Posts from September 2023

The Bible emphasizes the importance of hard work as a part of humanity’s responsibility to God (Gen. 2:15, 3:19). However, for all that God teaches about the nobility of work he also emphasizes the need for humans to rest. Rest is not for the weak and fragile, rest is for the finite. Here are a few things to consider in regard to what the Bible teaches us about our need for rest. At the conclusion of creation God rested (Gen.…

Several years ago my family, my sister’s family, and my parents took a trip out west. For me, it was the trip of a lifetime. We flew to Denver, rented vehicles, and drove about 5,000 miles, visiting several states and many iconic landmarks. Over 17 days, we stayed in 13 different places. Most of the places we stayed were major tourist attractions, and we knew the timeframe to see them in the summer was pretty short. We knew that in…

Paul makes an interesting statement while addressing the successful effort the Corinthian church made in disciplining an erring brother along with the successful outcome of his having repented. He urges them to show him love, comfort, and forgiveness. The bottom line Paul gives for the urgency of their obedience is “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11). Back in the first letter, the church’s attitude…

Henry Adams wrote, “One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, and three are hardly possible.” While I do not share his pessimism or cynicism, I do believe that true, close friends are certainly not prevalent. There are too many factors at play. Friendships take time, trust, and transparency. Some things can be barriers to developing close companionship from contrasting values to clashing viewpoints. The Bible gives insight into factors essential to building true, lasting friendships. Since God…