Steven Wales

DEFINITELY A LAW AND ORDER GUY. 1 Samuel 21:6.

Pictured: Actors portray Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. In law school one of my colleagues asked me whether I was going to be a prosecutor. “Because I figure, you’re definitely a law and order guy.” I had never been called that before. As a hyperactive child, I spent most of my timeContinue reading “DEFINITELY A LAW AND ORDER GUY. 1 Samuel 21:6.”

When Miracle Workers Cannot Be Trusted. 1 Samuel 19:20-24.

When the glories of David the giant-killer began to eclipse those of King Saul, Saul was filled with murderous rage. The king made several attempts on David’s life. The first attempt was thwarted by his son, Jonathan, who warned David, then talked Saul out of it, 1 Samuel 19:6. The second was thwarted by DavidContinue reading “When Miracle Workers Cannot Be Trusted. 1 Samuel 19:20-24.”

DON’T DOUBLE DOWN! 1 Samuel 14:44.

In 2023, New York attorney Steven A. Schwartz represented an airline passenger allegedly injured after being struck by a beverage cart. In March of 2023, Schwartz filed a brief that cited the following case: Varghese v. China Southern Airlines Co Ltd., 925 F.3d 1339 (11th Cir. 2019). The problem? There is no Varghese v. ChinaContinue reading “DON’T DOUBLE DOWN! 1 Samuel 14:44.”

Prayer, Fasting, and Generational Blessings. 1 Samuel 2:31-33.

“The child Samuel grew in favor both with the Lord and also with men” 1 Samuel 2:26. How can we have children like that? Is there a way to guarantee your children will walk with God? The short answer is “No, but…” That is, there is probably nothing godly parents can do to ensure theirContinue reading “Prayer, Fasting, and Generational Blessings. 1 Samuel 2:31-33.”

Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee. Ruth 4:17.

“Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For where you go, I will go. And where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried” Ruth 1:16-17. IContinue reading “Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee. Ruth 4:17.”

“In Those Days There Was No King in Israel” Judges 17:6.

The principal who led my high school told the teachers, “If you will be nice to the students, they will be nice to you.” I’m sure that sounded great. It may have even worked in a few cases. But having survived four years in that Criminal Minds High School—where a teacher was shot, where bombContinue reading ““In Those Days There Was No King in Israel” Judges 17:6.”

The Bible: an Epic Adventure About a Hero Who Rescues His People! Judges 15:11.

Samson Bringing Down the Temple of Dagon, by Gustave Dore, wood engraving, 1866. Samson is the Bible’s superhero, with hair for a cape. This man can do incredible things. The Holy Spirit gave him super-human strength: “and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” Judges 14:6. But Samson’s motives were poor. He wasContinue reading “The Bible: an Epic Adventure About a Hero Who Rescues His People! Judges 15:11.”

HOW DO YOU RESIST TEMPTATION? Genesis 20:3-7.

My college philosophy professor had once been extremely overweight, but through a doctor’s care had shed the excess weight and has kept it off for decades. How? He would say, “just eat less!” To him, weight loss was a simple matter of willpower. If you need to lose weight, stop eating all the bad things.Continue reading “HOW DO YOU RESIST TEMPTATION? Genesis 20:3-7.”

One Bad Decision Can Change Your Entire Life. Genesis 13:10-11.

Image generated with A.I. An old man rubs his eyes and looks toward the light. The sun is shining in through the rough opening of a cave. He blinks the sleep away and sits up. Somewhere a baby is crying. A second baby joins. For a minute he forgets where he is. He turns hisContinue reading “One Bad Decision Can Change Your Entire Life. Genesis 13:10-11.”

Which is Better, to Win a War or to Prevent One? Joshua 22.

In the early morning hours of September 26, 1983, Soviet Lieutenant Stanislav Petrov received an alarm. Computers indicated the U.S. had launched five nuclear-armed missiles at Russian targets. The missiles would reach Russia in under twenty minutes—there was no time to waste. Petrov was to telephone the high command and immediately Soviet leadership would respond,Continue reading “Which is Better, to Win a War or to Prevent One? Joshua 22.”