2 Samuel 19:1-15 A fire department responded to a massiveovernight blaze in a downtown apartment building.The fire was dangerous, fast‐moving, and deadly.Firefighters charged into smoke‐filled hallways,carried people down stairwells, and risked theirlives again and again.By morning, the fire was out. Every resident wasalive. By every measure, it was a heroic success.But the fire chief arrived…

2 Samuel 18:19-33 Picture a small-town high school football stadium on aFriday night.The home team wins a huge playoff game. Thescoreboard lights up: HOME 28 – VISITORS 14. Thecrowd erupts. The band plays. Players lift the coach ontheir shoulders.But in the stands, one man doesn’t cheer.He’s staring at the field, searching every group of playerscoming…

2 Samuel 18:1-18 During the American Civil War, in the border region of WestVirginia, two brothers grew up in the same home, prayed atthe same table, and learned the same Scriptures. But whenthe nation split, so did their loyalties. One enlisted in theUnion Army. The other joined the Confederacy.Years after the war, a photograph was…

Luke 23-24, Acts 1:6-11 I heard a story about a woman who was sexually abused as asmall child by her father. She grew up, overcame theemotional damage that had been done, and eventuallymarried a missionary. Years later, after her children were fullygrown, she received a letter from her father telling her hehad become a Christian…