In Genesis 4 we read about Cain and Abel, two sons of Adam and Eve. After just a few verses of the chapter Abel dies but Cain lives on to have a wife and progeny and to build a city. So Cain is the more successful of the two brothers, right? Anyone familiar with the… [Read more]
Articles
Providence
by Joe Hickman
Comparing Translations
by Joe Hickman The matter of Bible translations or versions can be “tricky.” There is no “inspired” (or “God-breathed) translation available. Nor is there a Divinely “authorized” version. Some translations have been made by careful study and close scrutiny by many people. Others are made by individuals, specific religious groups, etc. The former group tend… [Read more]
Things That Hinder Us
by Joe Hickman
God’s Longsuffering
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9) In the context of this verse, some mockers were suggesting that God was not keeping His word. Peter tells them and… [Read more]
Knowledge Worth Pursuing
Summer’s days grow shorter and “Dog Days” bring the return of “School Days. The pursuit of knowledge resumes in earnest. It is sometimes said that “knowledge is power” (Hobbes), but power can be misused, and so can knowledge. Another writer has said, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing…” One who knows the need to… [Read more]
Self Love: Good or Bad?
“He that falls in love with himself, will have no rivals” (Benjamin Franklin). “Self-love” in the sense of “self-occupation” or “self-centeredness” tends to repulse people. We should avoid thinking of ourselves “more highly than we ought to think” (Romans 12:3). But God made us and His Son gave His life for us, and we should… [Read more]
“No Tresspassing?”
As a child I used to run all over the neighborhood with my buddies. We would cut through yards and alleyways, heading to some destination or to no destination at all. Occasionally we came upon a “NO TRESPASSING” sign. I remember well my unwillingness to take a step on forbidden territory. I feared prosecution from… [Read more]
Popularity
The desire for approval can produce strange actions. Among teens, some mock others; those mocked may rebel or even become violent. But young people aren’t the only ones who long to be accepted. But how far should we go to be liked by others? We are told that Jesus increased in… favor with God and… [Read more]
Genuine Giving
The story is told of a little boy who was about to be spanked. His father said, “This hurts me more than it hurts you,” to which the boy replied, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Whether this actually happened or not it reminds us of the truth about giving and receiving…. [Read more]