The New Normal

Letters used to matter, a lot. Today, I don’t think emails quite have the same level of importance that letters once had. I attended a very strict Christian college that demanded my creative writing abilities in order to communicate with the girl who would later become my wife. In fact, just a couple weeks ago, we found a lot of those letters. They are pretty laughable now and even though I’ve matured a bit – the feelings I have for her haven’t changed in the 14 or more years since they were written. We faced plenty of trials (she had many more attractive guys to date, 1200 miles of separation for 3 years, my immaturity), but each one of our letters always assured the other of our commitment. Those letters were a visible representation of our love for each other that helped get us through some dark points of our relationship.

Anyone who has written a letter knows, the salutation matters…a lot. It sets the tone for the entire letter. There are several questions that should be asked/answered at the beginning of an epistle:

Who wrote the letter? Peter
Who is the letter written to? Strangers (or we can ascribe this even to us)…meaning they don’t know each other…who are scattered across Asia Minor possibly because of the persecution ravaging Christian
Why write the letter? Exhortation – persecution is going to happen remember why you’re being persecuted and the promises that come with the Christian life.

It is impossible to break everything down in a blog post, so I do want to focus on a couple big things I took away. First, I am just going to stay away from the debate that is sure to erupt out of vr 2. There is this promise section I love: We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; We have an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and won’t fade away; We have protection until the last day. How about those promises? Those promises give me all the security of commitment any Christian could need. Peter is writing this while knowing he is being persecuted and will die for his faith…yet, he is still confident in everything Jesus taught him. It’s pretty easy to write an upbeat, positive letter while things are going good – it’s even harder when things aren’t easy.

Peter goes on to give “props” to those who haven’t seen, but still have faith. Our faith is going to be tried…and in the end, we will either come out golden or be burnt to nothing. That being said, the faith committed without sight is a stronger faith that will withstand the “fires” of trial. My faith, today, is my salvation. Trusting in that salvation, I know, there is nothing that come against me that is going to consume me. Peter’s assuring them through a letter that they can trust their salvation because it will last the trials of this life – no matter how bad it gets.

So, here’s the question I ask myself: Do I trust my salvation…Meaning, when I’m in the middle of the deepest valley experience, can I trust that God’s salvation is enough for me to keep my feet moving, one step at a time, all the way to the peak of the mountain?

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Sunday Sermon // little stories…BIG TRUTH (The Prodigal Son)

trey bailey — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:43:31 +0000

little stories…BIG TRUTH // The Prodigal Son

[ECC Lead Pastor, Scott Moore, Covington Campus]

The Parable of the Prodigal Son : Luke 15:11-32

MY FATHER STILL LOVES ME

Barriers to understanding this story..

We may not understand Jesus.

This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! (Luke 15:2 NLT)

Jesus went looking for the ones who needed salvation. And this made the religious folks uncomfortable.

Jesus was 'receiving' people that were sinners. But it was not a passive approach..Jesus aggressively sought out those who needed rescuing.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10 NLT)

God is nothing like your earthly father.

The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. (Luke 15:12 NLT)

In that culture this was like saying, “Dad, I wish you were dead.” When the younger son makes this request, he has given his father the largest disrespect possible.

My Father still loves me..

even when I wander

The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. (Luke 15:12 NLT)

even when I am wasted

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. (Luke 15:13 NLT)

wild living = reckless abandon, no care for anyone but indulging himself

Sure it could be a chemical or alcohol-induced 'wasted'. But it could be that we wasted relationships, our character, our finances, our family.

We all know what sin is like. It's exciting and freeing at first. Like the freedom you feel when you skydive..but then realize you don't have a parachute.

When we detach from the Father we will attach ourselves to another idol..another god..stuff..money..power..pride..people..and in the end this attachment has no life.

These false god only bring us:

Humiliation
Isolation
Regret

And hopefully this will lead us to begin wondering..can I go back home.

even when I am wondering

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. (Luke 15:17-20 NLT)

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:6 NLT)

The son 'came to his senses'. He realized what he had done. And he 'repented'. He turned away from his current lifestyle and lack of faith in the father and he humbly returned.

