Blog

Bad Influence

And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” 1 Samuel 27:12 Because I grew up in a dry home – no alcohol – I grappled with my own desire to drink when I went off to college. I told myself…
Read more

Forgiveness Doesn’t Equal Trust

So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. 1 Samuel 26:25 In my last relapse, I tore our lives apart and hurt my wife terribly. Initially, we both assumed our marriage was over, but she didn’t leave. I went to treatment, committed myself to faith and recovery, and then returned home where…
Read more

My Dad

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Every morning, I take my children to God in prayer, asking that they would recognize their need for him, and that they’d invest in their relationship with him daily. I ask God…
Read more

When God Stops Listening

And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 1 Samuel 28:6 In my active addiction, it was common to have something happen that would make me fear that my drug use was going to be discovered. In my anxiety, I’d go…
Read more

Confronting Evil

Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 1 Samuel 26:21 I often write about how, as Christians, we are to love those around…
Read more

Punishment Isn’t My Job

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.” 1 Samuel 26:9-10 In…
Read more

Only Sober in Jail

So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 1 Samuel 26:2 It’s natural to question the authenticity of any transformation claimed by the man (or woman) sitting in jail. Most people in jail have significant regrets and…
Read more

Boys Will Be Boys

Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 1 Samuel 25:39 My wife and I recently watched a documentary about a sports hero whose toxic behavior towards women cast a shadow over his legendary career. This was someone I greatly admired and when the story initially came out years ago,…
Read more

When Someone Asks Me for Money

And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? . . . Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” 1 Samuel 25:10-11 If you’ve been reading…
Read more

When I Smashed My Finger Loading Bricks

Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! 1 Samuel 25:33 I like to think of myself as even-tempered and levelheaded. I don’t get stressed often and I don’t find that I’m easily upset. In fact, I’m quite delightful…
Read more