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The Lazy Prophet
29 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready, take my staff, and go! If you encounter anyone, don’t stop to greet them. If anyone greets you, don’t reply. Put my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 But the boy’s mother said, “I swear by your life and by the LORD’s life, I won’t leave you!” So Elisha got up and followed…
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Clean and Unclean
15 The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” (Acts 10:15, CEB) One of the greatest challenges for the American Church in our day is to rise above the political rhetoric, quit drawing political lines in the sand, and hear the voice of God in our midst once again. It’s not a matter of…
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Oh, Just Let Me DIE!
That sums up Elijah’s response when Jezebel threatened his life. He had defeated the prophets of Baal, called down fire from heaven, then prayed for rain. Now, he’s in the wilderness worn out and wishing he could die. The word of the Lord came to him several times in the form of a question: The LORD’s word came to him…
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Hobbling Along
I have been part of the CEB Blog Tour for Advent and now for Lent. It’s been fun to explore this translation. There are times when how this translation turns a phrase is really great to read. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the LORD is…
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The God Who Answers By Fire
22 Elijah said to the people, “I am the last of the LORD’s prophets, but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. 23 Give us two bulls. Let Baal’s prophets choose one. Let them cut it apart and set it on the wood, but don’t add fire. I’ll prepare the other bull, put it on the wood, but won’t add fire.…
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Elijah and Radical Dependence
2 Then the LORD’s word came to Elijah: 3 Go from here and turn east. Hide by the Cherith Brook that faces the Jordan River. 4 You can drink from the brook. I have also ordered the ravens to provide for you there. 5 Elijah went and did just what the LORD said. He stayed by the Cherith Brook that…
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The Mantle of Elijah
17 Elijah was a person just like us. When he earnestly prayed that it wouldn’t rain, no rain fell for three and a half years. 18 He prayed again, God sent rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:17-18, CEB) Elijah was a man just like us? Really? I mean… yes, he was a human being. But like me?…
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How to Be Labeled Insane
We carry labels in our lives. We like to slap labels on others. Jesus had some labels of his own. They weren’t ones he necessarily put on voluntarily. “Insane” was one of those labels. 20 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. 21 When his…
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Farm Faithfulness
Trust the LORD and do good; live in the land, and farm faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3, CEB) Is your faith “farm fresh”? Our faith needs to be cultivated. It needs to be attended to. Lent is a season of reflection because we need to have times to see what God is doing. Pause. Look around. Take inventory. Our life in God…
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I Gave Up My Voice for Lent
It seems I have lost my voice. My students will rejoice if I don’t get it back soon. Even in the loss of my voice it helps me to see I don’t lose my “voice” for calling out to God. In the deepest recesses of my spirit deep still calls to deep. The Psalm yesterday was Psalm 51. The Common…
Tag: Lent