We are made BY God..

We are made LIKE God..

We are made FOR God..

Action step:

Walk back home because your Father still loves you.

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. ’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. (Luke 15:21-24 NLT)

What is the path back to the Father?

Jesus.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT)

Jesus is waiting..he is waiting for us to turn our heads back around and begin walking back home. The Father will run to us. He's been waiting for us.

Come back home..it's time to throw a party.

My Father still loves me!!!

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One Little White Lie

trey bailey — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:00:49 +0000

(Today's post by Jacob Moore)

Judges 21

Personally, I think the last verse in this chapter should have been the first.

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 NKJV

Reading this chapter felt like listening to a bunch of teenage girls trying to explain their relationship drama. Except with a lot more violence. And kidnapping. And virgins.

The Israelites destroyed the tribe of Benjamin in the previous chapter, and now the Israelites are crying over it. All the women and children are dead in Benjamin, and so the tribe will eventually die out. And since apparently Jabesh Gilead doesn’t care about Benjamin, the Israelites kill everyone in Jabesh Gilead except for the virgins. The virgins are given to Benjamin. But, it turns out there aren’t enough women to go around; so, the Israelites teach the men in Benjamin how to kidnap women. The Benjamites kidnap all the women they need and return to their inheritance to rebuild their cities.

And that’s chapter 21, folks. The kingless Israelites have officially proven that they need a king.

Ultimately, this chapter just made me grateful to not be in the same situation as the Israelites. I’m nearly 100% sure I’ll never have to instruct a bunch of men–whose fathers and brothers I've just killed–how to kidnap women. But who knows? Maybe the Israelites thought the same thing.

If all sin is truly equal, maybe telling a small lie looks just as ludicrous and atrocious to an Israelite as kidnapping young women looks to me. And maybe telling a small lie puts me on the same path the Israelites started on.

This chapter makes me grateful to not be in the same situations as the Israelites, and more than that it makes me grateful for my king. And goodness, it makes me not wanna stray far from Him, because it gets nasty without Him.

What is your greatest take-away from the book of Judges?

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Third Time Is The Charm

trey bailey — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:21:13 +0000

Third times a charm

I read today’s reading Judges 20 pretty fast, just to get a feel for it. I was so awestruck by the attrocious behavior that led to the fight. But something really struck me about the rest of the story.

Have you ever been working through an issue with God and keep hitting a wall? Have you ever lost hope and took matters into your own hands? In Judges 20, Israel end up whipping the Benjamites, but it took something different.

Imagine having 400,000 soldiers (swordsmen), like Israel. Now, think of the human condition if faced with adversity. What are the normal options that we face as people?

Check out the enemy and come up with a plan on how to win with out powerful minds.
Quit
Stay utterly dependent on God no matter what, even if it means losing thousands of men.

I must say, in my life, if I hit a wall and end up racking up some heavy price tags, I tend to think that I am doing something wrong. In this case, who knows the mind of God. Personally I have a hard time with God tempting people, or even testing them. I tend to think God always has our best interest at heart and is ready to direct and encourage us.

Stay with it, press into God, ask Him for direction/permission, move emphatically. We have a unique opportunity to take an identity problem, like idolotry with Israel, or any character defect for that matter in our lives, to learn something very valuable if we pay attention.

Take a look around, maybe even in your own life, do you commonly try solve problems without God? What character or identity problems do you typically deal with?

What about being a quitter? What type of character or identity problems relate tot his?

And last, remain utterly dependent on God?

Like we see with Israel, they had an opportunity like many times before, but they stayed the course. The kept pressing into God. In the end, God allowed Israel the victory, but it had heavy cost.

Wake Up Call

trey bailey — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:00:26 +0000

(Today's post by Chris Queen)

Judges 19

There are so many Bible stories that we equate with childhood. Some of us remember hearing a teacher with a flannel-graph and cutouts of apostles, prophets, and, of course Jesus with the white robe and blue sash. I remember Alice Jones (yes, the famous Mrs. Alice even taught me as a kid) and later great youth pastors like Gary and Scott making so many of these famous episodes from God’s Word come to life for me.

