you choose Q: how do you discern God's will?
Q: How do you discern what is God’s will for you, when circumstances and situation are confusing, when you are under a lot of pressure, and when you can not rely on people-what they say/advise? —Mirjana
A: Mirjana, it’s important for believers in Jesus to discern God’s will because they want to do what’s right and to honor and please Him…
loaded questions
If making your guest squirm uncomfortably is the measure of success, then the TV journalist performed magnificently. Referring to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the reporter asserted to a religious leader: “Either God is all-powerful and He doesn’t care about the people of Japan and their suffering, or He does care about the people but He’s not really powerful.…
wealth of wisdom
Australian volunteer worker Paul Hol found a treasure while sorting through hundreds of donated books. He unearthed a first edition copy of the novel 1984, penned by George Orwell in 1948. The book still sported its original dust jacket in the color red—the rarest color for that print run. Paul’s find eventually sold for nearly $2,000 at a private auction.…
lasting
One summer when I was in elementary school, some of the neighborhood kids built a fort out of scrap wood. Precariously balanced on the ground, it consisted of three levels with enough room for two small bodies on each level. My dad, upon seeing their creation, promptly prohibited me from climbing in it as he was convinced it was an…
first song i sing
Priorities . . .
What is it that governs our choices throughout any given day? Do we live by the clock? The calendar? The phone? Other peoples’ demands? Or, are we willing to begin our day by synching ourselves with the heavenly Father? If He truly is the One we claim to love above all, to honor and serve, shouldn’t it…
is it worth it?
Lou Gehrig may not have died from Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Hall of Fame pro baseball player is the namesake for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating neurological disease that slowly paralyzes its victims and ultimately leads to death. New research reveals that Gehrig may not have had ALS, but exhibited similar symptoms due to blows to his head.
Gehrig…
movies and reality
Psalms 91:5-8: Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes,…
the effects
This was a tough week. Someone I know was accused of a crime so brutal I can’t describe it. Waves of disbelief, disgust, and sadness have swept over me. I grieve the loss of life for the victim and what he went through prior to his death. I grieve for the families involved. I grieve the potential loss of a…
seeing potholes
Potholes can be a pain. If a car tire hits a deep one, we’re talking some serious damage. That’s why the idea of Italian engineering students Domenico Diego and Cristina Corradini is so bright—literally! The duo, noting that many potholes in Europe aren’t repaired due to lack of funding, have come up with something called the Street Safe initiative. Their creative…
coyote wild
I live in a neighborhood where people mow their lawns, plant flowers, and clean up after their dogs. But sometimes at night, we hear eerie noises. I’m not talking about the neighbor’s beagle yelping at the moon. This is creepy howling that is totally untamed. For our neighborhood is plagued by coyotes.
Sometimes when they wake me up, I lie…
refusing to play the fool
Israeli media recently reported on the frenzied scene in garbage dumps around Tel Aviv, as people searched for one million dollars stuffed in an old mattress that had been accidentally discarded. A woman identified only by her first name, Anat, told a local radio station that she didn’t realize her elderly mother had the money stuffed into the beat-up bedding.…
trails
During a trip to Israel, I stood in a field just outside of Bethlehem. Some movement to my left revealed a shepherd leading some sheep down a well- worn trail. The winding path was easy to see due to its constant use. As I think about that trail, a thought comes to mind. What trails am I consistently taking in…
game over
Some Japanese girls are all ga-ga for boyfriends who don’t really exist. An online dating simulation game called “Webkare” allows girls to choose a virtual guy to pursue online. They work with other players and read a series of conversations to woo their online love until he finally returns their affection.
While romantic online games can be harmless, many of us…
up in smoke
When a photo of Michael Phelps inhaling from a marijuana pipe was released to the media earlier this year, it was a sad day for him and his fans around the world. The squeaky-clean image of the sensational swimmer—winner of 8 gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Games—was immediately tarnished. His pure and spotless public persona literally went up in…
the corner of indecision
Missionary Marti Ensign once brought some pastors to the US from the country where she was serving. The pastors wanted to do some shopping, but Marti was concerned that they might get lost. So she gave them her phone number. In less than an hour, one of the pastors called and said, "I'm lost." "Find out the names of the…
