gregorfaifley

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A Stitch in Time

A Stitch in Time

1 Samuel 25:1-13              http://bit.ly/1mf8H66

It wouldn’t have taken much, not for a rich man; or a wise man. Nabal has 600 hungry men camping in his neighbourhood and they have been restrained. No Shepherds have been beaten, no sheep have been rustled, not a kid goat roasted, yet Nabal doesn’t recognise that its time to put a stitch in the truce to keep the peace for tearing.

If he thought…

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David cuts a piece of Saul’s robe David consider cutting a throat, but cuts only a robe

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1 Samuel 23:1-13                   http://bit.ly/1nx3Ajj  Lots of organizations, including the… http://wp.me/s1fdn-90

1 Samuel 23:1-13                   http://bit.ly/1nx3Ajj

 Lots of organizations, including the Church have to ensure they don’t get distracted from their reason for existence. Understandably, David has been distracted by the threats to his life. But encouragingly, he has an ear open to the news from the people around him. His bravery and his desire to win glory for God means he knows where his…

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History Repeats Itself

1 Samuel 22:1-5                                http://bit.ly/1hEWpjj

In the caves of Afghanistan, under the bombed-out buildings of Syria, hidden in the jungle of the Congo the political opposition to the authorities hide and wait for their chance. They wait with family too scared to stay at known addresses in case an unfamiliar hand knocks their door.

It’s an age old problem, deserving of your…

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No Such Thing As a Fair Fight

No Such Thing As a Fair Fight

1 Samuel 22:1-5                http://bit.ly/1hEWpjj

Saul is busy pursuing David when he should be doing something about the Philistines. They are raiding Israelite towns to steal the newest harvest and this puts huge economic pressures on the town and the nation. But Saul is seemingly doing nothing.

David has the heart of a leader for his own people. Despite the strain of needing to flee from…

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Acting the Fool

1 Samuel 21:10-15                           http://bit.ly/1iqiMIR

It’s a Gospel truth that human cleverness and God’s wisdom are not the same. Saint Paul saw his Church in Corinth come close to ruin by men who thought the Church was the place to parade their clever speeches and educated thinking. So he turned the standard on its head by declaring that “For Christ’s sake we are fools”. Paul knew…

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A Painful Farewell

1 Samuel 20:30-42                 http://bit.ly/1b2bjRe

I heard the song in 1991 and immediately could sense the emotion in the singer’s voice. As soon as I knew it was the last song on the album it took on a darker hue altogether. It really was a farewell song, a last rousing call to the audience while feeling the life sapping effects of HIV. I heard it again at the weekend on the radio and…

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I saw one of favourite films the other week, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. Even… http://wp.me/s1fdn-79 I saw one of favourite films the other week, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Even when the characters are doing nothing they make me laugh, …

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Getting the Point

Getting the Point

1 Samuel 19:1-10                             http://bit.ly/LyK0l8

When will David get the point? Its never going to work, him and Saul in the same palace is asking for trouble. Go, David, go! There are times to forgive and try again but when you are dodging sharpened spears don’t just hide—leave.

Perhaps too young and with no where that will welcome him its hard to think it will be easier…

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More Than Enough

More Than Enough

1 Samuel 18:20-30                               http://bit.ly/1dqxomT

At Harvest time we are used to thinking about the overflowing plenty the world provides us. Even Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine helps us think of God’s overflowing generosity without trouble.  But how many foreskins do we want to think about? It’s a bounty of murderous war that leaves us cold; but we have to take the…

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A Scheming King 1 Samuel 18:10-19                            He was big, he was King and he had a sharp spear. There was a lot to scare anyone, especially if you did anything better than Saul.

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Only a Boy Called David 1 Samuel 17:41-49                   The week has started badly. Tension and threats in the Ukraine; despair among those trapped by the civil war in Syria and Boko Haram.

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Filling Big Boots 1 Samuel 17:38-40      reading online here:  In my first couple of years as a minister I carried the mannerisms of several ministers whom I knew well.

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I Will Go and Fight Him Anais Nin, a French Cuban diarist and thinker caught perfectly the courage that David had and the future he made for himself as a servant of the Lord.

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David is Sent to the Battle

David is Sent to the Battle

1 Samuel 17:12-24                            http://bit.ly/1fHDFiU

David is running supplies to the frontline and sees not only his family, but the enemy as well. Now it is not just a tale told from afar, David will become part of the legend. Today the news has covered addressed events in Egypt. Without intending to become a news story themselves three journalists have become the focus of…

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Goliath Issues a Challenge

Goliath Issues a Challenge

1 Samuel 17:1-11              Online Bible        http://bit.ly/LyJkvV

I hesitate to say it, but there might be a little exaggeration involved in this story. Goliath isn’t just big…he’s huge; the spear isn’t just intimidating…it’s a weapon of mass destruction; the armour isn’t simply impressive…it’s worth a king’s ransom. And he bellows his challenge across the battlefield and the Israelites…

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If Only He Knew

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