Ever had a friend ask you to co-sign a loan? Or maybe even a family member? Ever wonder what you should eat and what kind of exercise regimen would be best? How to pick your friends? Whether you should get up and go to work? Where might one go to get an answer to such [...]

Today’s reading is an extended passage from the book of 1 Kings. As you read, consider whose wisdom you seek and whose advice you act on. What is your confidence in certain advisers based on? What makes you question someone’s advice and counsel? Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him [...]

“Criticism” might as well be a four-letter world in our culture. We love to give advice, we love to criticize. But no one like to be criticized. In this passage from Matthew, Jesus points out why criticism has such a negative view in our culture: Stop judging others and you will not be judged. For [...]

In the wilderness, the Israelites were the direct recipients of God’s great generosity. God provided manna, which was much needed sustenance. There was no hope of storing it up, but there was enough to live on, and even thrive. God directly cared for the community, enabling it to serve him as a unique and holy [...]

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teachings.’ For you ignore God’s specific laws and substitute your own traditions.” Then he said, “You [...]