Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 The book of Ecclesiastes can seem pretty depressing until you understand the context. A common theme throughout is “All is meaningless.” Written by King Soloman, he takes account of all the things this world had to offer him. He was rich. He was wise. He built the greatest, most costly and detailed temple of that time. He was a king. He could have and do anything he absolutely w...  Read More

1 Kings 5:1-7 Solomon was ready to build the temple that he was always instructed that he would one day build for the Lord. It was prophesied in the time of David that Solomon would one day be able to build the temple to God. In the time of David there was not enough peace in the land for David to be able to build the temple. But now, under Solomon’s wise ruling, a time of plenty and peace has com...  Read More

1 Kings 3:24-28 Solomon's greatness in this passage did not begin in the throne room. It began in prayer. He knew the responsibility before him was greater than his mental ability. That humility opened the door for God's wisdom to work through him.Notice that Solomon's wisdom resulted in the child being protected. The final outcome was not destruction but restoration. The baby was returned to his ...  Read More

1 Kings 3:16-23 A question with no good answer. This is what faced Solomon early in his reign. A question if judged wrongly would strip a mother of her child and a child of her mother. True justice (the right answer) is what is needed but justice often is perverted to meet the needs of society or selective groups. Solomon is in a tense situation as how he judges this case will set a precedent for ...  Read More

1 Kings 3:10-14 Having children is a huge blessing, no matter if it's a rough day with them or an amazing day. With having children there becomes the million questions of can I have this or can I have that and the famous but simple question of why? However, have you ever had your child ask you something that you least expected? In our household it's very common for Paisley to want a snack and when...  Read More

1 Kings 3:5-9 When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I was in my 30s. I had never been a lead pastor until that moment. The church was roughly 300 people, and it was a bit intimidating at first. I distinctly remember a conversation that I had with Tami at that time where she said to me: “You’re good with teens, but are you sure you are good with adults?” To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure,...  Read More