The people living in darkness have seen a great light. —Matthew 4:16 An abnormally high percentage of the 3,400 residents of Rjukan, Norway, have suffered from mental depression. They blame it on living in the dark. Surrounded by high mountains, Rjukan receives no sunlight for six months a year. It’s one of the […]
Reflecting the Light Read More »
A good name is more desirable than great riches. —Proverbs 22:1 Charles Ponzi’s fraudulent investment ploy became known as a “Ponzi scheme.” Investor money snowballed on Ponzi’s promise of a 100 percent profit within ninety days. He used money from new investors to pay previous ones. When the ruse collapsed, victims
Knock, knock. “Who is it?” Knock! Knock! Knock! “Yes?” she said, cracking open the door. “Mary?” “Yes.” “Mary, my name is Gabriel. Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. . . . Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” —Galatians 4:6 Members of President John Kennedy’s cabinet were seated around his desk, discussing weighty matters. A photographer’s camera caught the image of two-year-old John-John crawling under the desk at his
Approach Your Father Boldly Read More »
What can mere mortals do to me? —Hebrews 13:6 On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali and world heavyweight champion George Foreman stepped into the ring in Kanshasa, Zaire, for the fight dubbed “Rumble in the Jungle.” Foreman’s strategy was to come on fast and take Ali
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What joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven. —Romans 4:7 In Billy Buckner’s twenty-two season major league baseball career, he put up impressive stats: 174 home runs, career batting average of .289, and near-perfect .991 fielding percentage. But the one thing Buckner is remembered for is letting a grounder roll between
God’s Court of Mercy Read More »
If we have food and clothes, that should be enough. —1 Timothy 6:8 Authors Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five) and Joseph Heller (Catch-22) were guests at a high-dollar party at the palatial New York home of a billionaire host. Vonnegut began to needle Heller. “Joe, how does it make you feel to know that
How Much is Enough? Read More »
Your prayer has been heard. —Luke 1:13 “Your prayer has been heard,” said the angel. What prayer? Zechariah had to be reminded: “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.” He hadn’t prayed for a son since he and Elizabeth were newlyweds. Now they were old.
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. —1 Chronicles 16:34 I enjoy this festive season. Thanksgiving is a reminder of how blessed we are, a remembrance that God is the Great Giver. And Christmas inspires us to be givers also. The season nudges us
Give thanks to the Lord. —1 Chronicles 16:8 On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, with 102 passengers. “God sifted out a hundred and two seeds from the civilization of Europe to plant a new nation on these shores,” wrote Longfellow. A year later, forty-nine of the 102 were dead—victims
