Threads Notes

We tend to remember snippets of scripture that we want to be true while forgetting those we don’t like and ignoring the story that underlies both.

What the world needs now is stuff, more stuff. That’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

While the overarching story is about the Divine choice of a king for Israel, the details of the story of Saul and David in 1 Samuel present David as simply the better warrior, tactician, strategist, and politician.

The first key to recognizing and effectively using spiritual gifts in your church is to recognize that all God’s children are gifted by God. Nobody is excluded. Nobody is elite.

While everything is a gift, we are, in fact, gifted. Every one of us.

And I saw a great wonder in the house, Li’l Mo sitting on a table and my missing glasses there beside him. And behold the glasses had not been thrown to the floor. And the whole household wondered after the cat! (With apologies to Revelation.)

Knowing that God is “sovereign over the realm of humanity” (Daniel 4:25) is a framework for confident action, not an excuse for inaction.

When Elijah, fleeing from Jezebel, stops under a bush in the desert and says he’s done, God sends an angel, not to condemn him, but to give him food and tell him he’s not alone.

“The only things found in the middle of the road are a yellow stripe and dead skunks” is a saying that supports control by ridiculing those who seek dialog and common ground.

The fact that we get Christmas movies all year long, but that Good Friday and Easter movies are not so numerous should tell us something. Good often grows after hardship and tragedy, but we often prefer not to think about it.

Watch out for the “infallible fallacy fallacy.”

Biblical advice for the internet: “Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness, less you also become like him. Answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest he view himself as wise.” (Proverbs 26:4-5)