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Category: With Audio

When Our Kids Struggle, We Struggle

When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:34-35 When our kids were young, like most parents, we encouraged them to participate in extracurricular activities. They…
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Forgiving Those Who’ve Hurt Us

When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” Genesis 26:26-27 Years ago, I met with an individual whom I knew socially, but in…
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Can a Grain of Sugar Kill You?

But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” Genesis 26:19-20 When my son ran cross-country in high school, he and his team had a perpetual debate that lasted several seasons. Could a grain of…
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I Hope You Fail

He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. . . And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Genesis 26:14-16 At the gym, we’re in perpetual competition with each other, pushing one another to become better than we’d be…
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Why Does God Use Imperfect People?

And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. Genesis 26:12-13 Often, as I’ve observed other Christians whom I’ve put on a pedestal, I’ve been surprised and hurt when they’ve turned…
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Potty Mouth at the Gym

Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”  Genesis 26:10 I’ve developed a bad habit of using somewhat coarse language at the gym. I probably do it in other places as well, but it’s…
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The Sins of the Father

So Isaac settled in Gerar. When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. Genesis 26:6-7 Modern medicine accepts that addiction…
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Just Do What I Say

And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you . . .” Genesis 26:2-3 Working in addiction medicine, I often wish that I could simply assume…
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Stinking Thinking

Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Genesis 25:32 I’ve previously written about that primitive part of our brain – the nucleus accumbens – that seeks and produces a dopamine high from immediate gratification. Give me donuts now. Balancing that impulsive part of our brain is the…
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My Husky Jeans

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34 When I was a kid, I felt picked on for my weight. Yes, I was a little chubby and yes, my mom had to buy me husky jeans. Honestly,…
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