By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.05/24/2022“For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.” (Jeremiah 31:11)Most people love a good Cinderella story. They love to root for the underdog. In fact, when you think about it, the plot of most books and movies involves some kind of come-from-behind, rags-to-riches story. It is heartwarming. It appeals to our inner desire for...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.06/14/2022Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21)It is known worldwide as the “Miracle on Ice.” The year was 1980, and the United States hosted the Winter Olympic games in Lake Placid,...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.09/21/2022 “This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:23)One of the many joys of parenthood is watching your children reach milestones such as learning to walk, learning to talk, or learning to ride a bicycle. We have raised six children, and the older I get the more these special memories tend to blur together in my mind’s eye. Was it Brooke or Faith...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.08/25/2022From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! ...  Read More

By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.10/11/2022“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)Some years ago, we had the unfortunate experience of being burglarized at our home. It was in the middle of the night, and my family and I were all sound asleep. No one heard a thing. I inadvertently left...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.10/03/2022Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are te...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.05/31/2022“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)As Jeremiah the prophet surveyed the spiritual decay in the midst of the land of Judah, he became discouraged. When would God judg...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.11/26/2021Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)Everybody loves new things. A new car; a new house; new clothes; new friends; new beginnings—in general, new is usually more exciting t...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/03/2022“For God has not given us a spirit of fear...” (2 Tim 1:7)One of my all-time favorite children’s movies is the Disney/Pixar movie Monsters, Inc. Every time we watch it as a family I laugh all the way through it. Similar to the Toy Story movies, this movie takes you back to your childhood days and invokes warm memories of what it was like to be a kid.The premise of Mo...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D. 01/07/2020“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1)Someone has said, “When your past calls, don’t answer.  It has nothing new to say!”  There is a lot of truth in that adage.  Indeed, the maxim “never look back” is a frequent refrain of...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.02/03/2020"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)Several years ago, my wife Wendy was dispensing a dropper full of medicine to one of our daughters, who was an infant at the time and had a fever.  While mom was administering the medicine, our two-year-old son snatched the medicine bottle and tried to play pharmaci...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.02/11/2020“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.09/01/2022“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” (Luke 10:36) On July 3, 1988, the navy cruiser USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian jetliner with 290 civilians aboard. There were no survivors. It was a tragic mistake. The ship's captain mistakenly thought they were under attack by an F-14 Iranian fighter jet. Following the inciden...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.07/18/2022“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .” (Philippians 1:27)Children usually believe whatever you tell them. They can be quite gullible. Moreover, because their faith is so simple and straightforward, they tend to act on what they believe. Adults, by contrast, do not always act in a manner that is consistent with what they believe.A humorous anec...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.03/08/2022“Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ And the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.” (John 18:17-18)The story of Peter's three denials the night Christ was ...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.07/13/2022So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)Death. The word itself is conclusive, leaving no room for ambiguity. It invokes feelings of final...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/18/2022“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16)This just in from Reuters News Service: Doctrine died today. The news of Doctrine’s demise, while tragic, was not entirely unanticipated. It had been battling a terminal illness for many years. Doctrine’s storied history...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places. (Isaiah 59:9-10)These are turbulent times. It seems like the world is getti...  Read More