Seeing The Unseen
In a materialistic world like ours, we are tempted to conclude that the only real things are those we experience with our five senses. Yet "there are things we cannot see: things behind our backs or far away and all things in the dark," said C. S. Lewis.
The One To Watch
It was a 7th-grade basketball game, and our team was getting trounced. As I watched my son running up and down the court, trying his hardest to get his first junior high point on the hardwood, the score didn't matter that much.
One Person A Day
I was privileged to hear retired Salvation Army Commissioner Andy Miller speak at a Bible conference. At age 75, smartly dressed in his uniform, he spoke with gentleness, conviction, and a twinkle in his eye.
Servant Or Master?
An Illinois resident asked his employer for a two-thirds pay cut in order to put his income below the poverty level. He reasoned that by making himself poor he would not have to pay income tax, and therefore he would not have to support military policies he didn't agree with. This would make him more consistent in practicing his beliefs. A close friend commented, "He has a strong commitment to justice and peace, and I think this is his way of carrying that out."
Love Letters
To "walk in love" means that we continually do the little acts of kindness that can make life bearable and better for another person.
Think—Then Thank
What character trait most clearly reveals a person's moral and spiritual health? Is it love? Is it integrity? Is it kindness, cheerfulness, or trust? Opinions differ, to be sure.
Prescription For Anxiety
According to a Wall Street Journal report, anxiety has overtaken depression as the leading mental health problem in the United States. Anxiety-fighting drugs are now the top-selling pharmaceutical products. Even with a booming economy and political stability, worry and apprehension remain part of our human condition—one that can never be adequately relieved by a pill.
A Soft Answer
Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "a soft answer turns away wrath." While it's true that a humble response to wrath will normally cause it to subside, it's equally true that some people will never be pacified. Because of long-term bitterness and resentment, the tide of their wrath runs too high.
Down But Not Out
The 18th-century author Samuel Johnson was noted for his wit, sensitivity, and encyclopedic knowledge. He found solitude depressing, so he often took in the poor and homeless so that he could be surrounded by people. He also confessed that he had a deep fear of dying.
