Church of Christ at Alexandria

06/19/2026

Live Stream 06-21-2026

“Hills to Die On”
(Acts 2:14-39)

Working link in First Comment

“Hills to Die On”

06/19/2026

So what, exactly, did Elijah and Micaiah do to Ahab that was so terrible?

In 1 Kings 21:20 Elijah simply walks up to Ahab in the middle of a vineyard and Ahab opens the conversation with, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

Just one chapter later, 22:8, Ahab has this to say about Micaiah, “I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.”

“You’re my enemy!” “I hate you because…” Sound familiar at all? If you’re a disciple of Jesus Christ reading this, let me assure you, you are somebody’s enemy.

You’re not shocked by my pointing this out. This is not new to us. I’m simply reminding that modern-day posts, quotes, memes and arguments lobbed and levied at Christians are a tale as old as time.

Elijah and Micaiah walked the earth some 2,900 years ago. They faced the same struggles we do today. The chapter 21 incident was not the first time the Bible records Ahab pointing a crooked finger at Elijah. Back in 1 Kings 18:17 Ahab accused Elijah of being a "troubler of Israel". Elijah didn’t take that laying down. He shot back immediately, “I’m not the one who’s made trouble—you have! Because you’ve abandoned God’s commands…” And that’s when the fight started.

It’s not really you and I they are mad at it—it’s God. Those who set themselves up against God see the servants of God as enemies. Those who’d rather live by their own standards hate those who remind them of God and His “stupid” rules.

Awareness is not the same as comfort. We can remind each other every June. That does not mean we’ll ever get comfortable with or enjoy the venom.

We just have to keep doing what we can. Real love does discipline, correct and challenge. God’s Word does have rules and boundaries that must be upheld. Actions can be welcoming and loving without being affirming.

We must keep trying. Micaiah was challenged at every turn. Other “prophets” banded together to tell Ahab only what he wanted to hear. Micaiah is even challenged to make his message agree with theirs. (1 Kings 22:13) He wisely says he can say only what God tells him.

Sadly, Ahab will not survive the chapter. Micaiah tried to warn him. Ahab got all mad at him. In the end, Ahab met his demise, “…as the word of the Lord declared.” (1 Kings 22:38) I’m betting Micaiah wasn’t giddy about the man’s death. But at least he had the measure of peace that comes from knowing he tried—he spoke truth.

06/16/2026

When do you turn in your hold mail card? How early do you begin working on your packing list? When you do secure travel arrangements and/or park reservations? How far in advance do you start planning for a trip?

We Hulls have been months, sometimes even a year or two in advance; but raise your hand if you answered “500+ years” to any of the above? Zechariah 12:10, “…they will look on me, the one they have pierced…” Zechariah 13:7, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” Can you see Jesus is these two verses? It’s certainly not a huge leap. Five centuries prior to the birth of Christ, God was using Zechariah to predict the suffering Savior.

There are many more words and predictions in the three chapters we are reading for this week’s key section. Sometimes it’s difficult to see how the pieces all fit. Sometimes we get lost trying to decipher how any of these words from the prophets were also fulfilled in the Jews living during Persian times or the first Christians living in Roman times.

I’m sure some of those other verses and promises in Zechariah 12-13-14 carried more timely meaning to the prophet’s contemporaries. Family and friends no doubt longed for the overthrow of the oppressors and the rise of God’s people.

I guess in a sense that part is still equally true for us. Today you and I are God’s people. Today we wait for God’s hand to rise against persecution and injustice. I’m not going to automatically suggest it could be another 500+ years, but we can’t ignore that possibility.

Either way, our hope, focus and peace come from these verses that point to Jesus. 100’s and even 1,000’s of years prior to His birth—now 100’s and 1’000s of years after His resurrection, Jesus remains our hope and our answer.

Just this morning I had a church friend recount her story of how God moved in her marriage. There were family moves across state lines. She and her husband were retained a total of three times in school. Now, all these years later, she looks back with the 20/20 clarity of hindsight and sees God's hand orchestrating every one of those moves. Years of here and there, forward and back, to bring the two of them together in the same home room.

God is always at work in our lives, even when the months turn into years and the years become decades. Shoot, sometimes His plans are 500 years+ in their unfolding.

06/13/2026

Live Stream 06-14-2026

“Heaven”
(Various texts)

“Heaven”

06/12/2026

Welcome to football fever! The World Cup is upon us!! Are you watching? Were you aware? Do you not have any idea what I am talking about?

The US, Canada and Mexico are hosting this year’s iteration of the men’s World Cup soccer tournament. Once every four years top squads from around the world battle for supremacy on the pitch.

“Pitch” is the fancy term for a soccer field. Are you impressed with my knowledge? I’ve played soccer all my life. I’ve coached many teams. I’ve served as an official and as a youth league commissioner. I’ve spent countless hours on the field over the course of some 55 years. I have so many fond memories and stories of life lessons learned while playing. To this day whenever I step onto a field and see the nets and the flags, a certain sense of peace floods over me. Outside frustrations fade away.

I share all that to confess this: Sometimes I think soccer is boring to watch. Surprised? Are you confused? While l love nothing more than to run around and play the game, I get bored pretty quickly watching the same game. Scoring is low, the ball movement gets monotonous, the players whining and flopping drive me crazy.

Think what you will of me and my relationship with soccer. Let me ask you about your relationship. With church. Is church ever boring to you? Are you just watching or are you involved? Trust me, there’s a world of difference! Faith was never meant to be a spectator sport.

I have a sense that the people in Jeremiah’s day were as hyped up about going to the temple as some soccer fans are about going to the stadium! The chanting in Jeremiah 7:4 seems like it would fit right in with the drums and the vuvuzelas. “This is the temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord! The Temple of the Lord!” And I’ll grant the crowd experience can be energizing, for a few hours. Those people in Jeremiah 7 went to church all the time. But they weren’t walking with God the rest of their week. The rest of the paragraph describes their ungodly ways.

