An unforgettable movie line comes from the OUTLAW JOSEY WALES. Wales is busy tracking down Captain Terrill, a man with a bad habit of slaughtering the unarmed. After Wales, played by Clint Eastwood, shoots a pair of Terrill’s killers, he refuses to stop and bury the dead. To make his disdain for the dead menContinue reading “Burial or Cremation? 1 Samuel 31:12-13.”
Tag Archives: Saul
Horoscopes, Palm Readers, Fortune Tellers. 1 Samuel 28:11-20.
These things seem like harmless fun. But there’s a reason the Bible forbids them. The answers they provide can be convincing because your enemy (1) knows you and (2) has some knowledge of the future. With that combination, a psychic or a fortune teller can be so persuasive. But these people get their “answers” fromContinue reading “Horoscopes, Palm Readers, Fortune Tellers. 1 Samuel 28:11-20.”
Not Just Any Songwriter.
Everyone should learn to write songs. Teachers make children write poetry, stories, and essays. But songs? Perhaps songs are too difficult. It’s not just the music—it’s the HEART. A good song touches the heart of not only the writer but the singer and the audience. David Allen Coe has the ghost of Hank Williams singContinue reading “Not Just Any Songwriter.”
War.
Nothing is more intense than war. A soldier’s entire life may seem dull when he reflects on three or four days spent fighting for his life and the lives of his brothers-in-arms. War is INTENSE. Men die on your left and right. Near misses make you wonder how you survived. You may not eat someContinue reading “War.”
Sexual Abuse in the Church.
Though Saul had been trying to capture and kill David for years, David twice refused to lay a hand on him when he had the chance. But when Nabal repaid David’s protection with a refusal to feed David’s men, David gathered 400 soldiers and swore to kill Nabal by morning. Why the difference? David respectedContinue reading “Sexual Abuse in the Church.”
The Moment in the Cave.
This morning as I considered spraying washer fluid on my windshield to “encourage” a tailgater to back off, it came to me: HERE’S THE GREATEST RULE IN ETHICS: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Luke 6:31. Are we following that standard? Some politicians follow a different ethic: “Attack your enemiesContinue reading “The Moment in the Cave.”
Obedience > Worship.
When our faith is young, we look for ways to impress God. We negotiate—we try to make deals, to bargain with God: “Lord, if you get me out of this, I will put such and such in the offering plate.” Or, “God, if you will bless me with this, I will stop doing so-and-so.” ButContinue reading “Obedience > Worship.”
“What is This Sound of Sheep and Cattle That I Hear?”
I laughed in court when a man who has been in and out of prison, convicted of a string of armed robberies, testified that during a dice game he was keeping an eye on his money because “everybody ain’t got integrity.” True. “EVERYBODY AIN’T GOT INTEGRITY.” Period. Mic drop. Many of us lack integrity. KingContinue reading ““What is This Sound of Sheep and Cattle That I Hear?””
The Spirit of the Lord Will Control You.
I wrote recently of Samson, Gideon, David, Noah, Moses, and Elijah—men whose achievements followed a deep indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The phrase the Holman translation uses is “the Spirit of the Lord took control,” as in this passage about King Saul: “The Spirit of the Lord will control you; you will prophecy with [theContinue reading “The Spirit of the Lord Will Control You.”
Scotty.
Scotty is NBA-tall. At six-foot, nine inches, he is taller than the average pro (6’7”). Scotty is handsome too, with wavy black hair and dimples. I played basketball with Scotty a few times. My novice skills were useless against him, yet Scotty dogged himself constantly. I’ll never forget the way he practiced three-pointers, yelling “OFF!”Continue reading “Scotty.”
Household Words: 