Not too long ago, my wife and I decided to clean out our garage. For some people, the process of getting rid of old belongings can be kind of hard; we can become attached to possessions and think we could never do without them. However,...
I sat belted into my seat, waiting in a row of chairs that were attached as part of a simulator. The room became dark and the machine rose into position. Soon, I felt as if I were riding in the sky as my seat gently moved to make the trip seem more real. The scenery on the screen...
The dictionary defines meek as, “patient, mild mannered, not inclined to anger or resentment.” It lists as a synonym the word humble. It is important to note that the dictionary does not list weak as a synonym for meek. Although weakness and meekness may look and sound similar, they are not the same. Weakness is...
As the year 2000 approached, there was speculation that the world’s computers would recognize the year ‘00 as the year 1900 and then crash. Soon, nations were preparing for a presumed crisis that quickly became known as “Y2K.” Utility companies began giving daily updates as...
You might be surprised to learn that in addition to our focus verse, the word prudent occurs in at least twenty-one other places in the Bible. Today, we often think of prudent with regard to financial advisors. It is their...
My favorite Douglas fir towered like a church steeple over all the others. Although its sturdy trunk was covered with pockets of pitch, it still sported dozens of perfect climbing branches for my young legs to tackle....
Stepping back in time a bit, I remember the Christmas when I was eight years old. That year, work had been hard to find for my dad, who did odd jobs for people and worked, when needed, at the local cannery....
Christmas Day is almost here. Most of us have shopped, crafted, baked (or perhaps eaten), and wrapped many Christmas goodies, and now it is nearly time for the big day. The gifts we thoughtfully prepare are presented to our loved ones with lots of love, and we hope they are received in the same way.
Everyone...
In the 1960s, the essence of a bountiful Christmas in my African village was a dish of chapatti (wheat-flour bread, similar to Mexican tortillas but softer and tastier). It was served with soup or meatless fried collard greens. People of my community could only afford the ingredients of this dish on Christmas; only the rich could have it...
While looking through a coloring book of Nativity scenes one Christmas, I was struck by the contrast in the lives of the people to whom God chose to announce the birth of His Son.
On...