When I first moved to Europe the summer before my senior year of high school, I thought that bread only came in the white, sliced variety. But within just a few short months, I came to understand that bread comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and...

Our Bible urges us to memorize God’s Word. We are told to hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119:11), to make it our delight by meditating on it day and night (Ps. 1:2) and to make sure His words do not depart from our mouths (Joshua 1:8). So how do we do...

At my age, I hear quite a few conversations about how people can’t wait to retire and stop working. It’s as if they had read Bob Black’s essay in 1985 entitled “The Abolition of Work” where he argued that work is the source of nearly all the misery...

I have spent most of my adult life enjoying the rhythm of life that circles around a school calendar. You know, two weeks off at Christmas, a week off at Easter and a relaxed pace during the summer. Each year, as summer draws to a close, I begin to...

It is that time of year when parents are sending their older kids off to college. Bags are packed, boxes labeled and room decorations are purchased. Soon it’s time for that sweet note from mom or dad to be tucked away so they can read it after they...

With the Olympics in Japan this summer, we have all had our attention drawn to that ancient island nation. Known for its beauty and utilitarian society, it also well known for its various art forms. I heard about one recently. It is called...

For me, there ae two kinds of vacation trips. There is a resting trip (think nice hotel or cruise with room service and yummy food). And there is a learning trip (think about visiting a new country, exploring the culture, visiting museums and...

Not too long ago, I finished teaching a series out of the Book of James. I called it “James to the Twelve.” It was the first time I had ever taught that book of the Bible and boy was it convicting. James, the half-brother of Jesus did not pull any...

John Burroughs was an American naturalist and a nature essayist who wrote in the later part of the 19th century. At one point, he commented on the hawk. He observed that when the hawk was attacked by crows or kingbirds, the hawk does not retaliate....

Before the time of Socrates, there was a Greek philosopher named Empedocles. He was famous for discovering that air is a separate substance. But I think he is notable for his statement about the presence of God. He is credited with saying, “God is...

The other day, I was listening to a podcast of a local pastor and heard an amazing statement. He said that we are born looking like our parents, but we die “looking like” what we worship. He was asserting the power of influence. We become like...

In business and politics, compromise might be a good concept. But in the realm of spirituality, it is not. God’s standard is that we love, worship, and obey Him 100% of the time. His expectation is comprehensive and leaves no loop holes. But you...