And then there’s Judges 19. There are no flannelgraphs to go along with this story and no cute crafts. The kids in E-town won’t see any sketches or sing any songs about this chapter. In fact, if someone made it into a movie, it would be rated R at its mildest, as a story of infidelity, homosexuality, rape, and murder.

Judges 19 begins with Israel leaderless and steeped in sin. A man travels to Bethlehem to retrieve a concubine who had run away from him. He then winds up spending a few days with her family. Heading back home, he stops in Gibeah, where an old man takes him in for the night. Here, the story takes an unfathomably horrible turn:

22 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”

23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.24 Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”

25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.

29 When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. 30 Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!”

Israelite men performed unspeakable acts on a young woman, and her master, like a character out of a David Fincher movie, hacks her into pieces and sends the pieces to the tribes of Israel as some sort of wake up call. I’ve struggled with what to take away from this chapter, but I can’t help but think about how I deal with the sins of others around me and how I react when others point out sin in my life.

How do you react when people you trust point out sin in your life?

If you have to confront a loved one about sin, how do you approach it?

When it comes to dealing with sin, what can you take away from this chapter?

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Fool’s Gold

trey bailey — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:00:46 +0000

(Today's post by James Rooks)

Judges 17 & 18

Judges 17:1 NASB – Now there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.

These 2 chapters start off promisingly enough. We've got the hill country of Ephraim and a man named Micah. But very quickly things take a strange turn. Micah had stolen money from his mother to the tune of 110 years worth of wages. It wasn't like he'd robbed the piggy bank with a few dollars in it. Ten pieces of silver would have been a decent earning for a year, so the Eleven Hundred pieces that he took would have represented quite a nest egg. After his mom calls down a curse on whoever took it, he has a change of heart and gives it back. Reminds me of a story I heard one time where a fella ran out of a convenience store with a 12-pack of beer without paying for it. In his haste to make a quick get-away he wrecks his car in a ditch across the street from the store. He then walks back into the convenience store, sets the beer on the counter, and says to the clerk, “I'd like to pay for this.” Yep, that happened.

Don't get me wrong, I had the hardest time with these two chapters in Judges. The first time reading through I find myself thinking, “Where's the redeeming quality here? Where's the hero? Where's the cool battle scene? Where's God in all this mess?” I then read the chapters again, and then again, and then again. Reading mostly trying to figure out what to write about here, but also to figure out what exactly was going on. I think the mental exercise did me some good.

Sometimes when we read scripture it jumps off the page at first glance. Let's face it; some parts are easier to digest than others. Look at Psalm 139 and you find verse after verse of nuggets. Read the letters that Paul wrote and even the book of Acts where we see the birth of the church. If I were honest about Judges 17 & 18, if they were simply part of my reading plan, it would have been easy to just gloss through them and hope for a better day tomorrow when I hit Judges 19.

On the 3rd or 4th reading some things began to sink in. Although the story of Micah in Judges 17 & 18 is more of a close-up view, it represents a period of time that would have to be considered one of the spiritual basements for Israel as a whole. What we are seeing is what a society/culture looks like when there is moral decay and godlessness. There is a side bar in verse 6 that helps to explain this.

Judges 17:6 NASB – In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Now there were gods being worshiped in these 2 chapters, but not the one true God.

Take a look back through today's reading and make note of all the crazy things that happened. Micah steals the family fortune and gives it back. Mom celebrates getting her money back by taking it to have an idol made. Micah then sets up idols, a place of worship for these idols, and consecrates one of his sons in hopes that he'd be a priest…. basically he started a new religion/cult. A Levite enters the picture and Micah offers him a job for 10 pieces of silver a year to be the priest of his newly set up religion (Micah does this with hopes that the LORD will bless him). Things take a turn for Micah when the tribe of Dan shows up. They take his idols, they take his priest, and proceed to humiliate him when he tries to confront them. What Micah had set up for himself was now gone. The tribe of Dan finally settles, and when they do, they set up Micah's idols as a place of worship.

