Dale Carnegie [an American writer] visited Yellowstone Park where he saw a grizzly bear. The huge animal was in the center of a clearing, feeding on some discarded camp food. For several minutes he feasted alone—no other creature dared draw near. After a few moments a skunk walked through the meadow toward the food and […]
In the business world, people advertise seeking to create need, have sales, use visual and audible appeal, and even stoop to deception to motivate people to buy their goods. Obviously, not all motivation is good. In the book of Philemon, the Apostle Paul sought to motivate Philemon to reconcile with his runaway slave Onesimus. Whether […]
The epistle of Philemon is the shortest of Paul’s fourteen letters. Though his letters to Timothy were a bit personal, they instructed him in the ministry. Philemon, on the other hand, is a very personal letter, written to Paul’s friend Philemon. Paul wrote this epistle while a prisoner in Rome, likely about 62 A.D. Several […]
A certain couple whom we will call Jim and Betty had been married for five years. Their happy bliss had faded into daily conflict. They argued and fought every time they were together. They were no longer loving each other; they were treating each other as enemies. Eventually, Jim humbled himself and asked his pastor […]
Reconciliation is re-establishing cordial relations. Jacob and Esau had a major falling out when Jacob deceived their father and stole the firstborn blessing. Esau hated Jacob and vowed to kill him. Jacob left the country. They never heard from each other for twenty years. During those long years, they had no inner peace nor outward […]