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Reveration Blog

2/1/2026 1 Comment

Bumper Stickers

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 I was walking through a Walmart parking lot and couldn’t help but notice different bumper stickers on the back windows of cars and trucks. 
·               
The words “Raising Arrows” sat underneath three arrows pointed north. I thought what a great statement, a parent who no doubt is reflecting Psalm 127:4,5:

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.”
​ Another read, “I Support Single Moms,” accompanied a picture of a woman wrapped around a pole. Proverbs 19:3 came to mind, “A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.”
·               
Many vehicles displayed the University of Georgia’s Bulldog logo, featuring a G surrounded by red. 

·               
One logo was so nasty that it would be inappropriate to share. The prophet Isaiah wrote, 
“Woe to those who drag  wickedness with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes” (Isaiah 5:18).         
 
Meditation 
Psalm 34:3--Proclaim Yahweh’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.
71:17--God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim Your wonderful works.
 
Bumper stickers are works of proclamation. They tell people what is important or not important to us. They provide a way to convey humor. They suggest values, loyalties, how we think or don’t think. They state who or what we like or dislike. They reveal safety protocols or recklessness.  They show places we have been and the right to free expression. 
           
In a way, our lives are bumper stickers. Just as we ought to be thoughtful and purposeful about what we proclaim on our vehicles, so we ought to be attentive and wise about what we broadcast in the way we live. I am reminded of the story of the woman who lost her temper, honked at, and berated the driver in front of her for stopping at a crosswalk, causing her to miss the green light ahead. The policeman who was behind her pulled her over. He asked for her license and insurance, and she demanded to know what she had done wrong. After checking her information, the policeman returned and said, I’m sorry, ma’am. I pulled you over because the car’s bumper stickers read “What would Jesus do?” and featured a fish emblem. I assumed the car must have been stolen.
 
Inspiration
“In our behavior, in the words we write and speak, we can become ambassadors of God's inspiration. Whenever we strive to lift up others in ways that are good and noble we are serving as radiating centers for God's inspiration.”—Wilferd Peterson
 
©2026 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10—"The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.”  (Holman CSB)

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1 Comment

3/19/2025 2 Comments

Overflowing Hope

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L-R: Bill Wadley, Dan York, Laura Wadley
​He had a pretty rough upbringing with three different mothers and two different fathers.[1] His dad was an alcoholic and gambling addict. His 16-year-old birth mom was a drug and alcohol abuser. At the age of five, he had to take care of three half-siblings in the apartment, and if anything was broken or went wrong, he was beaten.  He was seventeen before he found out his stepdad was not his real father.  ​

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9/9/2023 1 Comment

Bent Over

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​Meditation
Luke 13:10—11--As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ​

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7/26/2023 1 Comment

Dried Up

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​The earth is tilting? What? 
Pumping groundwater appears to have a greater consequence than ever previously thought. But now—thanks to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters--we can see that, in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater. This equates to .24 inches of sea level rise.[1]
I’m unsure of the science of tying the earth’s tilt to pumping groundwater, but I know God is sometimes the primary cause of disasters and climate change.

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10/3/2022 1 Comment

When the Sea Rages

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Hurricane Ian unleashed its rain and winds upon Florida, and conservative estimates think the cost of damages could exceed $55 billion.[1]  That is a horrific blow to the lives of all affected. Ian did not catch Florida by surprise because sophisticated satellite tracking and imaging allowed meteorologists to be pretty accurate in tracking the storm’s course and speed. That is a good thing because it allowed people to prepare for the storm and, if necessary, escape to safety. But imagine if you were on a boat with your smartphone and a mobile weather app that called for clear skies and warm weather when suddenly a furious squall came out of nowhere and threatened everyone’s lives?  That is what happened to Jonah (except none of them had smartphones).

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3/14/2021 0 Comments

Separated Ones

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​A group of people determined to separate themselves in the pursuit of holiness.  They gave themselves a name—Perushim, which means separated ones. Over time as they concentrated on holy living, they became proud and self-righteous. On the outside they looked great but on the inside they rotted.[1]

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6/6/2020 2 Comments

Why (and How) Everything Matters

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The word everything has two meanings: every single thing or total; all; and, something enormously important.  For this writing, both definitions apply.  I was quite taken by how powerfully this word weaves throughout Scripture.  From a number of passages beginning in Psalms, and camping primarily in the New Testament, I have constructed seven key premises that in turn give us a strong foundation as Christians with which to tackle any and all issues.  My desire is to specifically address the two major issues that dominate our society at this time:  politics and racism/prejudice.  By the sheer complexity and magnitude of this undertaking this devotional will require your patience and time to digest.  ​

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5/4/2018 0 Comments

The God of Cause

Some of the most passionate people on the face of the planet are those who believe they are invested in an important cause.  You, like I, have probably encountered those who are zealous about taking care of the planet.  Their message against pollution and warnings about callously disregarding the land, sea and sky are noble.  We should be good stewards of what God created. 

