What do the following pairings have in common? 1. Cain & Abel; 2. Abraham & Lot; 3. Laban & Jacob; 4. Jacob & Esau; 5. Naomi & Ruth; 6. Samson & Delilah; 7. Joseph & Mary. What is the common denominator for all of these groupings? In a word, the answer is … RELATIONSHIP. Brothers (Cain & Abel); uncle & nephew (Abraham & Lot); uncle and nephew (Laban & Jacob); brothers (Jacob & Esau); mother-in-law & daughter-in-law (Naomi & Ruth) ; “man-friend” & “woman-friend”? – or perhaps husband & wife??? (Samson & Delilah); and the last pair -- husband & wife (Joseph & Mary). What is the meaning of the word relationship? Webster’s Dictionary -- “The quality or state of being related; connection.” The verb form --relate—derives from a Latin word meaning to connect or to associate. Most people have a number of relationships, right? What determines the quality of relationships? Have you ever reflexed about the many examples of relationships – good and bad – described in the Bible? Let’s examine this subject more deeply.

John Cafourek

(1945-2017)

John Cafourek (1945-2017) served in the ministry of Jesus Christ with his wife, Sandy, for 46 years.

John was born in South Dakota. He attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, from 1965 to 1969, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received a Master’s Degree in psychological counseling from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1978. John pastored churches in Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, Mississippi, Washington, and Oregon.