Category

1 Kings 19=Elijah and Yahweh Bible Background: The prophet Elijah plays a significant role in the time of the Kings, and it is not an easy role: declaring the word of the LORD to people in power-who don’t want to hear it; challenging the worship of false gods; having to... Read More →

1 Kings 8=Solomon Building and Dedicating the Temple Bible Background: We’ve skipped over the reign of King David, who wanted to build a temple for God. (2 Samuel 7) is stopped by God-who intends to “build a house/dynasty for David!” (Another scripture suggests... Read More →

1 Samuel 16=God Chooses David Bible Background: We got a taste last week, that the times Samuel lived and served in would be tumultuous. They are! The Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant. Eli and his sons die. Samuel acts as Judge, Priest, and Prophet. His sons... Read More →

1 Samuel 3=The Call of Young Samuel Bible Background: From the time of Joshua to the time of Samuel, there are leaders known as “Judges”, who are a combination of military, political and religious leaders. By the end of the Book of Judges, however, things are really a... Read More →

Exodus 16=Manna in the Wilderness Bible Background: As this scene unfolds, it has been about 30 days since the Israelites made the exodus from Egypt. God’s presence has been visible (pillar of cloud and fire), and real. The people, though, are hungry and complain, and even... Read More →

Exodus 2–4 God Appears to Moses Bible Background: The book of Genesis ends with the family of Jacob, reunited in Egypt (having gone there because of famine, where Joseph ended up in power.) The book of Exodus begins on a hard note: a different Pharoah; afraid that the... Read More →

Genesis 22-The Binding of Isaac Bible Background: This scary story is one of the final chapters in the story of Abraham. Isaac, the long awaited offspring, has been born to Sarah and Abraham. Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, has been sent away by Sarah (Genesis 21). Now God... Read More →

Riding the Roller Coaster of Life: Feeling Fearful and Finding Hope! Fear is one of our most primary feelings. There is ‘healthy’ fear, like the kind that alerts us to real dangers. And there is ‘unhealthy’ fear, that has us worrying about the wrong kinds... Read More →

Riding the Roller Coaster: Feeling Frustrated-Finding Patience The Serenity Prayer is always timely: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen. Psalm 62:5-8 “Let all that I... Read More →

Riding the Roller Coaster of Life! For four weeks we’re going to ponder together this powerful mixture of feelings and challenges we all face in the world today, like: Feeling Anxious and Finding Calm; Feeling Fearful and Finding Hope; Feeling Exhausted and Finding... Read More →