This culmination of daily scriptural ruminations is Volume 02 in the Jeremiah Series. It was born out of a place of deep pain and great hope.
What began as a simple pre-dawn sharing of scriptural encouragement with my two brothers, following the loss of my 24-year-old son and my older brother's wife in the late fall of 2018, quickly became a daily lifeline to help us process and understand the tragedies we faced. I soon started sharing these writings with my children, then with a close brother in Christ who also lost his 23-year-old son just three months after Michael. From there, it slowly grew as other young dads and friends in need of encouragement began receiving them. What started as one copy, one paste, and one send at a time has now reached many friends and friends of friends.
After more than five years of faithfully writing and sending out these daily "ruminations," you now hold a portion of this labor of love in your hands.
It is my sincere prayer that these Rational Ruminations will bless and enrich your walk with Christ as deeply as they have enriched and blessed mine while writing them.
The decision to begin this series in the book of Jeremiah was no coincidence. Jeremiah's message, often delivered during times of great hardship and uncertainty, is ultimately one of hope, renewal, and God's unwavering faithfulness. For a project born from personal loss and a deep longing for encouragement, Jeremiah's steadfast reliance on God in the face of adversity perfectly mirrors the heart of these writings. It is my prayer that this starting point in Jeremiah provides a firm foundation for finding peace, purpose, and God's promises in the midst of life's greatest challenges.
About the Author :
Doc was raised on a small farm in rural central Illinois, raising cattle and loving it, growing Christmas Trees and begrudging it. Thankfully all that work took place outdoors in God's original Cathedral, and he relished in it! His "rational" approach to physical and spiritual minded "wellness" comes from the only unshakable foundation we will ever know, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the direction found only in His Word.Doc's journey in becoming a "Rational Ruminating Writer" comes from a very broad and quite unique resume. A resume which includes farm hand, landscaper, janitor, carpenter, chiropractic physician, acupuncturist, functional medicine practitioner, rotational grazing rancher of cattle, sheep, water buffalo and a voracious reader. Having earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree over 30 years ago he will tell you that he is still working on his Ph. D in life. That advanced degree of life eduction is acquired by traveling through the bumps, bruises, knocks, scrapes, challenges, trials, and tribulations in life, and keeping our relationship with Christ out front. As his beautiful bride, Dr. Susan Detweiler will tell you, "our journey through life towards our graduation to Jesus, is a process of progress, not a pathway of perfection." Doc currently resides in the Ozark's of Missouri managing a 4,000 acre regenerative organic ranch, grazed by cattle and Water Buffalo. He is the father of five, papaw to six and the most blessed man around being married to a Proverbs 31 lady!His prayer is that these "Rational Rumination's" bless, encourage, uplift and humor you. And most importantly, may they point you towards a vibrant and living faith in Jesus Christ, and a desire to dig deeply into the rich spiritual soil of His Word for your nourishment and sustenance.
Review :
"I have been reading Dr Michaels daily devotions for over a year now. They are thought provoking and well as inspiring and encouraging. Thank you Dr. M for using your gift." - Regina P.
"I enjoy Micheal's daily Bible devotional and how he uses every day life to make scripture relatable to today's world." - Josh L.
"To a man that I don't know and have never met. You give me great inspiration every day when I read your writings, thank you so much Doc! God bless you and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide you in your mission to reach the lost. Doc, keep it coming, buddy. It's wonderful." - Michael C.