Month: February 2025

Embarrassed By Our Parents

After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo . . . Judges 10:1 I assume that it’s every parent’s job to embarrass their children occasionally. My mother was a teacher, and my father was a pastor, so I couldn’t get away with much at either school or church.…
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A Thousand Little Deaths

Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. Judges 9:56 As tragic as a drug overdose death is, a literal, physical life is hardly the only thing killed by an addiction. Several times lately, while sharing stories with those who’re addicted, I’ve heard them speak…
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Reputation Manipulation

Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” Judges 9:54 In my addiction, I desperately desired to control the narrative of my life. I wanted to keep my dark secret a secret, while promoting…
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The Hair of the Dog

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech . . . Judges 9:23 The chaos of my addiction made for a miserable life. Yes, the high of the drug provided immediate gratification, but the high wore off and then the misery…
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The Guilty Conscience

Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity . . . with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. Judges 9:16-19 Prior to my knee replacement, multiple injuries and multiple surgeries meant chronic pain. When I had my first steroid injection, the…
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Addiction Sickens the Whole Family

And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. Judges 9:5 In my addiction, one of the lies I told myself was that my drug use couldn’t hurt anyone as long as I kept it a secret. I really thought that I…
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