So what do we do with this information? Where's the personal application? I think sometimes it is easy for us to become ego-centric when reading the Bible. While there is PLENTY of self-application throughout Scripture, I don't know that the purpose of all Scripture is to make me feel good about my personal devotional reading for that day. Think for a moment what it would be like if we just read the Bible and said, “What is God saying here?” instead of, “What is God saying to me?” I don't want to wreck anyone's Bible Study time, but go with me for just a moment. If I approach Judges 17 & 18 with the mentality that there MUST BE some personal application, then I'm going to have to bend scripture to fit me. But, if I approach these 2 chapters and the rest of the Bible with the simple question, “What is God saying here?” then I would be more apt to look into things like: history of Israel, the tribe of Dan, how much a piece of silver was worth back then, location of Ephraim, etc. I would basically be digging and digging into Scripture with hopes that the Holy Spirit would reveal to me the intended meaning of these 2 chapters, not what I want to make it mean, but what it really means. I personally have missed so much over the years of living off of 5-minute morning devotions because I've taken a quick dip for a personal application and left without wading into the deeper waters.

So what is the snap shot that we see today? Things go really bad when you have generations of people living their lives doing whatever seems right to do. There is no good apart from God. This is why Micah's story is such a wreck. Believers should read this and see parallels of decay and decline in the lives of those who are apart from God. We can see clearly in our reading today that those that seek to find joy and enrichment apart from God are only finding fools gold. It has no worth! Knowing that because without Him there is no hope, we should be willing carriers of the hope that we have in Jesus. 1 Peter 3:15 gives us the charge to always be prepared to give a reason for our hope. Let us be men who carry that hope with us today. Go with God!

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Fool Me Once, Shame On You..

trey bailey — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:00:37 +0000

(Today's post by Adam Cooper)

Judges 16

Fool me once shame on you,

Fool me twice shame on me,

Fool me over and over again….I am an idiot

Today’s reading takes us through a story that has been told down through the ages; the story of Samson and Delilah. However, there are some intricacies in this story that we are never told as kids but as adults they tend to stand out just a bit more.

Our story begins with Samson spending time with a woman while others plot to destroy him. Our story continues with Samson getting the best of them and escaping with his life. Oh wait….that is pretty much the entire story isn’t it? Well sort of.

Samson falls in love with a woman named Delilah whose love for Samson is only as deep as the next better offer on the table and as we see that offer is not long coming. We see the five rulers of the Philistines offering Delilah about 140 pounds of silver, 5500 shekels. In 2 Chronicles 1:17 it can be found that an Egyptian Chariot could be imported for around 600 shekels and a horse for another 150. Delilah could buy almost 37 horses. Well 36.67 to be exact. Woe be to that .67 horse! To bring this into today’s terms: silver is currently selling for $21.86 per ounce. Now this is Troy ounces so 11.9999 ounces makes a pound. Delilah’s purse from this offer in today’s dollars: approximately $21,604.80. Now I want you all to be brutally honest with yourself and raise your hand if you just said that was a lot of money! Even though I cannot see your hands, I do believe that a great number of you put your hands up. Thank you for your participation, you may put your hands down now.

Well Delilah, star struck with dollar signs in her eyes, begins to try and discover Samson’s source of power. She doesn’t pull any punches either she asks him directly. Over the next series of verses we see Delilah asking, Samson lying, and then Delilah doing exactly what Samson said would sap his power only to find out that Samson had fooled her. She does this once? NO. Twice? NO. Three times? NO. (I believe the FBI would even call this a clue!) We are told she does this day after day until Samson finally breaks and tells her the truth. Samson is subsequently captured, blinded by having his eyes gouged out (OWW!) and thrown in prison. The next thing we are told is that Samson’s hair immediately begins to grow back.

We are not told how long Samson sits in prison before the celebration that leads to the death of more philistines at one time than Samson had killed in his whole life but it can be assumed that his hair has had some time to grow back. In the end Samson calls on God to renew his strength and destroys the place where the Philistines have gathered, a great number of philistines, and himself.

Where does this tragic tale intersect with our world today? How can this have any profound impact on our lives in 2013 and beyond? The answers to these questions will rely on how honest you are with yourselves.

