Building on the Foundation

*Warning! This post contains trace amounts of sarcasm and was produced in a facility that also manufactures disdain for modern psychology and manipulation tactics.*   What is your love language? If you are under the age of about 35, this question will likely be posed to you at some point.  It is an important question as the health of your relationships seemingly depends on how you answer the question: what can others do to make me happy?  Have I told my spouse or friends how to please me?   The concept of “the 5 love languages” became popular in 1992 with the release of a book by Gary Chapman explaining these principles and how to get the most out of your relationships with other people.  After seeing the wonderful fruits of this book in the lives of my peers, it makes me wonder how anyone has experienced a happy and meaningful marriage without it.  Just think of the people who, for the last 5,900, years had no refined way to request from their spouse'...

  While writing a recent post about Satan the devil, I was struck by a realization of how much his human followers behave like him. It’s no wonder, then, that God’s Word sometimes speaks of Satan’s followers as his sons, children, or ministers. Jesus Christ told those conspiring against Him, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44). The apostle Paul denounced a sorcerer to his face with these words: “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:10). He also warned the Corinthians about Satan’s ministers (2 Cor. 11:13-15). The apostle John contrasted the children of God with the children of the devil (1 John 3:10). The Old Testament often describes vile persons as sons of Belial, children of Belial, or men of Belial. In Hebrew, this word “Belial” (Strong’s # H1100) means such things as “without benefit, worthless, wicked, fruitless, destruction.” In 2 Cor. 6:15, Paul uses this name as an apparent reference to Satan. And how do we know who Satan’s children ar...