June 4, 2023
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published I often wish it all felt the way it looked, that I could actually be living the life everyone thinks they see. But it feels...
May 21, 2023
Sibling relationships in a family business can be both a strength and a weakness. The trust that is often implicit between brothers and sisters can be a powerful force in the division of labor and in...
May 7, 2023
Ending a family business partnership may not seem like a situation that qualifies for a blessing. Feelings of disappointment, guilt that you are letting down prior (or future) generations, or a...
April 28, 2023
As we wrap up our year-long study of David and his family, I’d like to end with reflections on a few Psalms, the ancient Hebrew hymns reflecting several episodes in David’s life. (That there are...
April 28, 2023
In last week’s reflection, King David brought his son Absalom home to Jerusalem, but he was not allowed to be in David’s presence. The text then shifts to Absalom’s appearance, and what a description...
April 28, 2023
We have seen how Joab, King David’s general, brought David’s “handsome” son, Absalom, back to Jerusalem. But, because of earlier family conflicts, David refused to see Absalom. Two years pass, and...
April 28, 2023
My last reflection focused on how King David’s son, Absalom, got the attention of his father by burning a field of crops owned by Joab, David’s key general. Now back in his father’s good graces,...
April 28, 2023
The last few weeks I’ve reflected on the “dark side” of succession. I wrote about the way in which David brought his son, Absalom, home to Jerusalem; the image of Absalom, including his attempts to...
April 28, 2023
My last reflection summarized the saga between David and Absalom in which Absalom tried to take his father’s position as king. In the final battle between David and Absalom’s armies, David’s key...
April 28, 2023
I’m taking a break this week from our study of David and his family, and sending you an updated version of a prayer I wrote several years ago for those working in family businesses. May God’s...