn. Pressure from tension on the string is what brings it in tune. You either increase or decrease the pressure to get each string to play just right. You had to do this more than once, because each time you adjusted other strings, it would affect the pressure on the others. Once you had all of them close, you compared...
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read moreMy dad, James Richard Gryder, Jr. went to be with our Lord this morning. Some people struggle with understanding God as a loving father, because of the relationship they had with their own dads. That was not the case with us, our dad was the most loving and caring man I ever knew in my life. He often helped people who were less fortunate even when things were a little tight for himself. I have helped him deliver groceries to people who were struggling, or buy gas for a family so they could go home for Christmas.Dad was one of the most...
read moreI am by nature a one who loves to dig things out through study. Early in my life, I was taught things that were not biblical and when pressed to have them backed up with scripture or even early church tradition the answer always seemed to be “this is what we teach” or “I was taught this by pastor so-in-so.” That did not satisfy me. I needed to know that what I teach can be backed up biblically. That being said, even with all the study that I can do, I still have to have those moments when I am alone with God and my...
read moreI keep hearing people talk about those who are apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastors and teachers. I am an Ephesians 4 kind of guy, so this has always intrigued me. Some refer to these four fold ministries (I believe pastor/teacher is one so I do not call it five fold ministries) as Holy Spirit gifting, but that is not what the text refers to. Look at the verses leading up to verse 11 and you will find the “He” who “Himself” gave these had to be Jesus, Himself. The gifts of the Spirit are described in...
read moreThe rancher had picked up this cowboy pastor to go work a round up for him. As they rode in the pickup, the rancher would cuss and then apologize to the preacher. The pastor told him, “I have a cure for that, but it will make you swell up for about three days.” The rancher asked what it was. “James 1:26” was the pastor's reply. The next day, after the rancher again apologized for cussing, the pastor asked if he had read James 1:26 and the rancher said, “not yet.” The next day the rancher was madder than...
read moreDoctrine (Latin: doctrina) is a code of beliefs or “a body of teachings” or “instructions”, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. Over and over, I hear people say that doctrine is not important. In fact, people will follow after anything that has signs and wonders even though Jesus warned about using that to measure whether something is right or not. “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to...
read moreI received a new pair of riding glasses a while back. It is always interesting when I get new lenses with a new prescription. I measure how well they work with five factors. I see how well I can see to read a book, road signs, and license plates for the first three. The last two are leaves on trees and high line wires. The first three are obvious, especially since I spend a lot of time reading to study as a minister and on the road as a motorcycle chaplain. The last two come from when I first started wearing glasses. I was in the third grade...
read moreI have always believed that you should invest outside of your own personal ministry, even when I was a pastor, or for that matter all the way back when I was a youth pastor in the dark ages. I am talking much more than finances. Yes, we send monthly support to several other missionaries, LFTL, and to special projects in the North Texas District and the West Texas District among others that we send support on an irregular basis. But money is not all there is that should be given. As a pastor my passions outside of the ministry to and for the...
read moreThe message of salvation is often misunderstood today. The passage in Romans 10:9-11 is simply stated, but seems to be totally misquoted. 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”Romans 10:9-11 (NIV) What is this “LORD” thing?...
read moreBack in 1975, this was the prayer that I prayed every day. A t shirt printing london company embroidered it and it has been on my office wall for years. It has always been my goal. Maybe it is time to resume praying it again. Make me like you , Lord. Lord give me the mind of Christ, Eyes that I might see the needs of others, Ears to hear your perfect Word, and a Mouth that I might speak your truth. Lord, strengthen my shoulders that I would be able to bear the problems of others, Give me strong arms that I might be able to reach out and bring...
read moreThis was the Bible the pastor brought to me at my house on the afternoon after I had walked the aisle of the church on Sunday morning. This Gideon Bible was used to explain salvation to me in 1964. I had walked the aisle on Sunday morning at First Baptist church in Eunice, NM. The pastor had prayed for me and then asked my mom and dad if he could come by our house that afternoon. All these years later, no other day stands out in my memory like this one. Sure, there were other great days: the day Janet accepted a date with me, the day I...
read moreBehold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!Psalm 133:1 KJV I have been reminded by someone recently of something I have said many times. It is that what one of us does affects all of the rest of us who call ourselves Christian. I would like to think that we could each stand on our own merit, but have to admit that it is just not true for Christians. I remember watching the three musketeers when I was a child as they shouted, “One for all and all for one!” Whether we like it or not, this is true...
read moreTime and time again, I hear Christians talk about the need to be Christ-like. Philippians 2:5 even says for us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” He is our perfect example and our goal for the way we think and the way we do things. And yet, we seldom implement His methods or His way of treating both the religious and the lost. Often pastors and church members are careful to not have any contact with the lost, less they give the appearance of evil by association. We are much more comfortable with...
read moreI received this poem from a friend: MY OATH TO YOU… When you are sad…………….I will dry your tears When you are scared………..I will comfort your fears When you are worried……….I will give you hope When you are confused…….I will help you cope And when you are lost………And can’t see the light I shall be your beacon………Shining ever so bright This is my oath………………..I pledge till the end Why you...
read moreI had a friend that suffered loss a while back that left him in a bit of a bind. I prayed for him, but when I did the Lord had me give him a gift instead of just praying. I was thinking about this today and this scripture came to mind. I wonder how many times we are made aware of needs and pray a prayer of “faith” which we intend to meet that need but do not pray a prayer of “faith” that asks the Lord if we are to do something. I particularly like the wording from the Message paraphrase. James 2:14-26 The Message 14...
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