Theologians love this story because of the covenantal elements: a barren woman, a prayed for child, a sacrificial firstborn son.   Traditional readers will say the importance lies in teaching us to take our vows seriously and to fulfill any promise made to the Lord no matter how painful and difficult it may be; our devotion will be remembered and rewarded.  But before we settle for a typological interpretation or merely thaw out a freeze dried version and be done with it, let’s ask, how do we get inside this story and find meaning and significance for our life today?

On the face of it, Elkanah appears to be a contemporary husband.  He is loving, kind and respectful.  He even takes his entire extended family on annual vacations to celebrate the national holidays.  He is especially sympathetic to the emotional needs of his first wife and understands the stigma of her infertility.  Hannah, in turn, is an intelligent, devout and literate woman, a worthy companion to Elkanah.  Her beautiful song recorded in 1 Sam 2 is a precursor of the Magnificat.  As with many poets, deep despair became the locus of her creativity.  This literary work reveals she was well versed in the history and laws of Israel...

Do you have a head full of theology yet still yearn to experience God one-on-one?  Do you have you head in your bible yet feel as if your heart is far from him? Check out the Animate series at the Woodland Hill Church and see what has many people buzzing. 

Jeremy Berg of Daily Illumination says, "If you’ve never heard Greg Boyd preach you are missing out.  He brings a unique blend of sophisticated, high-level learning packaged in a very engaging, accessible, practical preaching style that connects with the rest of us."  Sermon resources here and discussion boards here.  If you like what you see, start a thread right here on Hs.com and tell us what's on your mind!

The bible teaches that today is the day of our salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) That's not yesterday or tomorrow but right this moment!  If we look at the Greek origin of the word salvation or  sozo, we find it means  which means to save, heal, preserve, and make whole. This is good news for we need not wait to do something in order for God to touch our hearts - He can't help but heal us and resurrect the old person within us to a new life and spirit!  Greg's Animate series was designed to help each of us realize our full potential not for some future kingdom but for the Kingdom of Today (Luke 17).

Rachel wasn't even 25 but she had been in jail and through rehab more times than she cared to admit.Her father had cashed in his retirement, lost his savings and re-mortgaged his home to get Rachel clean. Time after time, with hope in his heart, he watched as she left the security he provided and went back to the streets. One day his heart was breaking as he looked out the window of his office, he wondered how his daughter was faring down on the streets below. That was the day he made the decision to take a leave from his job. His plan was to walk the city until he found his daughter.He would never force Rachel to stay with him,but he would just gowhere he might see her and offer her lunch. Then if she needed anything, he would take her shopping.If she needed a dentist he would get her teeth fixed.Nothing would be too much to make his daughter safe.The beauty is that his plan actually worked.

It wasn't long before he found Rachel, hungry and cold, so she willingly accepted his kind offer to buy her a new coat. Day after day, he bought her lunch. Over these lunches, they had conversations they never would have had if he had stayed at his job on the 57th floor while Rachel was combing the streets. One day, he offered Rachel his keys. He promised if she would come home that he would pay once again for her rehab. He figured he could cash in his retirement. Throughout their recent contact, Rachel had begun to realize how much her dad loved her. Before, when she had gone to rehab, it had been just to get her driver's license back. This time she felt loved and worthy of a better life.  Rachel agreed to the idea, but she still had one problem.

She owed someone money. If she left today, he would probably try to kill her. She knew he'd killed others and she was scared.The father knew there was nothing that he wouldn't do for his little girl, so he handed her the keys, "If I'm not back in an hour, call the cops." Then he went to bargain for His daughter. As Rachel waited in the car, she began to fear the worst.  Finally, she saw that familiar form walking toward her. It caused her heart to soar. Oh how her father's smile warmed her heart. No one but her dad could do that for her! Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a black car struck him down...

In my teens, I thought I was invincible. It is with age that I have learned of my shortcomings, and with more age that I learn of my feebleness. Daily, I am reminded of my shortcomings – my humanity. I have days that end in weariness. There are days when I feel pulled in every direction by those around me. There are seasons when problems overwhelm me. Daily, the pendulum of my thought life swings from eternal to present realities. I bring the weaknesses of my present reality to the promises of my eternal reality.

I "transport" myself between these two "worlds." Over time, my experience has revealed that my shortcomings feed my faith development. I can only appreciate a saviour when I sense the need for a saviour. It was the Prodigal son's weakness that led him home to his father. It was Peter's failure when the rooster crowed and when he "wept bitterly" that helped him become the rock of our church.This is the life of faith. He leads me from my impatient fears to an unfailing patience. He leads me from tired tears to elated joy. He leads me from weakness to His divine power and He will lead me from my lack to His perfection. - Dean Robinson

An Anarchist wants the freedom to do as they please whenever they please however they please. This freedom may run contrary to any other person’s freedom to act and do as they please if it interferes with the individual Anarchist’s desires. Most of us would agree that this is a very self-centered freedom that wouldn’t work for everyone. As most will agree, there is really no element of equality or fair treatment for all in the world of Anarchism.

It is also evident that living under a dictator or even a group of people with absolute control over the populace you may have some equality or fair treatment but seldom as many rights and privileges that other forms of government may give. Yet don’t some people view God as the Supreme Dictator over the entire universe? Can’t He enforce His Law and force us humans to obey? Since this should be the right of any Creator why expect anything different? But then if He can use force to correct wrongs why does He delay wiping out all the evil from the world? Wouldn’t all Christians who believe in such a God praise Him if that was what He did?...