Expendable

Barry Blackstone

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781666717129, 9781666717136
• eBook ISBN: 9781666717143
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Have you ever wondered why the best die young? Who of us hasn't thought the same thing when we learn of the death of a young Christian with such potential when a fellow believer lives on to wreck his testimony, the reputation of the local church, and the cause of Christ? Having been a pastor now for nearly fifty years I have had nearly a lifetime to ponder the word "expendable" in relationship to not only individuals, but dreams and desires, hopes and wishes, events and expectations. This concept of expendability came home to me years ago when I learned that my grandfather, on my mother's side, had a brother who died of an illness in his early twenties after only spending a year on the mission field in Peru! Over the portal to a special room that celebrates those that died young in the Hall of the Faithful in Heaven is found, I believe, this superscription: "EXPENDABLE"! I would like to share with you some of the biblical portraits that are hanging from those celestial walls, for if you are looking for the answer to the question I asked, I have come to believe it can only be found in the Bible.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Prelude
• Chapter 1: Josiah—The Megiddo Martyr
• Chapter 2: Stephen—The Dedicated Deacon
• Chapter 3: Abel—The Blessed Brother
• Chapter 4: Amos—The Sacrificing Shepherd
• Chapter 5: Benjamin—The Surviving Son
• Chapter 6: Asahel—The Wounded Warrior
• Chapter 7: Aquila—The Exiled Evangelist
• Chapter 8: Zebedee—The Faithful Father
• Chapter 9: Zacharias—The Privileged Priest
• Chapter 10: Isaac—The Sacrificial Son
• Chapter 11: Isaiah—The Pierced Prophet
• Chapter 12: James—The Disposable Disciple
• Chapter 13: Lazarus—The Beloved Brother
• Chapter 14: Samson—The Strongman Slave
• Chapter 15: Joseph—The Stunned Stepfather
• Chapter 16: Philemon—The Beloved Brethren
• Chapter 17: Enoch—The Translated Type
• Chapter 18: Ishmael—The Troubled Teenager
• Chapter 19: Ezekiel—The Priest Prophet
• Chapter 20: John—The Great “Greatest”
• Chapter 21: Joshua—The Soldier Shepherd
• Chapter 22: Epaphroditus—The Courier Companion
• Chapter 23: Jarius—The Requesting Ruler
• Chapter 24: Nadab—The Disqualified Duo
• Chapter 25: Lazarus—The Blessed Beggar
• Chapter 26: Eutychus—The Saved Sleeper
• Chapter 27: Goliath—The Great Giant
• Chapter 28: Adam—The Immanuel Image
• Chapter 29: Elimelech—The Famine Father
• Chapter 30: Malchus—The Sliced Servant
• Chapter 31: Mephibosheth—The Accepted Accident
• Chapter 32: Hophni/Phinehas—The Scandalous Sons
• Chapter 33: Jephthah—The Dangerous Dad
• Chapter 34: Manoah—The Prodigal’s Parent
• Chapter 35: Barak—The Scared Soldier
• Chapter 36: Jeremiah—The Tired Teacher
• Chapter 37: Abner—The Treacherous Traitor
• Chapter 38: Methuselah—The Prophetic Patriarch
• Chapter 39: Matthew—The Accountant Apostle
• Chapter 40: Abishai—The Cooperative Commander
• Chapter 41: Reuben—The Burdensome Boy
• Chapter 42: Daniel—The Supplicating Stateman
• Chapter 43: Jonah—The Reluctant Reverend
• Chapter 44: Elisha—The Conquering Corpse
• Chapter 45: Gideon—The Fleece Fighter
• Chapter 46: Tabitha—The Special Seamstress
• Chapter 47: Abiathar—The Sole Survivor
• Chapter 48: Mebunnai—The Tremendous Trooper
• Chapter 49: Nathan—The Straightforward Seer
• Chapter 50: Esau—The Despising Delinquent
• Postlude