Prophets 7 - Barbara Lynn Seibel

June 21, 2020June 20, 2020

Neglect

What happens when we neglect a building?

No matter how solid the building may have originally been, if neglect of maintenance occurs it will begin a process of decay.

The longer the neglect, the greater the decay.

The picture above shows an example of a granary that has suffered neglect.

What do you think led to the neglect of the building in the picture?

Prior to the building being in this state of neglect something had to have happened that either prevented or distracted the owner or caretaker from doing maintenance to avoiding the current state of disrepair.

Joel 1:17 states that Judah’s storehouses for grain have become desolate due to shriveled up seeds and thus being torn down.

What are we being told with this imagery?

June 14, 2020June 13, 2020

Emotions

How would you use the picture above to describe your emotions over the past months?

I am feeling the emotion of helplessness. People around me have lost jobs. People I love and care about have died. One death was anticipated. Another death came from an undiagnosed cancer battle that appeared suddenly and ended swiftly.

Would you agree the picture above could portray the sense of helplessness I am feeling?

Have you ever felt a sense of helplessness?

The community of Judah is in exactly this state in Joel 1:16.

June 7, 2020June 7, 2020

Perspectives and Opinions

What is the difference between perspectives and opinions?

Perspective can be defined as a way of looking at or thinking about something.

Opinion can be defined as an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge.

Although the two words are certainly related, what is the difference that you see from the definitions above?

Perspective is the way you look at or think about something. Opinion is an idea you believe to be true even if you have no positive knowledge to support the idea or belief.

For example , what is your immediate reaction to the picture used for this post?

Did you first think, “Oh that looks pretty” or “Ooh, yuck, dandelions”?
What is the perspective of the first opinion? The second?
Is your opinion of dandelions that they are beautiful flowers or pesky weeds?
What did you use to establish those opinions?
How does the different perspectives inform the expressed belief of the two opinions?
Can both expressions be valid? How?
Are either expressions taking into consideration that the entire dandelion plant is actually edible?
Can you see how interrelated perspective and opinion are?
Can you also see that opinions may not always be based on all the facts?

What current event do you need to step back and analyze your perspective to be able to express an informed opinion?

Joel 1:15 provides a great example of the importance of perspective informing one’s opinion.

May 31, 2020May 30, 2020

Crying Out

Have you been crying out?

What images leap to your mind when you read the words crying out?
Do you first think of sad or painful reasons for crying out?
Or do you first think of joyful or pleasurable reasons for crying out?
What is the purpose in crying out?

Over the last thirteen weeks we have been journeying a verse at a time through the first chapter of Joel. Joel has announced himself as a prophet of God sent to wake up the inhabitants of Judah about their current circumstances.

We have read about locusts wreaking havoc on the agriculture productivity of Judah’s nation. The people and animals are without food to eat. Clearly, this is not a time of celebration but one of great mourning.

How should they respond?

May 24, 2020May 23, 2020

Dressing for Spiritual Leadership

Dressing for Spiritual Leadership in a Time of Crisis

Have you ever thought about the importance of dressing for spiritual leadership?

What do your spiritual leader’s wear during a worship service?
Do they wear robes or power suits?
Maybe they wear jeans and a casual shirt?
What is the reason behind what they wear?
Do they change what they typically wear in a time of crisis?
Should they?

Today’s verse, Joel 1:13, gives instructions on dressing for spiritual leadership in a time of crisis.

May 17, 2020May 16, 2020

What is Joy?

Losing Joy During Difficult Times

Given current events in May 2020 many have expressed losing joy during these difficult times. Instead they are experiencing fear as their primary emotion.

Joel 1:12 also speaks about losing joy during difficult times. It describes a time when the entire nation of Judah’s joy dried up.

May 10, 2020May 9, 2020

Shame, Distress, or Despair

What causes shame, distress, or despair to surface in you?

Given the current events of early May 2020 many are struggling with these very emotions. Some are feeling shame, distress, or despair because their personal skillsets were not deemed “essential” which resulted in loss of a livelihood for themselves and their family. Hair salons and barbershops are certainly in this challenging place.

Joel 1:11 describes a similar precarious situation where shame, distress, or despair are not just unpleasant emotions but a call to action.

May 3, 2020May 2, 2020

What is Essential?

How Do You Define What is Essential?

This past week a homeless gentleman came into my workplace and shared a bit of his story with me. This gentleman had spent the previous day sleeping in the rain and had no food or money. Have you considered how all the restrictions for COVID-19 have impacted those who may be homeless in your area? What about the non-profits in your area that help to meet the needs of the homeless such as soup kitchens and shelters?

A friend and coworker of mine is no longer at work due to battling a recent diagnosis of cancer. Have you considered what medical treatments one might normally receive are no longer deemed essential? Have you considered that people who are permitted to have a medical treatment may not be allowed to have a family member in the waiting room with them?

Have you struggled during the last few months to get what you deem essential for your daily life?

What is essential?

April 26, 2020May 2, 2020

CUT OFF

How Have You Been Cut Off?

The rhythms of work, school, and social time have been cut off or significantly altered due to social distancing mandates across the globe in the spring of 2020.

Some like me, have lost loved ones during this time . Sadly, due to travel restrictions we have been cut off from gathering with family and friends to celebrate and honor them in our usual way.

Facing an invisible enemy like Covid-19 that has the power to cut off our sense of normalcy is stirring myriads of feelings and reactions across the globe. Some are struggling with paranoia while others are expressing anger and rebellion.

How should we respond to feeling cut off from our sense of normalcy?

April 19, 2020April 18, 2020

Heartbreak

Processing Heartbreak

What in your life has caused you to experience heartbreak?

As I write this blog post I am waiting for an update on the status of my 99-year-old grandmother who is in her final hours of life on this earth. If things were “normal” across the globe I would have already boarded a plane to travel 1200 some miles to be with her and other family members. But with COVID-19 restrictions in place my family is having to process heartbreak isolated from each other.

Interestingly, this week’s study involves a call to process heartbreak.