Are you bored with your faith? Live it out. Is your walk with the Lord stagnant, propped up for an hour or two on Sunday mornings? The joy is in the participation. Get in the game! Sure, you might pull a muscle. You’ll probably get fouled by the opponent. Even still I’ve always loved being in the game more than being in the stands. True for soccer. True for church.

06/11/2026

We've enjoyed hosting Vacation Bible School for several years. Doing things a bit differently this summer. Call the church office with any questions. Hope to see you in July! Click the link below to register

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHRuu7oU3BPvr-_t8PaTCKVckiRpfupHfbro-4ebBpEzVCdA/viewform?usp=header

06/09/2026

One of our favorite sayings around our church is “My response is my responsibility.” It grew out of a marriage enrichment seminar, but we’ve found it applicable in many more settings. Daniel fleshes out this saying in this week’s reading from chapter 9 of the book that bears his name.

As the chapter opens, Daniel and many of his fellow Israelites are exiled in Babylon. Daniel realizes they are going to be there for a while. Daniel understands it is their own fault—they are getting what they deserved.

If you read the chapter in its entirety, the end is the far more cryptic portion. Seventy “sevens” are going to pass. Certain things will happen at certain times. How long is one of these “seven” periods? What can we figure out with certainty? Scholars will often suggest a total of 490 years until the time of Jesus, the Anointed One (verse 25). Explanations concerning timelines after that vary widely.

Sometimes people get upset with my inability to be more precise with the latter portions of Daniel. Some long to have exact chronologies and dates. I am unable to create a perfect timeline. Those who diligently study these things differ greatly in their understandings.

Be that as it may, I can clearly grasp and relate to the first nineteen verses of the chapter. Daniel’s prayer speaks volumes to us as we live, move and work in often “less than righteous” national conditions. Americans are eager to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. As disciples, we are well-aware of times when the choices of our nation match those of Daniel’s day. Struggle no longer shocks us. We too are getting what we deserve.

Let’s continue to pray with Daniel. We are redeemed sinners. We are imperfect people trying to do the best we can. Our response remains our responsibility. As Daniel prays in verses 4-5, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.”

May we too call out to God as Daniel does in verses 17-18, “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

We are not responsible for all of it, but we know where we’ve personally fallen short and contributed. No matter what, God is able and He can always restore.

Send a message to learn more

06/06/2026

Live Stream 06-07-2026

“The Power and Problems of Playlists”
(Various texts)

“The Power and Problems of Playlists”

06/05/2026

We’re used to it with the weather. Forecasts, warnings, arrows, cutting into live broadcasts—they keep us well informed as to where the bad weather is and where it’s heading. That way we know when we should panic.

They’re starting to do it more with other concerns. Invasive species and pests are tracked. Reports tell us where people who’ve been exposed to various viruses are traveling. This morning’s news headlines were tracking the 2026 Ebola outbreak and informing us that the first flesh-eating screwworm in the US since 1966 has shown up in a calf in South Texas.

Aren’t you glad you’re taking the time to read this!

As I was perusing the all the terror and horror I just wanted one little article, one tiny headline: “Don’t forget where God is today.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

• Ephesians 4:6, “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

• Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

No matter where we go, no matter what we are facing, no matter what terrible creature or dread disease or catastrophic storm is lurking just across the county line, God is with us.

Even if you’re embarrassed or angry at God and purposely trying to get away from Him. Jeremiah 23:24, “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.”

Peddling bad news may profit the providers, but sharing this good news benefits the recipients. A reminder for the rest of your day: God is already there.

Send a message to learn more

06/02/2026

Two-thirds Gog, one-third dry bones. What are we cooking up with these?

The creators of our 52 Key Sections of the Bible reading plan have included chapters 37-38-39 of Ezekiel. The prophet’s vision of the valley of dry bones that come together as a living, breathing army in chapter 37 is probably familiar to some. The whole thing about Gog and Magog as unfolded in chapters 38-39, not so much. Why are we being asked to read these?

This week’s reading, for me, is a case of “Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” Don’t get so focused on the details that you can’t see the big picture. Even as I’m leading with this, it’s hard for me to not get sucked into specifics.

In Ezekiel 38 Gog sweeps down from the north to invade and destroy Israel. In chapter 39 Gog and his vast armies are wiped out by God. The text says the Israelites will spend more than seven months cleansing their land of human bones (39:12) There will be so much wooden military hardware left by the invaders that the people won’t have to cut trees for firewood for seven years (39:9), they’ll just burn the weapons.

When did this event take place? It didn’t. It hasn’t. One source says “King Gyges ruled Lydia (in modern-day Turkey) during the 7th century BCE. In contemporary ancient Neo-Assyrian cuneiform records, he is referred to as Gugu, King of Luddu.” That’s as close to a guy named Gog as we can get.

God is reminding us yet again that He is always able. Take this as a synopsis scene. Read these two chapters like the two verses in Revelation, “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.” (20:7-8). Not individual leaders and nations, but figures that stand for any and all opposition to God.

God could have recorded every single scenario for every nation and person that He’s ever going to step into and intervene. But that would take a whole lot more writing. (You think the Bible is big now!)

What we have in Ezekiel 37-38-39 are vivid pictures. Not actual historical accounts, but summary scenes to remind us God is always able.

Maybe you feel like your nation, your community, even your family is so much a valley of dry bones right now—beyond hope and any restoration. Along comes God and breathes life back into them. He could in the days of Ezekiel. He can today. He’ll be able at the end of time.

Send a message to learn more