Month: May 2025

And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 1 Samuel 20:2 A while back, a new fast-food restaurant opened just across the street from…
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When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 1 Samuel 19:21 When I came home from treatment back in 2014, I knew that I’d found a lasting recovery. Understandably, my wife wasn’t convinced. She needed time – a…
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Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” 1 Samuel 19:17 Occasionally, I’ll meet a patient who wants me to help her husband with his alcohol problem, only to find that he’s home bound. Wait. If he can’t get to the liquor store,…
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And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.” 1 Samuel 19:6 I once made up my mind that I was going to stop using opioids forever. I relapsed a day later. Then, I repeated the whole process several hundred times. I failed…
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“Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. 1 Samuel 19:5-6 When my addiction and opioid diversion came to light, there were those unfortunate souls who were tasked with the terrible job of confronting me. Looking back, I feel bad for them.…
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And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.” 1 Samuel 19:2 My wife and I watched one of those real crime documentaries a while back, in which the parents of the murderer conspired with their son…
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And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 1 Samuel 18:23 In medical school, I learned the science behind medicine in the classroom, from professors. The actual practice of medicine, however, was largely learned in the clinic…
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Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 Nothing good ever happens after midnight. Back when I was a teenager, this was one…
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Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 18:25 While struggling with addiction, I also struggled with being overweight and out of shape. As the drug consumed my life, my self-control in everything diminished and I was simply not motivated to exercise or eat right. When I saw…
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The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him…
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