Devotionals

The ancient near east had a wide array of false gods.  Some were associated with elements of nature like water or sun and others were associated with society, such as gods of wisdom or justice.  There were gods of fertility, gods of terror and even one for “nothingness.”  What began as formless pieces of wood, stone or precious metals were fashioned into statues and [...]

The difference between kidnapping and abduction is that the former includes a demand or ransom.  Both involve force, fraud or persuasion to take someone against their will, but it is particularly irrational (and disturbing) when the act is not tied to a request.  According to the FBI, less than 1% of missing children are abducted by strangers.  Yet, think of the lengths to which [...]

Reading about the sins of ancient cultures in the Old Testament can be unsettling.  While it is easy to understand (and even identify with) some of them, there are others that seem so outrageous that it’s difficult to comprehend.  One example is divination.  Ancient Mesopotamians created techniques to communicate to the gods to try so they might determine their will.  For instance, they would [...]

When I was in fifth grade I asked my mom for a spare checkbook (which she gave me without thinking twice).  My teacher had instructed all the students to bring one to school so we could learn how to write a check.  In retrospect it’s comical considering the fraud and identity theft prevalent today.  Even the use of personal checks today is largely a [...]

Most Americans are very independence oriented.  I don’t mean the kind that leads to freethinking individualism and bold decision making.  I mean independence in the sense of being detached from others.  It’s the kind that bears itself out when someone says, “You can do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t affect me.”  It’s the kind that longtime neighbors exhibit when the sum [...]

Using Legos, a behavioral economist conducted a study on motivation.  It involved two different conditions.  In the first, people were offered $3.00 to build the creature on the Lego box.  Once completed, the toy was placed out of sight and they were offered $2.70 to do it again with another box of the same parts.  The procedure was repeated until the participant decided it [...]