Philistines line up against Israelites. Nine foot giant named Goliath appears. Goliath issues challenge. Israelites cower in fear. David sent to check on brothers. Next, David hears Goliath’s challenge. Then, David questions soldiers. Eliab gets angry. Saul sends for David. David rejects armor. Goliath insulted by David. David and Goliath run toward each other. The…
September 2021 Family Photo Contest
Our September theme was a challenging one as usual. The theme was LEARN. Which image do you think best portrays that theme? Be sure to click on each image to see it full size. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Proverbs 9:9…
Judging God – 1 Samuel 16
This chapter contains one of the more difficult verses to interpret in the Bible. God demotes Saul from his role as king, yet leaves him in position for many years. When God removes Saul from the throne He also removes the Holy Spirit from Saul. God instructs Samuel to anoint a new king and Samuel…
Devoted to Destruction – 1 Samuel 15
One of the most challenging things for many people today is the occasional command of God to totally destroy a group of people. The Biblical term often used for this is that the people have been devoted to destruction. As the verses below make clear, the army must kill everything living. This is what the…
Courage and Rebellion – 1 Samuel 14
If you search you will have a difficult time finding a positive human father story in the Bible. God provides an incredible example of what it means to be a father, and the characters we meet through scripture rarely measure up. King Saul is no exception. In observing the world around us we have grown…
A Devout and Holy Life
I have just started reading “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” by William Law. The book was first published in 1728 and this makes the text challenging to read. The bigger challenge is that the principles presented are not of either the feel good or self help variety. It is very observable,…
August 2021 Family Photo Contest
It has been a busy summer, so there are fewer entries than usual in our GREEN category. Please enter your choices for the top 3 pictures in the comment area below. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and…
Wait – 1 Samuel 13
One of the big themes running through the Bible is the need to wait. We have a God who could instantly meet every need of His people. We also have a God who desires for us to learn trust and obedience. This desire of God seems to present us with a God who is slow,…
Good News and Bad News – 1 Samuel 12
Last words communicate core values. Samuel served God and the people of Israel all his life. After a stern warning from Samuel to the people, Saul has just been named king and leads them to a great victory over the Ammonites. When the people gather to celebrate Samuel presents them with two challenges. First, he…
What Brings Us Together – 1 Samuel 11
Saul has been anointed king. Immediately, a few men follow him, but Saul returns to his farming. Something needs to happen to establish Saul’s reign and pull the people together under it. Nahosh, the Ammonite, obliges and threatens the town of Jabesh Gilead. Nahosh is so confidant of victory that he threatens to gouge out…