Centuries ago, before rifles and more modern weapons were utilized on battlefields, a commander whose troops won the battle met with the leader of the defeated army, who had come to surrender. The vanquished foe walked up to the victor and offered him his hand. The...

Today, I decided not to reinvent the wheel. You have heard, and probably have used, that cliché. It means, "Don't try something new when what you already have is working well." Or, "Why take the time and energy to create something when you can't improve on what...

"But" is a conjunction with impact. It precedes a contrary opinion, or introduces a stark contrast to the first part of a sentence. The term qualifies, or completely negates, what precedes it. Want examples? *"I know I promised we'd get away this weekend, honey,...

When you see or hear the word "theology," what pops into your mind? A few Christians associate it with academic study, thinking of a seminary's systematic theology classes and the thick tomes students must read. Some church members equate theology with ivory-tower...

Special Note to the reader: From my archives, I'm hoisting an article I wrote a few years ago, before  I launched my blog on depression and faith. So most of you have not read it. There is no direct correlation with the theme of my blog, except for the fact that...

How did your day start? I hope it began better than my day did on Wednesday, April 24. When I arrived at my office at Columbia International University, I plopped down on the couch and muttered, "My life is a mess!" Due to a succession of sleep-deprived nights, I...

When you see or hear the words, "holy ground," what comes to mind? The hard-packed earthen paths that Jesus walked in Palestine? The ground on Calvary where Roman soldiers jammed the vertical beam of Jesus' cross? The church altar where you conducted life-changing...

One way in which God's grace infuses us when we're afflicted or hurting is through truths in His Word. When our emotional batteries are low, the Holy Spirit reminds us of, or leads us to, a particular text that revs up our energy and endurance. The power of God's...

When I am hurting or needy, the Holy Spirit often brings one of two resources to mind:  a verse of Scripture, or a heart-massaging quote from a book I've read or a message I've heard. Today, I am giving you seven remarks on trials that have comforted me or provided...

A Life-Changing Study on Falling at the Feet of Jesus   What attitudes tap into the Lord's favor and give Him pleasure? What posture of mind, heart, and body typically results in His favorable response to our prayers? I found some answers to these questions...

Penetrating the Darkness of a Brutal Diagnosis   Imagine you're a robust 65-year-old, recently retired from 34 years as an elementary teacher. Four days a week at the YMCA, you lift weights and work out on the elliptical. Despite your age, you're thinking...

You might think I'm straining a bit to connect this article to the slant of my blog: depression and faith. But here's the link: heeding this post may keep your loved ones from the despondency caused by your sudden death.   When Ron, 62, got up on Sunday...