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Five Frequently Overlooked Women in the Bible
Hagar, Genesis 16– An enslaved woman from Egypt serves Abraham and Sarah. When harsh treatment drives away, God sees and hears her. And she names him The God Who Sees. Huldah, 2 Kings 22– When young King Josiah orders repairs of the LORD’s temple, the high priest finds a scroll. As the scribe reads it, the king mourns. Then he sends a delegation to the prophet Huldah to hear from God. Vashti, Esther 1 – King Ahasuerus “under the influence” orders that his wife Queen Vashti show off her beauty to the crowds—objectifying her. She refuses and is exiled. Her courage paves the way for Esther to become queen. Mary…
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Summertime – Is it just an everyday day?
Psalm 65 “Is Today Just an Everyday Day?” Summertime for children seems to be the “same ole same ole” every day. They wake up, eat and go about their daily tasks and chores. We hear the sighs and then; is that all there is to do today; I’m bored. Sound familiar? Yes, summertime can be less exciting for children who don’t have that everyday school routine. Time to jumpstart that summer vacation by taking a journey into a day with God in Psalm 65. Ever wonder what God does in his day. Is it humdrum? Hardly and the psalmist wants us to awaken and appreciate the God who has given…
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Watching Movies from a Christian Worldview: 10 key questions to discuss
When it’s hot outside one of the coolest things to do is watch a movie. Aside from going well with popcorn and cold drinks, movies go very well with discussion, because every movie has a message. Every writer, director and producer has a worldview, a view of truth about the way the world works. And it always finds expression in their movies. A good movie discussion will tease it out and help us think about how it lines up (or doesn’t) with a Christian worldview. What is the movie’s message? Is the message true? Movies are best enjoyed in families and community where we can ask 10 Key Worldview…
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Bottling Civility: Talking Respectfully About Tough Topics
This blog first appeared over a year ago. I find that I need the message it contains even more than when I first posted it: "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James 1:19 How can we talk about controversial topics in a meaningful way? I’ve witnessed or been in on some contentious discussions in the last several months. Some on Facebook have included profanity and name calling—and this among believers. On the other hand, I have the privilege of participating with a small, but diverse group of believers in some mind-expanding discussions on potentially explosive topics. Our…
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Hope Deferred—Observations from Hannah’s Story
She pushed herself up from the table and left the room. She did not have much appetite. The day had been long, and she could take the painful and provoking comments from Peninnah no longer. As she walked towards the temple, tears poured from her eyes and slid down her cheeks and nose, making a wet trail in the dust. Her lips moved as she prayed, but she did not utter a sound as she pleaded and begged the LORD for a child. To make matters worse, the priest believed her to be not grieved, but rather, drunk. (1 Sam. 1:7–14) Hannah suffered much because of her childless state. Many…
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A Bucket List of Questions on Spiritual Topics
Let’s talk for a moment about the proverbial summer bucket lists. Maybe yours include sidewalk chalk, sprinklers, and blueberry cobbler. Perhaps they include something bigger like a special family vacation to Yellowstone National Park or snorkeling in Maui. Either way, we all know time is finite. Consider this: You have only 13 summers left before your kindergartner goes off to college, Just 8 more summers with your 5th grader, and Only 4 more summers with your freshman. How will we make the most or our summers? What memories will we create? For my family, this often means pulling out our Cuisinart ice cream maker for numerous concoctions. I can tell…
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The Tabernacle of Moses – God’s Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation – Part VI: The Priestly Garments
The purpose of this study is to review each of the three priestly garments of the Old Testament in detail.
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Fireflies and the Light of Christ
It’s summertime in the south, which means ripening watermelons, the stifling humidity, and flickering fireflies. Twice in the past two weeks I have traipsed out at dusk with a mason jar and nephews and friends’ kids in tow to chase lightning bugs. Within seconds, dozens of flashing neon dots enveloped us. Excitement surged through my veins. We began stalking the illusive insects, darting and reaching and following deeper into the darkness. The children squealed, usually in declaration of a capture, but also in the anxiety of holding a fluttering insect inside their tightly-clenched fists. Each bug was deposited into a mason jar where we could observe them more closely. There,…
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For One of the Least of These
Someone call Child Protective Services. Currently over 2000 abused children wait in detention centers at the U.S/Mexico border after separation from their parents who crossed the border illegally. Earlier this year the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) started dividing families caught crossing the border without papers based on a “zero tolerance” policy on immigration. Even breastfeeding infants got snatched from their mothers. As a pediatric healthcare worker I can attest to the fear and anxiety that wells up in a young child detached from a parent even for a few moments to obtain x-rays. The White House (after much uproar)…
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Separation – What Do You Tell The Kids?
Whether it was long expected or suddenly faced, the reality is your struggling marriage has come to an impassable fork in the road. You've decided to separate. You're struggling to find the right words to tell your children. Your fears and failures race through your mind, "Will this help us reconcile in the end? Will the the kids be able to understand? Will it cause them to fall away from the Lord?" Through all this uncertainty there are some things you CAN assure them of. Finding the Right Key Have you ever found yourself singing next to someone in church that completely throws you off key? Or how about that…