It was a hot day with very little shade to escape the oppressive heat. John was sitting with some of his disciples in a narrow

We all know what it feels like to be hungry. It’s not a good feeling, but we all know how to remedy it: eat some

The beginning of a new year is traditionally the time people think about resolutions, turning over new leafs, or setting goals. All of that is

Nazareth was a small rural village in the hill country of lower Galilee overlooking the great Plain of Esdraelon to the South. The expansive Plain

The night was crisp and cool, but the sky was clear and dotted with a million points of light. The shepherds were in the high

The months of silence had undoubtedly given Zechariah time to think. It was time to think about the angel’s words, his own life, and what

It had been a long and difficult journey to the holy city of Jerusalem. The travelers were pensive the last few days, anticipating the encounter

Some people know just what to do, even when there is little time to think about it. Somehow, the right course of action comes instantly

College basketball is a great and exciting sport. Many people follow it with a fervor bordering lunacy. March Madness is a rite of passage for

Most words have a range of meanings.  They can express very different meanings when used in different ways.  Take, for example, the word trunk.  This

Sufferers often feel lonely. If the suffering is especially difficult, they may feel as though no one really understands, that no one is walking with

Suffering, like many other things, comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Suffering can be relatively light, like the daily frustration we all face.

The problem of suffering is one of the biggest human problems people face. We struggle with the problem both intellectually and emotionally. Suffering is a

We all know what it feels like to suffer. Suffering leaves no one unscathed in this life. Those who suffer most know more deeply that

“Now abide faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Viktor Frankl was a WWII Holocaust survivor,

Nobody likes to suffer, but the reality is that we all experience suffering at times in our lives. When suffering does come, two questions slap

Life is a gift. Life is a precious gift from God. Everybody gets this precious gift, but what matters with this gift is how we

I think it’s safe to say that people long for contentment. But contentment can be hard to find. People often struggle with being content in

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Sometimes, life feels like walking in the dark. Have

Babies have a ferocious appetite. They must, after all, in the first few years of life they grow from little babies to roaming engines of curiosity. Then,

And we know that for those loving God all things work together for good, to those called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Romans 8:28

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able

Every shepherd loves his sheepdog. They make a great team. Sheepdogs are hard-working animals and are indispensable to the shepherd’s livelihood, as well as being a good friend to

Some individuals seem to know a lot of people. They have a gift for making friends. It’s a great gift to have if the friendships

Benjamin Franklin famously, and humorously, said, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Another saying, playing off the Franklin quip, said, “Only three things in

Friendship is a beautiful thing. People who have true friends are greatly blessed. A good friend is hard to find, and maintaining the friendship over

“On the way to Jerusalem, he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) Psalm

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those

There are two things I believe about basic human desire. I believe that all people want to be happy. And I believe that all people

Fear, worry, and anxiety can grip the heart of anyone in certain circumstances. But there are some people who face these negative emotions on an

Today is July 4th, a national celebration. It is the celebration of our nation’s founding. It is our nation’s birthday. On July 4th, 1776, the

A promise is like a cool breeze on a hot day. We joyfully welcome it, but are cautiously concerned it will not deliver what we

Reading the Bible is a great thing. People should consider reading their Bibles more than they do. But there are many ways to approach the

Most people like to feel self-sufficient. We don’t want a lot of help from other people unless we really need it. We want to believe

One of the truly amazing things about God is that God is a promise making and a promise keeping God. God literally makes hundreds of

Everybody wants to be blessed. We all desire that blessings flow into our lives. And in fact we are all very blessed. If we pause

Purpose is a powerful thing. We all want to think out lives have purpose. The best way to have a sense of purpose is to

Recently I’ve had an abundance of circumstances that had the high potential to rob me of my joy. We all face these kinds of circumstances,

Grace is a beautiful word, especially for those touched by it. I suppose there is a word for grace in most every language, but grace

In the C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia book, The Voyage of the “Dawn Treader” the naughty boy Eustace took on the form of a