It is simply human nature that the people in a church family will not always agree with one another. Hear what Paul has to say about that in 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 14–15, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient withContinue reading “Christians have been discipled by outrage culture – 1 Thessalonians 5:13–15, 26, Part 4”
Tag Archives: anger
Why David’s wife bitterly confronted him – 2 Samuel 6, Part 3
In the previous post, we learned that in 2nd Samuel chapter six, David is dancing wildly, wearing a thin priestly ephod, as part of the procession bringing the Ark of Covenant into the city of Jerusalem. His wife, Michal, was aghast at what she saw from the palace window, as she watched the Ark paradeContinue reading “Why David’s wife bitterly confronted him – 2 Samuel 6, Part 3”
Civil war, polygamy, jealousy and palace intrigue – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 2
We resume the story of civil war in Israel from the previous post. The story in 2nd Samuel chapter 2 is one of a fierce battle between the single tribe, Judah, and the other eleven tribes of Israel. Azahel of Judah is chasing down the top general of the army of Israel, Abner. Abner callsContinue reading “Civil war, polygamy, jealousy and palace intrigue – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 2”
How the practice of listening can keep us from disaster – 1 Samuel 25, Part 4
David is in a rage, believing a man named Nabal has disrespected him. David and his men, armed to the teeth, are advancing on Nabal to slaughter Nabal and his servants. But suddenly, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, shows up and pleads with David to stop. In the previous post, we observed Abigail’s genius diplomacy and communicationContinue reading “How the practice of listening can keep us from disaster – 1 Samuel 25, Part 4”
How to diffuse rage and anger – 1st Samuel 25, Part 3
Have you ever been so angry, so hurt, so embarrassed, or feeling so disrespected, that you are ready to rage against the person who has hurt you? This week as we’ve been studying 1st Samuel 25, we’ve been talking about two roadblocks to David’s progress to becoming king. We’ve met the first roadblock, a manContinue reading “How to diffuse rage and anger – 1st Samuel 25, Part 3”
Would Jesus make you angry? – John 10:22-42, Preview
Imagine with me that Jesus shows up in the flesh in your community. I live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, and I’m writing this in April 2023. What would it be like if Jesus lived here? I’m not talking about his second coming. I’m talking about a fictional scenario. A thought project. Just as JesusContinue reading “Would Jesus make you angry? – John 10:22-42, Preview”
Fight or Flight: How do you handle pain? – Ezekiel 19, Preview
What do you do when you are upset? It is fascinating to me how differently we humans handle our pain. Have you ever heard of “fight or flight”? While there are other ways to handle pain, fight or flight are two common ones. The fighters among us tend to get aggressive and confront the painContinue reading “Fight or Flight: How do you handle pain? – Ezekiel 19, Preview”
When battling a bad habit or sin feels like a losing fight – Colossians 3:5-11, Part 4
How do you overcome a bad habit, a sinful struggle? It’s difficult, right? It can feel like entering a boxing ring, doing battle every day, often losing. Does that resonate with you? There is hope and there is help! In our five-part study of Colossians 3:5-11, Paul says in verse 7 that Christians had anContinue reading “When battling a bad habit or sin feels like a losing fight – Colossians 3:5-11, Part 4”
How to avoid your boss getting angry at you – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20, Part 5
One of the worst feelings is when your boss is angry at you. Here’s how to avoid it. In our final section of Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20, the Teacher (the author of Ecclesiastes) writes a proverb in verses 18-19 that is connected to the illustration he previously used of to help us determine if a leader isContinue reading “How to avoid your boss getting angry at you – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20, Part 5”
Sick and tired of 2020? – Ecclesiastes 8:9-15, Part 1
This fall I’m teaching an online class: The Gospels, the Life of Jesus. In a recent assignment the students were to find a current events article that somehow connects to what we had been studying in the Gospel of Mark. One student found an article which reported that more than likely, even if there isContinue reading “Sick and tired of 2020? – Ecclesiastes 8:9-15, Part 1”
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