Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . Who do I follow? I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow . (1 Cor. 3:6) It seems we cannot help but idolize people. A popular TV show held a competition to see who would become the next…  American Idol . A vocalist, actor, or athlete tends to garner the largest fan base. My Cleveland's superstar athlete, LeBron James, has 34 million followers on Twitter. However, at the moment, our nation is most deeply divided over whom we follow politically. Who will save America? The church is not exempt. Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, and C.S. Lewis are a few of our favorite mega-saints. Those whose lives inspire most are most admired. Many of us follow (i.e., attend the church of) the pastor we hold in highest esteem. In California, Rick Warren's Saddleback Church is attended by 22,000 weekly. [1]   We further divide allegiance to Christ by denomination—theological camps formed by men. Early on, the first century church also followed t...

Welcome to Real Life . Don’t blame the messenger. “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” King Ahab said to Elijah. Israel was deep in suffering from a famine, due to drought—a drought the prophet Elijah foretold three and a half years earlier. Elijah did not cause the drought. He simply relayed God's message. Israel’s King Ahab married Jezebel, a zealous worshiper of Baal. [1]  In the Promised Land, God's country, Ahab allowed Jezebel to institute Baal worship as the national religion. In addition, she drove the priests and prophets of the Lord underground, threatening their lives. Ahab built a temple to Baal for her on Mt. Carmel right next to the altar of the Lord (which fell into ruin from disuse). God was not pleased! So, he sent Elijah with this message for Ahab: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1) . Three years later, in the midst of famine, Elijah reap...

Welcome to Real Life . “How could he be so stupid?” Dana's question referred to Samson, super-hero and mighty judge of Israel. No warrior or kingdom could conquer him. He was captured because of an area of weakness—a sexual dalliance with Delilah. [1] Even Superman has his kryptonite. King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. The whole world sought an audience with him to hear the wisdom God placed in his heart. [2]    The Queen of Sheba tested him with difficult questions; he answered them all. Solomon authored three biblical books of wisdom and poetry: Proverbs , Ecclesiastes , and Song of Solomon . " The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon"  However, even wise men make mistakes. Like Samson, Solomon had a weakness for foreign women. He espoused 700 wives and 300 concubines. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 ...