This week's Bible reflection (Human) gets the extended, Pride Sunday treatment and now it's this week's sermon podcast from St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Insecure" podcast
Showing posts with label 2 Kings 2:6-14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Kings 2:6-14. Show all posts
6/30/2013
6/24/2013
Human
Elijah was a super prophet. Elisha was a super prophet in training. And his time was coming.
But he was afraid he’d get left out in the cold if he missed the opportunity to be the next prophet. IN this week's Bible reading from 2 Kings 2:1-6, 6-14, Elisha didn’t think he would succeed as a prophet if he didn’t have at least double what Elijah had. Elisha was afraid and self conscious.
One time, a bunch of children were making fun of Elisha by calling him ‘baldy.’
He called a she-bear out of the woods and it mauled all the boys.
Elisha had an issue with the way he looked. He had an issue with anger, too,
To be fair, it's also possible that Elisha was really just highly motivated and wanted to not only take over for Elijah, but to be even better. In his lifetime, Elisha did some great things as a leader and as a prophet.
But the insecure, self conscious, and angry leader is a whole lot more realistic picture of a human being.
Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Leaders come from all walks of life. Leaders come with all kinds of gifts and shortcomings. Leaders succeed. Leaders make mistakes.
Leaders get to be human.
But he was afraid he’d get left out in the cold if he missed the opportunity to be the next prophet. IN this week's Bible reading from 2 Kings 2:1-6, 6-14, Elisha didn’t think he would succeed as a prophet if he didn’t have at least double what Elijah had. Elisha was afraid and self conscious.
One time, a bunch of children were making fun of Elisha by calling him ‘baldy.’
He called a she-bear out of the woods and it mauled all the boys.
Elisha had an issue with the way he looked. He had an issue with anger, too,
To be fair, it's also possible that Elisha was really just highly motivated and wanted to not only take over for Elijah, but to be even better. In his lifetime, Elisha did some great things as a leader and as a prophet.
But the insecure, self conscious, and angry leader is a whole lot more realistic picture of a human being.
Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Leaders come from all walks of life. Leaders come with all kinds of gifts and shortcomings. Leaders succeed. Leaders make mistakes.
Leaders get to be human.
6/25/2010
Change
This week's Bible study blog post (Zeal) provides a beginning, but doesn't really give any clues as to where things are headed in Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL
"Change" text
"Change" podcast
"Change" text
"Change" podcast
6/21/2010
Zeal
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry -
I like that word, zeal. It sounds like a brand of shoes that help a person run faster. It sounds like a breakfast bar that gives someone energy for the day. It sounds like a car that has incredible new technology to help some one be safer and get better fuel economy. It sounds like a blog entry talking about a young attendant who was about to succeed the prophet he served.
In this week's Bible reading from 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Elijah and Elisha were traveling together and Elijah wanted some time to prepare for his whirlwind retirement adventure. Elisha wouldn’t let him out of his sight. He did not want to miss the opportunity to be the next prophet. He asked Elijah for a double portion of whatever he had going for him. Elisha had zeal.
Of course, another way to look at this Bible passage is that Elisha was afraid he’d get left out in the cold if he missed the opportunity to be the next prophet. He didn’t think he would succeed if he didn’t have at least double what Elijah had. Elisha was afraid and self conscious.
Was Elisha a young, zealous prophet in waiting?
Or was he a self conscious, fearful, prophet wannabe?
Does it matter?
I like that word, zeal. It sounds like a brand of shoes that help a person run faster. It sounds like a breakfast bar that gives someone energy for the day. It sounds like a car that has incredible new technology to help some one be safer and get better fuel economy. It sounds like a blog entry talking about a young attendant who was about to succeed the prophet he served.
In this week's Bible reading from 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Elijah and Elisha were traveling together and Elijah wanted some time to prepare for his whirlwind retirement adventure. Elisha wouldn’t let him out of his sight. He did not want to miss the opportunity to be the next prophet. He asked Elijah for a double portion of whatever he had going for him. Elisha had zeal.
Of course, another way to look at this Bible passage is that Elisha was afraid he’d get left out in the cold if he missed the opportunity to be the next prophet. He didn’t think he would succeed if he didn’t have at least double what Elijah had. Elisha was afraid and self conscious.
Was Elisha a young, zealous prophet in waiting?
Or was he a self conscious, fearful, prophet wannabe?
Does it matter?
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