Devotionals

Aside from Jesus, the person most closely associated with kingship, military might and the execution of God’s justice in the Bible has to be King David.   He is introduced to the reader as one anointed to become king.  As a young man he defeated the enemy-giant, Goliath, on behalf of his nation.  He first ruled Judah and then all of Israel.  He conquered the city of Jerusalem, where [...]

With half his lips committed to clenching a corncob pipe, the remainder of Popeye’s mouth famously sang, “I'm strong to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach. I yam what I yam. I am what I am, and that's all that I am.”  (You may have even read that in his distinctively raspy voice.)  Dating back to 1929, Popeye was an unrefined, uneducated sailor that was quick [...]

One of the most contentious topics of our day is the rise of the “cancel culture” phenomenon.  The idea behind cancel culture is that individuals deemed to have acted in an “unacceptable manner” are publicly denounced (“cancelled”), particularly in social media.  Those targeted are boycotted, shunned or otherwise ostracized, causing significant damage to their reputation and results in possible job loss or even physical violence. The [...]

What does “rest” mean to you?  Certainly one aspect is to cease from labor, but it has to be more than that.  Forcing a six-year-old boy to hold still is not a good example of rest.  If the idea behind rest is to be refreshed or restored, then a decrease in activity may be helpful, but it’s not the ultimate solution. Consider some contrasting verses on the [...]

My wife and I were looking for a place to eat dinner in an unfamiliar city when we stumbled on the local entertainment district.  It had a wide variety of restaurants and cleverly named shops lining a pedestrian-friendly street abuzz with activity.  As we were taking it all in, she pointed to a church building nestled among the businesses.  With its bright white wooden siding, sharply pitched [...]

If you’ve ever spoon-fed an infant, it’s surprising how aggressively they swallow a bite then, as quickly as they can catch a breath, begin to fuss for the next one.  He would choke if you fed him any faster, yet he ekes out a complaint if there is the slightest hesitation between scoops.  School-aged children show greater restraint, but you can still count on [...]