Delilah represents temptation. In this specific case the temptation of lust, but I strongly believe it can be temptation neutral and universally applied. Samson, like most men, suffered from a strong lustful desire. He was tempted with this desire over and over again until he finally succumbed to its power and it led to his destruction. Today men all over the world suffer with this same affliction. Many men are addicted to pornography but hide it beneath the façade that is their public persona. Many men in the church are struggling with pornography now and many others have struggled with it in their past and have managed to lay it at the cross even though the enemy continues to try and tempt them with it. And it doesn’t have to be pornography. What about drunkeness, drug addiction, or poor financial stewardship? What temptations have you faced and still face in your lives today? How many of these men that have suffered with these temptations in the past continue to flirt with that temptation now? Looking a little bit longer than you should at a scantily clad woman in a picture, staying a little too long at that company party where everyone is drinking but you, getting drawn into hanging out with old friends who happen to light up a special little cigarette. We all face temptation on a daily basis, many times a day, and it is important that we do not get worn down and finally give in to that temptation because IT WILL DESTROY US just like it destroyed Samson.

Satan would like nothing more than to drag us back into our old ways, down that path that leads to destruction. We all know Jesus defeated him at the cross, and he knows he has been defeated as well. But unlike most enemies who tend to surrender when they have been beaten, Satan continues to fight the battles with us even though the war is won. Spiritual warfare is a reality. Satan uses our weaknesses against us and wants nothing more than to keep as many of us from eternal life with God as he can. I am not one of those people who believe you can lose your salvation. I believe that if you fall away into your old sins that you were never truly saved to begin with. However, it is never too late to turn away from temptation. It is never too late to tell the Delilahs in our lives that continually try to drive a wedge between us and what we know to be true and honest and good that THEY HAVE LOST THE WAR because our great Commander has died for us and washed all of our sins clean.

What temptations do you still flirt with? Be honest with yourself and try to rely on God’s strength to help you quit.

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Mirror Mirror on the Wall I’m the Baddest Man of them All

trey bailey — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:00:07 +0000

(Today's post from Marc Cannon)

Judges 14-15

*Before reading this post grab a mirror or get somewhere that you can see the reflection of your mug.

Say it with me, “Samson”…”SAMSON”…. say it proud and loud!, “SAMSON!” What man in his right mind doesn't want to be like Samson? Pretty much the baddest dude to have ever walked the planet. Who wouldn't want to know that if someone crossed you the smack down you would lay upon them would be monumental – Picture Ali vs. Justin Beiber. His power was incomprehensible…I know I wish I had the ability to rip a lion apart with my own hands. The possibilities of accomplishment would literally be endless for you or I if we were anywhere remotely similar to Samson. Can I get an AMEN? AMEN!

I want each of you to grab that mirror right now and take a look at yourself. In your truck/car, office, home, the window of a storefront, or reflection off the lake … Are you looking yet? Without further ado I’d like to introduce you to Samson! That man staring back at you in the mirror is Samson. Wait, WHAT? You heard me right. Each and every one of us carries the same strength Samson did. We possess powers beyond human understanding. Exciting news right?! I truly cannot wrap my head around Samson going through a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. I’ve known a few donkey’s in my day and while they’re hardy animals I don’t know if it’s the weapon I’d quite choose to tussle with 1,000 of the meanest moochachoes the planet has to offer.

God gave Samson extraordinary gifts and talents. What did Samson do with those talents? For the vast majority of his life he wasted them, used them for his own gain and hoarded them with pride. What God had in mind for those talents to be used for, for the most part they weren't. God overwhelmed him with his own strength and Samson destroyed people with it and used that power for his own gain and pleasure.

