Do you have drama in your family? I’m sure we could all tell stories. The family member that no one talks to. The family member that is difficult. The family member that, when you are together, spends the whole time talking about themselves, and then just as they are about to leave says, “How areContinue reading “Can the Bible help us resolve family drama? – 2 Samuel 9, 13, 14, 15, Part 1”
Tag Archives: jonathan
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”
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”
Are you a good friend? – 1st Samuel 20, Preview
When my kids were younger, especially in upper elementary or middle school, some of them tended to label multiple friends as “best friends” at the same time. When I first heard them declare that Friend B was their best friend, I was confused. I questioned them, “I thought Friend A was your best friend.” Continue reading “Are you a good friend? – 1st Samuel 20, Preview”
When leaders lose power, and do anything to stay in power – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 3
When you are a leader and your role, position, and power is taken from you, it can be very difficult to give up that power. A quick glance throughout history shows kings, presidents, CEOs, pastors, and many other leaders unwilling to give up power. In our story of the monarchy in ancient Israel, as toldContinue reading “When leaders lose power, and do anything to stay in power – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 3”
What to do when there is a power imbalance in your relationships – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 2
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”
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”
How to have a heart like God’s heart – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 5
Saul, through a priest, has beseeched the Lord for his blessing on attacking the fleeing Philistines. God, however, is not answering. How will Saul respond to God’s silence? Will he be impatient again, unable to wait on the Lord? Actually, no. We read in 1st Samuel 14, verse 38, Saul believes that God’s silence isContinue reading “How to have a heart like God’s heart – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 