Episodes

The God of all comfort is our all in all. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we ar...

Our five-minute devotional today is longer than five minutes, but we also take care of a bit of business in this episode. I know many of you pray for the Free Range Preacher on prayer, and I do thank you. It is also one of the reasons we have confidence when the unexpected happens. For the last few weeks, I have been able to be the helper for Cathy's health bumps and not the helpie! Today we consider three passages: "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or thi...

Editor's note (that's Fred) We have had some life stuff in the providence of God and s little none-sense of Fred, which have delayed this episode. For the providence of Almighty God, we are thankful. As per my none-sense, I edited this a little differently this time, and instead of the process being shorter, it was much longer. I am sorry and was about to say I'll not be doing that again, but Richard has already told me a time or two or 321, "Don't make promises you can't keep! So, I'll try not ...

In examining the question, "What is Prayer?" We accidentally learn why we pray. Even though no Biblical person asks why we pray? Their lives reveal our anguished need for prayer. We are sinners. Until glory, we struggle with sin. Prayer is the act of faith that assures our soul. We are complex lonely beings, and prayer brings us into the arms of our heavenly Father, who knows us, holds us, and comforts us. Some of my favorite prayers: Hannah, 1 Samuel 1. Fathers calling out for their children, M...

J.C. Ryle is beginning to wrap up his treatise on "A Call to Prayer." In the first step in this short, from his perspective, and final set of appeals, he has specific admonish for those in need of saving grace, and next time, to the prayerless child of God. Samples: "Oh, prayerless reader, who and what are you that you will not ask anything of God? Have you made a covenant with death and hell? Are you at peace with the worm and the fire? Have you no sins to be pardoned? Have you no fear of etern...

In 1951, “Nature, Man, and God” by Willian Temple was published much later than I thought. In this book, the finest description of the heart of true Christian worship can be found: “Quicken your conscience with the Holiness of God. Feed your mind with the Word of God.
Purge your imagination with the Beauty of God. Open your heart with the Love of God. Devote you will to the Purpose of God.” The verbatim prayer I pray each day, and add: “Teach me today of Thee Thyself. Help me to live:
At peace w...

Five minutes of truth is our food for inexhaustible hope, peace, and comfort. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:2-5 Our soul humble Church knows it very well, "Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well." Ps...

It is not any hyperbole or overstatement to say prayer puts all He has done for my soul into proper perspective. His promises of eternal life have been affirmed as only could be, by sincere converse, prayer, and the word, with my Savior. Part of what we have labeled "the grammar of prayer" we have talked about: The Foundation - our relationship with Almighty God. The Frame - The Holy Spirit and Faith. Today, in general, we know the Holy Ghost is our teacher and leader, who convicts us of our sin...

Category Five-Minute Devotional A new feature, long ago and far away, we started what I wanted to be a short daily devotional. Neither The Free Range, F.O.P. (Fred's Operating Procedure) or production were quality enough to make that reality. After all my Maestro - Richard Durrington's work, we can faithfully meditate on two weekly Devotional episodes. We begin with verse 1 of Psalm 103: Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. God is: In the beginning, God crea...

I scoff on the lapel of all who say the Bible is not relevant to our day. Habakkuk faced times similar to our tumult he saw terrible judgment coming, and God confirmed the news in answer to his prayer, yet he confesses: Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:18-19 How was he able to make that confession in the face of such unbelievable times?...

How do you distinguish between a cherry tree and a pare tree? I use all my knowledge in plantology to know how. But critically: Samual Rutherford wrote: "Wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have all the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you." J.C. Ryle, Rutherford, and all serious teachers of the word of God emphasize the symptoms of true faith. Or the evidence of true faith. Why? Because the Bible heavily focuses on that necessity. John the...

In examining the question, "What is Prayer?" We accidentally learn why we pray. Even though no Biblical person asks why we pray? Their lives reveal our anguished need for prayer. We are sinners. Until glory, we struggle with sin. Prayer is the act of faith that assures our soul. We are complex lonely beings, and prayer brings us into the arms of our heavenly Father, who knows us, holds us, and comforts us. Some of my favorite prayers: Hannah, 1 Samuel 1. Fathers calling out for their children, M...

