Legos are my favorite toy by far. I remember how much I loved getting new Lego sets as a child. Following the instructions. Completing a model. Displaying it. Playing with it. Then eventually tearing it apart and combining it with other sets to make new creations. Legos engage a person’s hands, mind, and heart. Frankly,Continue reading “All Christians are to be builders – 1 Thessalonians 5:5–11, Part 5”
Tag Archives: friendship
What healthy friendship requires – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 5
Would your friends say you are a good friend? What does it take to be a good friend? In the first verses of 2 Samuel chapter 20, just as David’s loyal army has defeated his rebellious son Absalom’s army, though peace is established, soldiers from both armies get into a shouting match about who isContinue reading “What healthy friendship requires – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 5”
With friends like these, who needs enemies? – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 4
Think about a time when a friend betrayed you. Maybe they lied to you. Maybe they knew you were struggling with a difficult situation in life, and they didn’t care for you. Betrayal is part and parcel of humanity. More than likely, we ourselves have done our fair share of betraying. We can think ofContinue reading “With friends like these, who needs enemies? – 2 Samuel 16—20, Part 4”
Why do some close friendships fade? – 2 Samuel 16—20, Preview
This year I turned 50, and my wife posted on her social media about my birthday. I don’t use social media, so she showed me all the people who commented with their greetings. One was a friend from high school. He is the only one of many friends from high school that I have stayedContinue reading “Why do some close friendships fade? – 2 Samuel 16—20, Preview”
The horror of war in ancient Israel – 2 Samuel 2:8—3:39, Part 1
Have you ever been playing the game of Risk, when you had a much larger army than another player, so you attack them? You are very confident that you will defeat them. Even if they roll well, you will win a war of attrition. But then it happens. They roll sixes over and over, slowlyContinue reading “The horror of war in ancient Israel – 2 Samuel 2:8—3:39, Part 1”
How to have friendship that supersedes any divisive categories – 1st Samuel 20, Part 5
Let’s consider how the friendship of David and Jonathan might help us learn to be better friends. As we saw last week when we studied 1st Samuel 18 & 19, their relationship began with Jonathan in the power position. At that time, Jonathan is the crown prince, and David is a peasant. They are inContinue reading “How to have friendship that supersedes any divisive categories – 1st Samuel 20, Part 5”
The resolution of the crisis in David and Jonathan’s friendship – 1st Samuel 20, Part 4
David’s life hangs in the balance. But he has proposed an idea to his best friend, Prince Jonathan, in which Jonathan will try to discover if his father, King Saul, truly intends to kill David. Jonathan, though he doubts David’s interpretation of the situation, agrees to the idea. Jonathan will tell his father Saul that DavidContinue reading “The resolution of the crisis in David and Jonathan’s friendship – 1st Samuel 20, Part 4”
How to avert crisis when you disagree with your friends – 1st Samuel 20, Part 3
David and Jonathan’s friendship is in crisis. How so? Read the previous post here. In the previous post, we read that David has proposed a test in which Jonathan would lie to his father, King Saul, telling Saul that David had not shown up at Saul’s house for the New Moon festival because Jonathan gaveContinue reading “How to avert crisis when you disagree with your friends – 1st Samuel 20, Part 3”
When should you choose to break relationship with family? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 2
David and Jonathan’s relationship is at a crossroads. Jonathan is stuck in the middle between his father, King Saul, and his best friend, David. David adamantly believes Saul wants to kill him (David). Jonathan can’t imagine that his father would intend to kill David without consulting him (Jonathan) first. Jonathan could view David as beingContinue reading “When should you choose to break relationship with family? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 2”
Have you ever felt like a fugitive? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 1
Are you a good friend? Would your best friends say that you are a good friend? If your best friends could fill out an anonymous survey evaluating your friendship, what would the results be? I suggest it needs to be anonymous because it is often very difficult for even our closest friends to tell usContinue reading “Have you ever felt like a fugitive? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 