Eleven years ago, a 25-year-old Oklahoma resident named Kristi Loyall noticed that her right pinky toe kept going numb. During a doctor’s visit she was dismayed to learn that she had a rare soft tissue tumor called an epithelioid sarcoma. Her heart sank when her physician told her that in order to save her life he would have to amputate… Read more »
When it comes to inspiration, short verses often stand tall. Both Old and New Testaments abound with brief statements that make profound impacts. Of course, it was never the intention of the biblical authors (we know of approximately 40 human writers) to create “short verses.” The original documents had no chapters and verses. But priests and scholars ultimately concluded that… Read more »
From time to time I share lunch with a friend who is quick to describe himself as a happy heathen. He’s one of the smartest people I know. He’s also quick-witted, hard-working, and optimistic. I cherish our conversations. As a secular materialist, he professes no need of believing in God. He seems to live with a calm acceptance that his… Read more »
Fans of the highest-grossing movie of all time will have to wait just a little bit longer for a sequel. The 2009 blockbuster Avatar has grossed almost $2.9 billion worldwide. Director James Cameron originally planned to release the second installment of his science fiction masterpiece in 2015. Then came production delays, along with extended waits for moviemaking technology to catch… Read more »
A few years ago I approached a four-way stop not far from my home. I was in a bit of a rush, so I was glad to see that there was already a car in the intersection, going from left to right. Perfect. Now it’s my turn. I tapped my brakes, slowed to a stop – OK, I at least… Read more »
“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). The Jesus-following life doesn’t begin with a long list of “you ought to be’s.” It starts with the words “you are.” This is a big deal. People are typically prepared to hear a track coach or a military general or a chemistry teacher or even a Bible-waving preacher set out the… Read more »
According to Greek mythology, Narcissus was a spectacularly handsome young man. Every female in his zip code yearned for his affection. He could have cared less. In the words of author Eugene Peterson, “Narcissus had no time for them. He was all the company he needed. He could not waste time on anyone. He required his full attention.” The beautiful… Read more »
On May 7, 1915, some nine months after the start of World War I, a German U-boat torpedoed the passenger liner Lusitania as it sailed in neutral waters off the southern coast of Ireland. The ship vanished in just 18 minutes. Nearly 1,200 passengers died. A third of the victims were women and children, and 128 of those who were… Read more »
Reed College in Oregon is widely regarded as one of America’s most socially progressive campuses. Its annual springtime student festival, Renn Fayre, is, to put it mildly, faith-averse. The campus is shut down for three days so the students can come together and do some serious partying in the spirit of revisiting Renaissance England. Participants are far more likely to… Read more »
So why didn’t Sam and Frodo just fly to Mordor on the backs of the eagles, since that’s how they were ultimately rescued? OK, let’s back up. In case you haven’t read the monumental Lord of the Rings saga, or seen their Oscar-winning film depictions, the central storyline of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tale involves the humblest of creatures – a… Read more »