Today, a prayer of celebration, our hundredth episode, and for strength in this season of upheaval, and for a year of jubilee, for God is working to do His will and give His beloved Kingdom, victories, and Himself as Yahweh-Nissi, God the banner over our heads. Echos of Holy Writ, some Puritans, and the heart of the podcast host, in our supplication and worship to our Savior: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be hon...

The words of Richard Baxter are earthy, moving, and convicting. He echos the truth, that we can begin to enjoy God's rest as we seek Him foremost. Baxter in "The Saints Everlasting Rest" brings us to tears, and He laments in the voice of God: "How must we offend our dear Lord when we give him cause to complain, as he did of our fellow idolaters: "My people have been lost sheep; they have forgotten their resting-place. My people can find rest in anything rather than in me. They can delight in one...

After a Fight, Fall, Fight, I experienced a Funeral. It was the funeral of my dad. The worst tragedy of my life. You can listen to the series in order. Personal/Powerful Prayer Lesson published March 20, 2023. Personal/Powerful Prayer Lesson 2 - The Fight, from March 28. The Fall was posted on April 14. The Flight is on April 28. God worked all those together, along with an accident, a letter, and a reminder, "Dad, you're my hero.." To save the soul of my dad. The breadth and length, height and ...

Joshua's words are a challenge of belief. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. But what after you have made that decision? What is our process when facing a below-average life in this flesh? As we will see from J.C. Ryle, our first response to every circumstance should be, "As for me, I will seek the Lord." Richard Baxter adds his most probing Question: "Are not the comforts you desire neglected or resisted?" "Oh that men would understand that happiness, does not depend on outward cir...

God answered my prayer in the third quarter of 1984 and sent Cathy and me back to Phoenix to continue and finish my education. On the way back, we desired to fish and camp from Boise to northern Idaho and visit with every friend who wanted to join us. Our desire would never come to pass. God used a broken deal at work, a broken truck, broken ribs, whiplash, and a necessary recovery time to provide the most profound comfort I would ever need after the saddest event I have yet to experience. God's...

Category: Our Extended Ryle. “Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.” “Wha...

Category - Devotional Humanity, one and all, are a bruised reed and smoking flax. It is not until the pain makes us desperate for mercies outside ourselves we will not call out to the only name given among men, by which we must be saved! So writes Richard Sibbes: "The bruised reed is a man that for the most part is in some misery, as those were that came to Christ for help, and by misery he is brought to see sin as the cause of it, for, whatever pretences sin makes, they come to an end when we a...

Category: Biblical - Exhortation In 1984, a death would occur, the death of my father. As God used a single prayer of faithful Hannah to give her a son, give a prophet to Israel (Samuel), and fulfill His promise to judge the unrighteous priests troubling all of Israel, He answered my prayer to lead me back to Phoenix to finish school, encourage my heart, refresh my vision of my dad, and lay the groundwork for His salvation, all through what looked to me to be a fall. Ponder your life carefully, ...

Category: Our Extended Ryle We view the most sweeping and joyous section of “A Call to Prayer.” Today is the most extended quote from J.C. Ryle thus far, and that is a blessing. More of the genius of Bishop Ryle and less of me is always a good thing. “Some without doubt have a larger cup of sorrow to drink than others. But few are to be found who live long without sorrows or cares “of one sort or another. Our bodies, our property, our families, our children, our relations, our servants, our frie...

Category: Biblical Our expectation for this episode is twofold: Malachi 3:6 6 “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Hebrews 13:8 Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. He takes His word seriously, Luke 6:26 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. So what? He listens to our prayers, and amid His answers, He orchestrates the victory ...

Category: Our Extended Ryle What do you think when you hear duty, glory, and excellence? When in "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," Jeremiah Burroughs talks of the "Duty, Glory, and Excellency of a Christian," being our goal in Christian contentment, which can be seen as a summary of the Puritan thought on the Christian life. "And what is the best means of cheerfulness in such a world as this? How shall we get through this valley of tears with least pain? I know no better means than the ...

Growing - Encouragement (A republished episode in preparation for parts 2-7 in the same series.) God’s abundant life is learned through prayer. In the book "Devoted to God" by Sinclair Ferguson writes of God's perfect will: "The Lord is the Master of the jigsaw puzzle of our lives. The pieces may be strangely shaped; often we cannot see how they fit together; but eventually when the big picture is complete we will see that each piece was perfectly shaped. He leads us by ways we could not have gu...