My favorite eleven-year-old boy in Bible class flashed me that ‘Guess what?’ smile right after he’d helped me set up for class. He had stopped at the top of the stairs just before leaving and I knew I was in for a good story. He whipped out his small New Testament and showed me that…
Earnest
Dear Husband and I have several dear friends who grew up in a cult. As young people they were required to marry within the cult, and most were employed by cult members. If you left the cult you were cut off from the community- even your own relatives. Our friends became curious about the Bible…
Before and Behind
Picture a happy childhood memory with a grandparent or other older relative or friend. What made you happy? Why do you remember it? Do you remember the conversation or the activity? Where did it happen? Was it an ordinary experience that you happen to remember or was it out of the ordinary? How could you…
Daddy
Sometimes I didn’t see my father for a year at a time during my growing-up years because he chose jobs that took him far from home. I can remember standing at the black phone on the wall and wishing futuristic phones that you could see each other already existed. Our long-distance conversations were timed to…
Slump
Despite all the hype about planning for a successful new year with all its potential, it can be easy to slip into a funk after the holidays. Maybe your Christmas was so busy you feel like collapsing. Or maybe your Christmas wasn’t very merry this year. Maybe you were alone, or in relationships that are…
Light of the World
I’m guessing that you have the same reaction I do when you read disturbing news stories. You sigh. You pray, “Help our country/world, Lord. Please have mercy on us.” But you feel discouraged, defeated even. The world seems so dark and we feel so small. Well, I want to remind you of good news. Yes,…