Who are the difficult people in your life? Who comes to mind? Could be a family member. Could be a coworker. A client. A team member. A friend. A friend??? Why would we be friends with difficult people? But we are sometimes, aren’t we? Would anyone in your life think that you are difficult inContinue reading “Who are the difficult people in your life? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Preview”
Tag Archives: relationships
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 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”
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”
What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4
In the darkening events of 1st Samuel 15, Israel’s King Saul did not obey God, and now God declares that Saul is rejected as king. That gets Saul’s attention. In verse 24, Saul says to the prophet Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the menContinue reading “What is true repentance? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 