Others are zealous for same-sex rights, prolife or prochoice.  Still others crusade against guns or for the right to bear arms, against drunk drivers or for the right to smoke weed, against corruption in the government or for laws ensuring all children are vaccinated. 

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5/31/2017

Loss of Objectivity

Meditation
Mark 8:31-33—Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.  He was openly talking about this.  So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.  But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s!”
 
Peter watched Jesus perform unfathomable miracles.  He listened to life-changing teaching.  Inspired, he walked on water and touched the Son of God. So is it surprising that he scolded Jesus for predicting a morbid, unmessiahlikeending?  He was simply registering logical sentiment—the very kind Satan loves to feed us. 

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9/25/2016 4 Comments

Six Benefits of Helping the Poor

I want to share with you a moment burned into my mind as a poignant testimony to generosity.  My daughter, Sarah and I, experienced this moment in the city of Cerro de Pasco, Peru, in 2002.  In the course of ministering to a small church in this town located at the top of the Andean mountains, we met street children who were collecting trash or anything of value they could find on the streets, in order to garner a handful of coins.

​Although home to one of the deepest silver mines in the world, Cerro de Pasco’s 70,000 inhabitants are mostly poor.   One would think that any money a child could scrape would be zealously guarded and used for food or clothing.  But these joyful children tithed from what they had in order to give to missionaries.  It was a demonstration of the poorest giving to the poor to honor and expand God’s work. Someday I hope to learn how God blessed them!

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4 Comments

5/3/2012 0 Comments

Pierced to the Heart

​Meditation
Acts 2:36,37—“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”  When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles:  “Brothers, what must we do?”
 

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10/7/2011 1 Comment

Boxer

​Pound for pound Manny Pacquiao may be the best boxer ever.  Born December 17, 1978, Manny is not just a Filipino fighter; he is also a politician, musician and actor.   Given his popularity, he may be his country’s president someday.  Manny is the first boxer to become an eight-division world champion.  He won six world titles and is the first man to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes—an astounding accomplishment.  The Boxing Writers Association of America named Manny the “Fighter of the Decade” for the 2000s.[1]  


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12/13/2008 0 Comments

Humanism

​If ever there was a need for prayer, it will be for a man named Obama.  He inherits a nation at war with a stressed out economy.  He will pilot a land divided in opinion in the midst of a world looking for a messiah. He will render senior leadership in a most complicated government with junior experience and little room for failure. He will face a press that is woeful in gathering all the facts and enemies that would love to see this nation destroyed.  He will need wisdom from above in a culture that increasingly follows an ethical theory and practice “that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God.”* 

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9/23/2008 0 Comments

Strategic

Nigeria is a nation of over 146 million people—the largest populated country in Africa.   It comprises more than 250 ethnic groups of which the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, and Tiv 2.5%.*  In mass Nigeria is over twice the size of California.  The nation is located on the Gulf of Guinea and shares borders with the countries of Benin, Cameroun, Chad and Niger.  Our team ministered in the city of Jos which literally means Jesus Our Savior!  Jos is part of the Plateau State (Nigeria has 36 states) which sits in the middle of the country.  

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6/18/2008 0 Comments

Ironman

​On the plane from Atlanta to Portland, I sat next to a salesman and a lawyer. We had a great time sharing stories, food and funny video clips during our five hour flight.  Matt shared with us that he was headed to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho to compete in the Ironman competition.  On Sunday, his goal is to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles in 12 hours!  We pumped him with questions and he shared his training regimen, thrills and spills in past competitions.  And then he told us the secret to his perseverance.  

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7/29/2004

Essentials

​What in life truly matters?  Imagine if God placed you in a huge glass pot in the middle of a giant plaza where hundreds of thousands of people walk by you.  He turns a dial that sets in motion transforming heat from coils underneath the container on which you stand.  All that you have and represent on earth, as a Christian, is about to be melted down into the pure essentials which define and determine your worth.  What crystalline object will the world see?  All you have lived for and what characterizes you is about to emerge in some distinctive shape.

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12/13/2002

Nirvana

​You’ve no doubt heard someone say “All roads lead to God.”  While the statement may be sincere and reflect a desire to be nonjudgmental, it reveals a great lack of judgment.  To understand this one needs only to visit India where the prevailing religion is Hinduism and the overwhelming sensation is one of hopelessness. A country gifted with incredibly smart people remains mired in poverty, disease, and a resigned acceptance of chaos as normative.  

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8/4/2001 0 Comments

Church

Meditation
Ephesians 1:22,23--And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
​

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12/16/1999 0 Comments

Giving

​I used to walk by the ringer and think, “Oh I hope he doesn’t look at me.”  I avoided eye contact because I didn’t want to give.  Coming out of the store I walked fast in a hurry, so as not to be accosted.  If only guilt rang more quietly than those obnoxious bells.

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11/11/1999 0 Comments

Crusaders

​Meditation
Galatians 4:17, 5:6-- They  are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them . . .  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
 

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