David recruited history’s greatest warriors. Jashobeam killed 300 with a spear. Eleazar and David stood back-to-back and slew a Philistine army. Benaiah killed a lion and killed an 8-ft giant with the giant’s own spear. Saul’s relatives could use either spears or slings and fight equally well with their right or left hands. Another groupContinue reading “Unity in Spite of Differences.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Prayer Request.
I need wisdom. Don’t you? Don’t we all? Our leaders really need wisdom during this quarantine of 2020. All the decisions they are making are based on predictions about the virus and what the future holds. But there are so many factors that influence those predictions—accurate reporting, inaccurate reporting, good science, bad science, emotions andContinue reading “Prayer Request.”
David’s Army.
First Chronicles 11 and 12 records tales of King David’s greatest warriors. What trait do you think was the most prized among them? If you were building an army, what would you look for? Consider: In all, 341,100 men left Saul to support David. That is just less than the US Army (471K). The tinyContinue reading “David’s Army.”
Wait on the Lord Like King David.
How old was David when he killed Goliath? And when he became king? Do you remember what happened in between? David spent the in-between years running from Saul, the king who wanted to kill him. First, David is anointed the future king by Samuel. Then he kills Goliath and does many other great feats. EveryoneContinue reading “Wait on the Lord Like King David.”
Of Warriors and Wisdom.
King David surrounded himself with amazing men. There was THE THREE. Then there was THE THIRTY. “Jashobeam … wielded his spear against 300 and killed them … Abishai … raised his spear against 300 men and killed them … Benaiah went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. He alsoContinue reading “Of Warriors and Wisdom.”
Are You Capable and Can You Be Trusted?
This morning I ran across an article from 1960 commemorating my grandfather’s 40 years of service at what was then the world’s largest oil refinery, Esso, Baton Rouge. His bosses reported: “He seems able to cope with almost any situation, no matter how critical. He has a level head, practical manner, and I think heContinue reading “Are You Capable and Can You Be Trusted?”
Is it Wrong to Desire Rewards?
Bruce Wilkinson wrote A LIFE GOD REWARDS, examining the statements of Jesus about rewards in Heaven. Wilkinson concludes Heaven will be loaded with rewards. God will lavish rewards on you for things you do for Him. But isn’t it wrong for you to WANT rewards? Wouldn’t it be better to serve God without thinking aboutContinue reading “Is it Wrong to Desire Rewards?”
Chinese Tallows.
We may have a hundred Chinese Tallow trees. This invasive species grows fast, and has bright green leaves twisting like pinwheels in the wind. In autumn, they create some of the most flashy fall colors in the South. Plant stores used to sell them as fast-growing shade trees. But fifty years later, birds have spreadContinue reading “Chinese Tallows.”
Trees.
Marshall and I drove a golf cart around Legendary Oaks Golf Course on Saturday. We had not played there in a while and were surprised how many oak trees had either collapsed sideways into the earth, or bore the scars of having had half their limbs cut away with a chain saw. At one pointContinue reading “Trees.”
Parent-as-Teacher: The Highest Calling.
Do you expect the church to teach your kids about God? Yesterday a friend posted words on Facebook that I found true and honest and vulnerable: “Please don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t expect your church to train your children. That expectation isn’t even Biblical. Don’t breathe a sigh of relief and thinkContinue reading “Parent-as-Teacher: The Highest Calling.”
Household Words: 