Category: Faith in the Struggle

Why Buy the Cow?

Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there . . .” 1 Kings 14:2 I get most of my news from two online news sources which I read daily. Both of these…
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When Healing Isn’t Healthy

After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. 1 Kings 13:33 Recently, my daughter and I travelled to Indiana for a CrossFit competition, which was the biggest stage on which I had yet participated. I was excited and nervous…
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My Terrible Parenting Advice

And he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. 1 Kings 13:18 During Family Practice Residency, I…
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Frustration at the Auto Parts Store

And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” 1 Kings 13:6 Years ago, when we moved to the lake and I first began to venture out on the water, I bought a canoe…
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Cancel Culture is Nothing New

And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” 1 Kings 13:4 Politics, to me, is infuriating to watch, as there is always one side doing the exact thing that offended them when…
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I Can’t Believe it’s Not Recovery

He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings. 1 Kings 12:33 My family…
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Whatever You Do, Don’t Do This . . .

So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 1 Kings 12:28 I wrestled through college and, because I wasn’t very good, I lost…
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One Bad Decision After Another

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 1 Kings 12:18 In my drug use, it wasn’t just the decisions I made directly regarding the drug that were bad decisions.…
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Finding My Identity

He spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 1 Kings 12:14 Early in my teens, I felt like my peers had all achieved some…
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Old People

And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him . . . 1 Kings 12:13 In my first official attempt at recovery, I attended outpatient treatment where I met the old, grizzled counselor who ran the program. I liked him, respected him, and listened to what…
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