PocketNeif Podcast

Funny story! I was mistaken for Santa Claus recently. Hear the story and my new year's hope for 2021 in this short episode to start the next 12 months off right. You may want what I want in 2021...at least part of what I want!

Jesus is greater than any of us usually think of him. In Colossians 1:15-20, we find an awe-inspiring description of the King of kings. Reading this passage a few years ago, I found myself worshiping Jesus with a new song. It came together fairly quickly and incorporated ideas from Colossians and a few other passages. I hope it encourages your faith and invites worship of Jesus. Firstborn Over Creation Verse 1: Firstborn over creation, the Son of the invisible God. He is from the beginning. Through him all things were made. Things above and below, things both seen and unknown. Powers and rulers and authorities, all were created by him. Chorus 1: Jesus, Jesus, maker of all things. Jesus, Jesus, maker of all things. Verse 2: He is the head of the body, the church for which he died. Through his willing sacrifice, All who believe are made right. He made peace through his blood, shed for us on the tree. By his power remade, we’re all new creations in him. Chorus 2: Jesus, Jesus, ruler of the church. Jesus, Jesus, ruler of the church. Bridge 1: The Son of God has set us free from bondage and slavery to sin He gave his life as a ransom for us we’ll not be bound up again. Verse 3: Jesus, the King, resurrected, the firstborn from the grave. Through him death’s rule has been ended, our enemy’s been put to flight. He is the Lord over heaven, he is the Lord over hell. He has supremacy over all things, in him all God’s fullness does dwell. Chorus 3: Jesus, Jesus, conqueror of the grave. Jesus, Jesus, conqueror of the grave. Bridge 2: The Son of God has raised us to life, we’ll live eternally. Our enemy, death, has lost its grip on our hearts, it’s lost its sting. Ending: Jesus, Jesus, maker of all things. Jesus, Jesus, maker of all things, Ruler of the church, Conqueror of the grave. 2013 Mike Neifert

Jesus' followers want to follow him to the bitter end. They will abandon him when the heat's turned up. Peter claims he'll never leave. He still falls. On the other side, he finds God to be unchangingly faithful.

St. John of the Cross wrote the poem, The Dark Night of the Soul, while earnestly seeking to yield his will completely to God's will. He wanted nothing of himself to keep God from doing in him what he wanted. Jesus also submitted to the Father's will.

Because I have ADD (or is it ADHD?), I have developed all kinds of systems to keep my on track each day. While praying through my prayer requests spreadsheet the other day, God assured me of something especially encouraging to this easily distracted guy.

What happens when a dead man somehow drives down the Illinois Tollway and incurs tolls? He gets sent to collections and the amount he supposedly owes grows due to fees and fines. And there's nothing Violation Enforcement Services can do about it. Bills will continue to be sent until the Lord returns.

The Law was never meant to limit our obedience to what was written, but to guide us in following God's heart in any situation which arises. We do so with the Spirit's help.

What do you do when you're miserable? You praise God, right? Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." I'm trying that on for size while I deal with illness.

Those who don't eat leftovers are missing out on so much goodness. Those who read only from the New Testament are missing out as well. The New is understood better in light of what's in the Old.

What are believers supposed to be doing while they wait for Jesus' second coming? What does Jesus say on this matter?

A pair of strange shoes at the end of a middle school basketball court got me thinking about God's power to provide. Do I trust him for what I need?

A chance meeting on the "wrong" day of the week led to a solution to a couple of housing problems and, eventually, to love. My friend told me his love story this week and gave me permission to share it with you. Hope you're encouraged by the way God showed up in his life.

A prayer written down by St. Ambrose of Milan from the mid- to late-300s A.D. inspired a song, A Heart for You, which pleads for a new and pure heart. May his words and my song move you to give thanks to God and choose to walk in his ways.A Heart for YouLord, give me a heart of flesh withinInstead of a heart of stoneA heart to adore and enjoy you, my KingTo follow your ways aloneLord, kindle a fire within my soulA flame that burns bright and pureFor left to myself I will never be wholeI’ll never find sin’s only cure©2025 Mike Neifert (Inspired by St Ambrose’s Prayer)

It's Boxing Day. Don't know what that is? Listen and learn. (My apologies to the Brits and others who actually know what the day is about and celebrate it annunally. My ignorance might show to you.)

Battery-powered candles have taken the place of the real flaming kind. They do the job, but aren't very warm. In the spiritual realm, only real fire works. There's no human-powered option.

A week or two or three back, the Christmas displays in one of our local parks were turned on. My wife and I were there for the "Let there be light" moment. Shepherds and angels, centuries ago, were on hand for a much more important light coming into the world moment.

The church recently received a bill or two from an out-of-state tollway addressed to a man who was not a part of our church. With a little effort, I discovered this man's identity and current condition. Deceased. He wasn't going to pay the bill.

For what are you thankful? A normal question for this week in November in the U.S. every year. I asked this question of a group of middle schoolers along with a more fun question. Their answers were great! Hope you'll give thanks along with them as you consider the usual question and the more unusual one.

What is God capable of? More than we could ever ask or imagine. That's what Paul said in Ephesians 3:20-21. This song, based on the words of these verses, is encouragement for the church to trust God's power for us.To Him Who Is AbleVerse:Now to him who is able To do immeasurably moreNow to him who is able To do far more than we askOr even imagine in this worldTo him be glory in the churchHis power displayed in the saintsTo him be glory in Christ our LordForever and ever! Amen!Forever and ever! Amen!Forever and ever! Amen!Ending:To him be glory in the churchHis power displayed in the saintsTo him be glory in Christ our LordForever and ever! Amen!©2025 Mike Neifert (Based on Ephesians 3:20-21)

Finding salvation isn't just about saying a prayer. It's about putting faith in Jesus, of course, but it's shown in following him.