What would happen if a bomb destroyed the US Capitol during the State of the Union speech when nearly every government official is at the Capitol, and they all die? The President, VP, Speaker of the House, the senators and representatives. The Supreme Court justices. The Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president’s Cabinet, all those secretariesContinue reading “What happens when there is no Designated Survivor? – 1 Samuel 31 – 2 Samuel 2:7, Preview”
Tag Archives: 1st samuel
Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5
As a pastor for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to interacted with people in spiritual panics, some funny, some sad, some tragic. People come to me as their pastor, or I’ve found out about their situation, and they just don’t know what to do. They feel that God’s not answering them. They’re praying. They’reContinue reading “Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5”
How David was shamed by the Philistines, and it turned out to be a good thing – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 4
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. The armies of Philistia and Israel are gathering, facing off. War is about to erupt. As we reviewed in the previous post, though David and hisContinue reading “How David was shamed by the Philistines, and it turned out to be a good thing – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 4”
The end of 1st Samuel is like a military thriller – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 3
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. I love sci-fi like Star Trek and Star Wars. Think with me about the Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi. At the end of thatContinue reading “The end of 1st Samuel is like a military thriller – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 3”
Three reasons Christians should study the Old Testament – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 2
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. Is it worth it to read the Old Testament? As we learned in the previous post, the Old Testament is sometimes so strange to us thatContinue reading “Three reasons Christians should study the Old Testament – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 2”
Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. Weird is one of those words of which it could be said, “We know it when we see it.” But describing or defining what makes somethingContinue reading “Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1”
The weird conclusion to King Saul’s reign – 1st Samuel 28-30, Preview
Maybe you’ve seen the famous slogan in the photo above. Portland, Oregon, really wants to stay weird. The city of Portland has embraced its self-identity of weirdness, while others have suggested that weirdness is not good. Have you ever read the Bible and thought, “This passage is…weird.”? If you’ve thought something like that, you’re notContinue reading “The weird conclusion to King Saul’s reign – 1st Samuel 28-30, Preview”
How Christians can avoid getting sucked into outrage culture – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 5
We Christians are known for practicing the ethics of the Kingdom of Jesus: truth-telling, humility, selfless sacrifice, generosity, hope, peacemaking, and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Or are we? Sadly, across our country some Christians have chosen anger, meanness, spite, bitterness, and attack. We American Christians far too often in recent years, haveContinue reading “How Christians can avoid getting sucked into outrage culture – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 5”
How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4
In the previous post, we read something very dark about David, who was supposed to be a man after God’s own heart. In 1st Samuel 27, we learned that David and his men go out on raids, slaughtering people. Men and women. Also, David clearly didn’t want his new king, the Philistine, Achish, to knowContinue reading “How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4”
How David’s fugitive years finally came to an end – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 3
In 1st Samuel chapter 27, verses 1-4, after David and Saul and their soldiers part ways, David still doesn’t believe that Saul has given up hunting him. As we learned in the previous post, Saul sounded repentant, but now in 1st Samuel 27, verses 1-4, David thinks Saul will change his mind and start huntingContinue reading “How David’s fugitive years finally came to an end – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 