Who is the most powerful or wealthy or famous person you know? I know a state senator, and he’s often in the news. We worked together for three years right after college, we were in a Bible study together, spent a lot of time together. But it’s been a while since we hung out orContinue reading “What to do when there is a power imbalance in your relationships – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 2”
Tag Archives: christianity
My struggle with my basement – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 1
I don’t like the basement in my house. First of all, just getting into the basement is odd. The current placement of the basement steps is not original to the house. The previous owner did a near total rehab on the living areas of the house, and that necessitated moving the location of the basementContinue reading “My struggle with my basement – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 1”
Can you figure out this modern parable? – 1 Samuel 18 & 19, Preview
See if you can figure out the meaning of this modern parable: A missionary comes upon a Samoan, who is lying around on the beach. MISSIONARY: Look at you! You’re just wasting your life away lying around like that! SAMOAN: Why? What do you think I should be doing? MISSIONARY: Well, there are plenty ofContinue reading “Can you figure out this modern parable? – 1 Samuel 18 & 19, Preview”
Why David & Goliath is not an underdog story – 1st Samuel 17, Part 4
In 2018 I blogged a series titled “Characters” where I featured a number of famous Bible stories. One of those was David & Goliath from 1st Samuel chapter 17. Now in 2024, I am blogging through 1st and 2nd Samuel, and we’ve reached chapter 17. This week, I’m reblogging the “Characters” posts about David &Continue reading “Why David & Goliath is not an underdog story – 1st Samuel 17, Part 4”
Is your view of life upside-down? – 1st Samuel 17, Part 3
Photo by Trevin Rudy on Unsplash In 2018 I blogged a series titled “Characters” where I featured a number of famous Bible stories. One of those was David & Goliath from 1st Samuel chapter 17. Now in 2024, I am blogging through 1st and 2nd Samuel, and we’ve reached chapter 17. This week, I’m rebloggingContinue reading “Is your view of life upside-down? – 1st Samuel 17, Part 3”
Distraction from the main thing – 1st Samuel 17, Part 2
In 2018 I blogged a series titled “Characters” where I featured a number of famous Bible stories. One of those was David & Goliath from 1st Samuel chapter 17. Now in 2024, I am blogging through 1st and 2nd Samuel, and we’ve reached chapter 17. This week, I’ll reblog the “Characters” posts about David &Continue reading “Distraction from the main thing – 1st Samuel 17, Part 2”
When our fears come out to haunt us – 1st Samuel 17, Preview
Perhaps you’re like me and you have strange dreams while you’re sleeping. I find that my most bizarre dreams happen in the early morning, just before I wake up. This past week while on vacation, I had one of those early morning dreams, and in the dream Faith Church had one of those old-style marqueeContinue reading “When our fears come out to haunt us – 1st Samuel 17, Preview”
Seeing the heart like God sees it – 1st Samuel 16, Part 5
Is it possible for humans to see the heart like God sees it? We can open up our bodies and view the physical human heart, repair it, and even replace it with a different heart, even an artificial heart. But what about the metaphorical heart? Our motivation, will, desires, emotions, fears, beliefs? God knows allContinue reading “Seeing the heart like God sees it – 1st Samuel 16, Part 5”
Why God picked David to be king – 1st Samuel 16, Part 3
In the previous post about 1st Samuel chapter 16, we watched as the prophet Samuel visits the family of Jesse in the town of Bethlehem. Samuel is there on a secret prophetic mission from God to anoint a new king over Israel. One by one, Samuel views Jesse’s seven oldest sons, and God chooses noneContinue reading “Why God picked David to be king – 1st Samuel 16, Part 3”
God’s view of outward appearance is like Dove Soap – 1st Samuel 16, Part 2
We humans tend to be very outward focused. Think about how our culture is fixated on outward appearance. There is so much emphasis on having good skin, toned muscles, a certain Body Mass Index, dieting, working out. No doubt some of that is also beneficial for good health and quality of life. But we can worshipContinue reading “God’s view of outward appearance is like Dove Soap – 1st Samuel 16, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 