Every villain has an origin story.  And in scripture Satan seems to have at least two.  When we read the opening of the book of Job, Baalam’s story in Numbers 22, and even Jesus’ wilderness temptation, we find a Satan who works for God.  Satan, a name meaning simply, “Adversary”, needs God’s approval to mess with Job, and seems to even need God’s guidance in that direction.  For Baalam, he of the talking donkey, Satan

A friend who has lived decades in Mexico shared an interesting worldview he has noticed there.  The Mexican people hold civility in much higher regard that we in the United States do.  They want you to be pleased and content – this is hospitality in their eyes – and so when asked, they will give you the answer that will make you the most pleased and content.  This means that if you ask them directions

Ah, Jonah, one of my favorite stories.  It reminds me every time I read it that no matter who we are or what we do for God, there is always room for a really selfishly sinful reaction at the end. Jonah was a prophet, not because he’s ever called one in this story – he’s not – but because you’re a prophet if you bring a message from God to the people.  And this is

In 597 B.C., Edom helped the Babylonians to sack Jerusalem and carry off their wealth and people.  Though Edom was a vassal state to Jerusalem, they were all too happy to gain favor with the all-powerful Babylonian Empire by opening the way to Jerusalem. Founded by Esau, Jacob’s brother from the Genesis account, Edom was a nation who dwelt in the mountains.  This elevation gave them a good defensive position, but they were still too

Truth is under attack in our culture today, but not in the way we are all hearing from the media.  News stories are full of more and more lies coming from every sector of the world – entertainers, government, sports, religion, etc.  Faith in our own judicial system is at an all time low.  People manipulate facts and figures to make them whatever they want reality to be. But this current attack on Truth goes