Daily Bible Verses

We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, (1 Cor 1:23)

Richard Rohr describes how Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ death critiques both the conservatives and liberals of his day: 

One of the dialectics that Paul presents is the perennial conflict between “conservative” and “liberal”, to use today’s terms. In his writings, Paul’s own people, the Jews, are the stand in for pious, law-abiding traditionalists; the…

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

The earliest documentary witness to Jesus Christ which we possess is the witness of mysticism; and it tells us, not about His earthly life, but about the intense and transfiguring experience of His continued presence, enjoyed by one who had never known Him in the flesh.  

Paul was a great contemplative: we have not only a sense of vivid contact with the Risen…

“Because of Christ, I now consider my former advantages as disadvantages.… All of it is mere rubbish if only I can have a place in him” (Philippians 3:7–8).

Richard Rohr writes of conversion as an experience of participating in divine reality: 
Before conversion, we tend to think God is out there. After transformation, God is not out there, and we don’t look at reality. We’re in the middle of it now; we’re a part of it. This whole thing is what I call the mystery of…

‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”  But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.’ Matthew 5:38–42

Jesus sits close to his disciples, teaching…

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.  (1 Timothy 1:15)

Richard Rohr explores how Paul’s mystical encounter with the risen Christ led him to embrace paradoxical thinking. 

Meeting the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus changed everything for Paul. He experienced the great paradox that the crucified Jesus was in…

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 …

“Whatever you do to these least ones, you do to me” (Matthew 25:40)

Richard Rohr describes the apostle Paul’s transforming encounter with the risen Christ, which changed Paul from a vengeful zealot into a universal mystic.  

Paul is probably one of the most misunderstood and disliked teachers in Christianity. I think this is largely because we have tried to understand a nondual mystic with our simplistic, dualistic…

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)

Nothing in the Gospels suggests that Jesus was interested in creating a religion. He was offering everyone a chance for a peaceful and fulfilling life by adopting a different set of values. The crux, of course, is a shift from judgment, competition, and aggression to the rule of an open heart…

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ (Mark 10:25)

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-08-8-meaningful-life-is-more-important-than-money-r2 

‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, Matthew 4:19

Jesus came to teach us the way of wisdom by bringing us a message that offers to liberate us from both the lies of the world and the lies lodged within ourselves. The wisdom of the gospel creates an alternative consciousness, solid ground on which we can really stand, free from every social order and every ideology. The preaching of the gospel pulls the rug out from under us, and we have to put our life…

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; (Hebrews 11:29)

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-08-6-the-people-r25

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,…

Wisdom is another way of knowing and understands things at a higher level of inclusivity, which we call “transformation” or nondualistic thought.  
—Richard Rohr, Things Hidden 

Richard Rohr considers wisdom a path of transformation based on humility and honesty and grounded in reality.    

There is a…

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Cynthia Bourgeault says “When I talk about Jesus as a wisdom master, I need to mention that in the Near East “wisdom teacher” is a recognized spiritual occupation … one who taught the ancient traditions of the transformation of the human being. 

These teachers of transformation—among whom I would place the authors of the Hebrew wisdom literature such as…

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you…

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, ‘My grace is…

Matthew 13:45–46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Richard…

There is a common misperception that deeply distorts the reading of the Scriptures and much spirituality. I call it “spiritual capitalism,” which centers around a common philosophy of “I can do it, and I must do it, and I will do it.” This is the mindset of early-stage ego consciousness. It puts all the emphasis and total reliance on “me,” my effort, and my spiritual accomplishments. It has little active trust in God’s grace and mercy.

Unfortunately, the driving energy is fear and more…

Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” 

As we seek to learn from the wisdom our anger has to teach us, Brian McLaren offers this prayer of blessing:   

May you be blessed to see in your anger, not just a danger, but an opportunity. May you be blessed to see in your anger a window into what you love. May…

13 ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be…

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-08-1-radical-rest-r25

28 ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29…

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-07-30-finding-kolkata-r25 

How lovely is your dwelling-place,
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul…

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-07-28-zeitgeist-r25 

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptised by^[…

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-07-25-do-what-jesus-does-r25

Be kind and compassionate, be quick to forgive one another. (Ephesians 4:32)

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-07-21-stooping-r25

4 They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 
5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.…