Have you put the mirror down yet? I’m sure you’ve figured out by now where this is going. But pick the mirror back up and take another look. But take a longer look this time. Staring back at you: That’s Samson. God has given each of you gifts and talents. And those talents are equally as impressive as Samson’s super human pythons hanging off his shoulders. You may have physical talents and gifts, super human spiritual gifts, the gift of council, leadership, musical gifts, public speaking…the ability to catch a bear with a roll of duct-tape and a paperclip. Each of you men have been unbelievably blessed with talents and gifts. Just like Samson. And, unfortunately, Just like Samson, we’ve all fallen short on using those gifts as the Lord intended. To be utterly transparent with you, I have failed miserably with the gifts the Lord has given me. Blessed with musical talent, artistic talents, athletic talents, the gift of council, leadership and many more that I can think of as I sit here and write. I have squandered them all, used them for my own gain with pride and some I’ve let get stale and rot. That’s not how the Lord intended these gifts to be used. They’re intent is to be used for God’s Glory first and to give thanks every day to have the super human ability to use these gifts we’ve graciously received from the Father.

Keep looking in the mirror! Samson is still looking back at you. All is not lost, Brothers. Despite the way Samson squandered his gifts and the strength that the Lord overwhelmed him with he was stilled used by God. I can see evidence of that in my life. The Lord uses me in spite of my unwillingness at times to use my talents. I know none of us have assurance of tomorrow but, just like Samson, we can start a new. We can embrace those gifts and talents that the Lord has so graciously blessed us with and first: Thank Him for them giving Him ALL the Glory! Second: Offer them to his service for His use in us and His Glory will be seen through us.

What Superhuman Gifts and Talents has the Lord blessed you with? Are you using those as he intended?

Where can you start to utilize those Samson like gifts for God’s Glory today?

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Whatchoo Talkin ’bout, Willis?

trey bailey — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

(Today’s post by Tim David)

Judges 13

I like to think if I heard an audible voice from heaven I would jump up and move. I mean, Abraham in Hebrews was heralded for his “faith,” but he saw angels and heard God’s voice. What kind of faith is that? He saw and heard…believed…and that was his faith – anyone would believe, right??? Then, there are others, like Gideon, where the message was too fantastic for belief. I like to think, I would be like the shepherds who saw the angels at Christ’s birth, then believing, acted on what they were told to do…without hesitation. If any of you have ever seen a fainting goat fall over…I think that would be more my reaction to any of those scenarios. (Those of you who have never had the joy of seeing fainting goats do their thing..see video below.)

I think it’s completely wrong that culture probably effected us not knowing Samson’s mother’s name. Props to her though…she was barren, recognized the angel of the Lord, listened to what he told her, and believed it enough to tell it to Manoah (her husband). So, why is this message so hard to believe –

The message is coming from a man of God – say what???? He is “very awesome.” Again, I reference the fainting goat.
You will become prego…she is barren. It is a well known fact she CAN’T HAVE CHILDREN. Yet, she is told she is going to have a son…very important cultural and spiritual point. Manoah would have an heir to carry on his name. The first born son would take care of his parents when they got older. The son would have his place in their cultural/spiritual/governing body – being able to represent the family in legal and spiritual matters.
He is going to be a Nazirite. This vow is normally something a guy chooses and takes on as a vow. There are only two known guys to be declared a Nazirite from birth and they are both pretty notable – Samson and John the Baptist. This was a life of sacrifice, not something that was entered into flippantly – think about Numbers 12 and vows.
“He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” This means that after 40 years there is a promise (a concrete knowledge, not a hope) that they will get out from under the hands of the Philistines and her son was going to do it.

So in one lesson from an angle of the Lord, this woman goes from low, barren woman on the social tree to having a son who is going to be a Nazirite his whole life and will lead Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Pretty cool…huh??? Then she tells Manoah who immediately reacts the way any of us would…he needs confirmation from God that she hasn’t lost it. I love verse 8, “Pardon your servant, Lord…” Let’s just take a minute and recognize God for not hanging the woman out to dry here, and his Man reappears. This wasn’t the first time and certainly won’t be the last when God’s going to have to confirm His message to the hard-headed husband.

I could keep going on here, but after (and only after) God confirms what his wife told him did Manoah get it. I can’t blame Manoah for thinking he was going to die…I don’t think I would have believed all of that either. Now I wonder what have I been told, that I don’t believe?

Maybe it didn’t come from an angel…but what am I questioning that I should just believe?

What promise for the future would take place, if I could just get over my incomprehension?

One fact that I’ve come to understand through my extended valley experience, I don’t need to know the “why” to believe.

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