Category Archives: Uncategorized

1 Kings 18:17-19 You have been invited to meet someone who has an incredible reputation as a powerful servant of God. What will you say to them? You consider your opening words carefully. Most likely you don’t plan to greet this person with an insult. But that’s exactly what King Ahab does when he meets […]

Mark 10:42-45 Two different experiences are deeply embedded in my memory. In one memory our gym teacher announces that our class will divide into two teams, then she chooses two lucky children to be the captains. Typically these two are the most popular, the ones who, in the second grade, already wear mousse in their […]

1 Kings 12:30-33 It didn’t start as a sin, at least not for the people of Israel. They were searching for a leader and wanted to be loyal subjects. Their new king Jeroboam made some statues, then placed them at Bethel and Dan. The people watched this happen, and then they fell in line and […]

1 Kings 12:25-29 Fear is a powerful force in our lives. For many people, the fear of death strips away life’s joy and peace. Paralyzed with worry about the future, some people are incapable of living fully or enjoying the present.  Jeroboam is afraid of losing his power as the king of Israel, so he […]

1 Kings 12:17-19 King Rehoboam’s story includes drama, personal agendas, warring factions, and political power plays. In some ways, the story echoes what we see in our world today. In the midst of all of the stress and mess, we may overlook the essential missing character in this story and our own. The Israelites come […]

1 Kings 12:12-16 Sometimes, it isn’t what we say, but how we say it. People learn as much from our tone and tenor as from our words. When we speak and listen attentively and thoughtfully, we show concern, love, and support. Our words can be healing, but they can also be hurtful. The difference is […]

1 Kings 12:6-11 Our world is loud. Voices advocate for agendas on the news channels. Flashing headlines infect our smartphones. Social media bombards us with advice about anything and everything. People ask questions, then let the “crowds” (friends, family, strangers, anyone online) provide answers. We have more instant access to data than at any other […]

1 Kings 12:1-5 Change is rarely easy for individuals, communities, or countries. At the crossroads of what was and what will be, we struggle to see through the fog of an uncertain future and decipher the road ahead. Transitions are full of stress and questions. Israel stands at the crossroads. “Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over […]

Mark 11:8-10  Everyone longs for the time when life is what it ought to be. We hunger for our communities to be made right and whole. When people talk about what the good life looks like, we hold up leaders we admire or time periods we consider to be the golden days.  In the first […]

Psalm 89:19-37  Our texts for this week, with the exception of Psalm 150, highlight the Davidic kingdom and its importance in Israel’s story. Though full of drama, missteps, and sadness, the Davidic kingdom becomes like Camelot to God’s people. They look back wistfully, not simply pining for those good ole days, but also seeing them […]